24 min read

Choosing an OS for Servers and Clients

Criteria for choosing, a worked decision for the print shop, and how to write a justified recommendation.

Decision Criteria

Servers and clients (the computers people use) have different needs, so they often run different operating systems. Compare options against these criteria:

Criteria for choosing an operating system
Criteria for choosing an operating system

Worked example

The server for Hillside Print House

Needs: share files with 6 Windows PCs, run backups, be secure, run for years with little attention. There is no full-time IT person — Nuwan is a trainee. Criterion Windows Server 2025 Essentials Ubuntu Server 26.04 LTS Cost Licence cost; Essentials is aimed at small businesses Free File sharing with Windows PCs Native, simple Works well using Samba, but needs setting up at the command line Management Graphical tools Nuwan already recognises Mostly command line Security updates Long support period Five years of standard updates for the LTS release Skills Matches the Windows skills in the shop Nuwan would need training Recommendation: Windows Server 2025 Essentials — because it integrates simply with the shop's Windows PCs and can be managed with familiar graphical tools, so that a trainee can maintain it safely. Alternative: if the budget were very tight, Ubuntu Server would save the licence cost, but the shop would need to pay for training or support.

Practice

What should you check first when choosing an operating system for a client computer?

Decision Criteria

Servers and clients (the computers people use) have different needs, so they often run different operating systems. Compare options against these criteria:

Criteria for choosing an operating system
Criteria for choosing an operating system

Worked Example: the Print Shop

Worked example

The server for Hillside Print House

Needs: share files with 6 Windows PCs, run backups, be secure, run for years with little attention. There is no full-time IT person — Nuwan is a trainee. Criterion Windows Server 2025 Essentials Ubuntu Server 26.04 LTS Cost Licence cost; Essentials is aimed at small businesses Free File sharing with Windows PCs Native, simple Works well using Samba, but needs setting up at the command line Management Graphical tools Nuwan already recognises Mostly command line Security updates Long support period Five years of standard updates for the LTS release Skills Matches the Windows skills in the shop Nuwan would need training Recommendation: Windows Server 2025 Essentials — because it integrates simply with the shop's Windows PCs and can be managed with familiar graphical tools, so that a trainee can maintain it safely. Alternative: if the budget were very tight, Ubuntu Server would save the licence cost, but the shop would need to pay for training or support.

Practice

What should you check first when choosing an operating system for a client computer?

Criterion	Windows Server 2025 Essentials	Ubuntu Server 26.04 LTS
Cost	Licence cost; Essentials is aimed at small businesses	Free
File sharing with Windows PCs	Native, simple	Works well using Samba, but needs setting up at the command line
Management	Graphical tools Nuwan already recognises	Mostly command line
Security updates	Long support period	Five years of standard updates for the LTS release
Skills	Matches the Windows skills in the shop	Nuwan would need training