Advise Needs

[SpaceStar]

Hello

I am not satisfied with my hostingspartner, where I am having ha VPS. I have a mid-size forum with 100+ users online daily and there is a clear view of it getting bigger and bigger by day by day as almost 10-15 upto 20 new user every day.

Today I am paying around about $70 for a VPS of AMD2.4+, 256RAM, 30GB storage.

I have seen this dedicated solution:

WINDOWS
• Intel P-4, 3.0GHz, 800MHz Bus, 2MB Cache
• 160GB RAID rated Server-Class Hard Drive
• 512MB Dual-Channel DDR2-533 SDRAM
• 2,000GB Monthly Transfer
• 100Mbps Non-Capped Network Connection
• 4 IP Addresses

Windows Server 2003 is installed with IIS server:

System Administration
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Full Administrative Access
Windows Terminal Services
Server Monitoring
Remote Desktop Web Connection
Server Traffic Monitor

Installed Applications
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft IIS Web Server
Microsoft Index Server
Microsoft FTP Server
Microsoft Data Access Components
Microsoft FrontPage 2002 Extensions
Microsoft POP3 & SMTP Services
ASP, ASP.NET, Perl & PHP
ASP.NET 2.0 & .NET Framework 2.0 (optional)
DNS Name Server (optional)
Automated Tasks with Task Scheduler

Database
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Access
MySQL (optional)
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (optional)
or
MS SQL Server 2005 Express Edition for FREE.

Multimedia
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Media Server (optional)

Other Software
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Unlimited software - install any software you want




LINUX
Red Hat Enterprise Linux server or FreeBSD server is installed with Apache server:
System Administration
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Full Root Access via SSH
Webmin: Web-Based GUI
Server Monitoring
Server Traffic Monitor


Installed Applications
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Apache Web Server
SSH access: bash, tcsh, sh, ksh shells
PHP, Perl, Python, C, C++, gcc
Mail Server: Sendmail, Postfix, Dovecot
FTP Server
Linux Firewall & Security-Enchanced Linux (SELinux)
Up2date and Yum
Administrative Tools
Development & System Tools
DNS Name Server (optional)
Automated Tasks with Crons

Database
-----------------------------------------------------------------
MySQL
PostgreSQL (optional)


Other Software
--------------------------------------------------------------
Unlimited software - install any software you want

Peace of mind
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Dedicated Servers are optimized for performance and stability,
full root and admin access allows for high level customization.
- Burstable bandwidth connection
- Redundant Multiple OC12 Connections
- Bandwidth on demand on OC12 backbone
- Standby Diesel Power Generator
- 24/7 Security monitoring
- 24/7 Network monitoring
- Video Camera Surveillance
- Toll-Free Technical Support


The question is where I need help you experinced guys, whichone to choose? Windows or Linux? And what would be the easiest way of exporting the database from current host to this new host?

Thanks in advance :)

[SpaceStar]

I think i have posted it in wrong section please moderator do move it :)

[encryption]

Linux for sure..... you'll be facing a lot of reboots on your windows machine especially when Microsoft patches are installed. Occasionally, I tend to forget how often my server has been online (running fedora core)

Not to mention security / anti-viruses etc. etc. will be another hassle to deal with

[SpaceStar]

Linux for sure..... you'll be facing a lot of reboots on your windows machine especially when Microsoft patches are installed. Occasionally, I tend to forget how often my server has been online (running fedora core)

Not to mention security / anti-viruses etc. etc. will be another hassle to deal with


You don't install patches everyday - and I can afford to reboot once per day in late night when there are not many users online... and antivirus and firewall can be activated? I am thinkin more about it's much easier to manage a Windows server... but maybe not adviseable???

[encryption]

You don't install patches everyday - and I can afford to reboot once per day in late night when there are not many users online...


seems like you already have your mind made with Windows

[SpaceStar]

seems like you already have your mind made with Windows

No i havn't :) just asking a single question although I am not in Microsoft-bandwagon :)

[express]

I would say based on current users, you could go with a PT 3.0 HT with 2 gig of ram and sata drives. But based on your growth you may be better suited for a dual xeon or a 64 bit box overall in the long term.