Window server outperforms Linux for file serving

Microsoft commissioned a division of Lionbridge Technologies Inc. called VeriTest, to conduct a series of tests comparing the file serving performance of a Window server and a Linux server.

The following server operating system configurations were tested running on a variety of server hardware and processor configurations:

• Window Server 2003 Standard Edition
• Samba 3.0 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES 3.0

Key findings show:

• Window Server 2003 Standard Edition delivered approximately 46% better peak File server throughput compared to Samba 3.0 running on the departmental-class HP DL 380 server configuration we tested.
• Window Server 2003 Standard Edition delivered approximately better peak File server throughput compared to Samba 3.0 running on the workgroup-class Dell PowerEdge 500SC server configuration we tested.
• Adding the software update to the Window Server 2003 Standard Edition generated 59% better peak File server throughput compared to Samba 3.0 running on the workgroup-class Dell PowerEdge 500SC server configuration we tested with “strict sync=no”.
• Adding the software update to the Window Server 2003 Standard Edition generated 60% better peak File server throughput compared to Samba 3.0 running on the departmental-class HP DL380 server configuration we tested with “strict sync=no”.

Summary

Analysing file-server throughput using the industry-standard NetBench test shows that Microsoft Window Server 2003 outperformed Samba 3.0 running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux in multiple test configurations.

More studies on the reliability and ease of use of a Window server can be found here.