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Operating System for first production windows server code?


I'm getting ready to purchase a server for me to deploy my first windows based (C# .NET) application but I'm not familiar with using windows for hosted applications. I have the choice of the following versions of windows:

  • Windows Server 2003
  • Windows Server 2003 Web
  • Windows Server 2003 Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows Server 2008 Web
  • Windows Server 2008 Enterprise

Would one of these be better for deploying a C# .NET application?

EDIT:
There will be 3 applications deployed but each will basically be the same, they will be services that are driven from data being brought in from a website that will likely run on the same server.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/compare-roles.aspx


Solution

  • Well, if you meet the requirements for Server 2008 Web, you should use that, because that is the cheapest. I would go with 2008 over 2003 because of IS.

    Per edits: Since you've crossed out Web versions, I would go with 2008 Standard unless I needed some feature of Enterprise or Datacenter.

    By the way, if you have an MSDN license, you can run any version of Server 2008 in a testing or staging capacity under that license. You can use that license to determine whether or not a particular version will be right for your application. Then, once you deploy to production, you pay your normal license fees for the version you chose.