I need to make a quick decision to choose Windows 2003 or Windows 2008 VPS with a new host who offers both at the same cost.
I have Windows 2003 at the moment, and I am happy with it, running few FrontPage 2003 websites. But I read that Windows 2008 doesn't support FP, although there is a workaround the issue.
Please let me know the advantages of 2008 over 2003
Thanks. :)

Stick with 2003. It does what you want and does it well.

Do give some consideration to X64. But, be careful to review any 3rd party component that you use to ensure that they are compatible, or that there is an acceptable workaround.

I am not use 2003, but 2008 RC2 is very good for me, running smoothly without any problem and also lots of features.

2008 R2 is loaded full of features and very good for terminal services now called Remote Desktop Services

But 2003 server as said does everything you need
You also have to consider IIS changes to version 7

I would stick with 2003 as my own personal preference

Thank you all for your replies.
It is just the hassle of changing to Windows 2008 at some stage in the future that worries me, if I ever need to change the OS because only Windows 2008 has a special feature that Windows 2003 doesn't have.
Any idea about the memory needed and if they need roughly the same size?

Server 2008 uses more memory, almost double.

If you are setting up your site I would try to get it up to the latest as you will avoid the hassle of the upgrade in the future. Windows2008 is more memory intensive but it is worth it in my opinion.
there is a bit of navigation learning curve in IIS7 but you will get the habit, do it now instead of doing it later when you want to switch a live site ;)

Server 2008 uses more memory, almost double.
Agree, no doubt at all :)

Searching10: if the server is used for hosting websites then Windows 2008 with IIS 7 is the obvious choice unless you want to stick with old technologies like classic asp, frontpage, html for a few more years.

+1 for IIS 7 - there are lot of improvements in IIS 7.x over IIS 6.x and it is really worth moving to IIS 7.x. As noted above, RAM usage is higher in Windows 2008 R2 - however, RAM prices are down as well (compared to earlier times). Hence, I'll recommend 2008 R2.

I'm not a Windows guru. IIS7 was a bit of a culture shock for me when I first started using it. However, after getting accustomed to it and learning my way around, I must say it is actually pretty nice. There are a lot of great features that have come in IIS7 which has made things really quite appealing in Win 2k8.

Hi,

My vote goes for Windows 2008 R2. Enhance features and better manageability makes it out standing performer.

I have been using Windows 2008 R2 with website panel and it helped me a lot. Security is another great feature where Microsoft has improved this product.

Hi,

My vote goes for Windows 2008 R2. Enhance features and better manageability makes it out standing performer.

I have been using Windows 2008 R2 with website panel and it helped me a lot. Security is another great feature where Microsoft has improved this product.

Thanks to all the replies. Now I am more confused.:D
My aim is to lower the cost of my present VPS to ~ $30 by signing up with a more flexible host. The Plesk and Power Pack cost a bit, and by using Website Panel I can save on this.
No management might be a bit of an adventure.
Which host would be suitable in your opinion?

My vote also goes for Windows Server 2008 RC2, just be extremely careful with the 64bit version. I downgraded from 64 to 32bit.

Go for 2008. It's clearly a better OS and at some point Microsoft will stop supporting 2003 and that's going to be a headache you can probably do without.

One thing to keep in mind is Frontpage. Ready-To-Run Software provides a Frontpage extension package for IIS 7 on Windows Server 2008, both 32 and 64 bit. But it's not supported on Windows Server 2008 R2. Basically, Windows 2008 (no R2) is the last stop for Frontpage sites. Microsoft has been trying to kill off Frontpage since 2005. And on Window 2008 R2, it's finally dead.

My aim is to lower the cost of my present VPS to ~ $30 by signing up with a more flexible host.
No management might be a bit of an adventure.

I believe most hosts provide Windows VPS as self managed.
What is your reason of choosing VPS instead of reseller hosting?
Peple use VPS only when they need administrator access or they're interested in managing server :D
With budget $30 you cannot find any HyperV VPS with dedicated RAM, maybe on other platform where resource oversell is allowed.

I believe most hosts provide Windows VPS as self managed.
What is your reason of choosing VPS instead of reseller hosting?
Peple use VPS only when they need administrator access or they're interested in managing server :D
With budget $30 you cannot find any HyperV VPS with dedicated RAM, maybe on other platform where resource oversell is allowed.

I prefer a VPS as it gives me control of the server (added experience), development purposes and to test applications. I can still host on it websites that I design and have better control of what the clients want to add to the their websites so that we can comply with the TOS of the host. I am not into reselling.
I am considering ecovps Windows plans (Virtuozzo) unmanaged Windows VPS at euro 20 and euro 30 with Plesk CP for euro 10 anytime I want to add. The uplink connection speed might be a bit slow and they don't show it in the features.
Will decide in the next couple of weeks.

I prefer a VPS as it gives me control of the server (added experience), development purposes and to test applications. I can still host on it websites that I design and have better control of what the clients want to add to the their websites so that we can comply with the TOS of the host. I am not into reselling.
I am considering ecovps Windows plans (Virtuozzo) unmanaged Windows VPS at euro 20 and euro 30 with Plesk CP for euro 10 anytime I want to add. The uplink connection speed might be a bit slow and they don't show it in the features.
Will decide in the next couple of weeks.

I would advise you to go for Hyper-V virtualized VPS. Hyper-V is a Microsoft technology and tightly partition your VPS from others.

I would advise you to go for Hyper-V virtualized VPS. Hyper-V is a Microsoft technology and tightly partition your VPS from others.

Thanks for the advise, but I read that web hosts prefer Hyper-V and Windows 2008 and I want to keep my option on Windows 2003 open.

Windows Server 2003 works perfectly on Hyper-V as well and there are no issues with it.

Hyper V is a very good product but i prefer ESX,mostly because it's been around longer and is a very proven and reliable platform, and you can run what ever version of windows VMs you want on top of it. There are many advantages to going down the esx route, 1 is that it is OS independant and doesn't sit on top of another installation like Hyper V does. Before you make a decsion it would be worth doing a comparison of the 2 platforms to find which one suits you best. There are many comaprison sites out there.

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Hello,

I would suggest following Host for your Reseller/Semi Dedicated hosting:

1) www.cyberhostpro.com
2) www.softsyshosting.com
3) www.reliblesite.net

I have used all three and service are perfect. I got maximum uptime with them.

I far prefer IIS7 to IIS6, no contest.
You know there is an IIS6 compatibility mode, right? That helps.

My present web host VPS server with Windows 2003 x32 is running painfully slow, so I have decided to evaluate another host in parallel.
As VPS Windows 2003 x32 hosting is becoming hard to find these days, I will be testing a VPS Windows 2008 Standard x32 and if everything goes well, then I would migrate all the websites to the new server.
Until the VPS is ready, hopefully by tomorrow, what would be the major differences that I would encounter, apart from the IIS7 instead of IIS6?

I believe you will get far better performance with IIS 7 compared to IIS 6. I'd even recommend you to opt for IIS 7.5 (Windows 2008 R2) if that is an option available for you. Ultimately, it will come down to how well configured is host machine where your VPS is hosted and whether it is oversold in terms of RAM, Disk I/O, etc.

Good luck with your new host!

Windows 2003 is EOL isn't it?

Server 2008 uses more memory, almost double and more secure

Server 2008 uses more memory, almost double and more secure

Can you please give some numbers regarding the memory requirement in MB for 2003 x32 and 2008 x32 or x64?