Sizing+Windows vs. Linux

[Rina Nir (AC)]

We are planning a Confluence installation to support 2000 users in different geographies. It's going to be a Confluence server (not data center) running on an Azure cloud.

Most of the IT organization runs on windows- so from that perspective a windows installation is preferred over a Linux one.

However, I want to understand if there are particular downside to going with Windows:

1. For example- are Atlassian sizing information also applicable to windows (as I assume it is mostly derived from Linux installations)

2. As most of the large installations are on Linux, would you say that windows is more risky?

[Mirek]

Linux is just more flexible than Windows from the administration perspective. You do not need any graphical interface or more advances features or applications that you do not need but on the opposite side you need bigger knowledge. On both platforms Confluence would run fine but it is up to your system administrator what he prefers. Number of users is not so important if you choose OS. It would run fine for 10 and Unlimited number od users. You just need to have a machine running with minimal requirements (RAM, CPU, .. ). Linux have also different distributions both Atlassian Apps work fine on all CentOS, Debian, RHEL and others.. Overall just choose what is best for you or your administrators. It would work on both just fine and differences are not so big in case of performance or being more risky (if you do not go deep into security topics)