Introduction

Iguana has only a few dependencies on the operating system on which it runs. For this reason, Iguana can run reliably on a number of operating systems, including:

• Windows
• Linux
• Mac OS X

Given these options, which is the best operating system to use?

The answer: It depends on your environment. Several factors should be considered:

• The overall technical robustness of the operating system’s hardware platform
• The operating system that your organization is most comfortable with
• Vulnerability to viruses
• Whether replacement hardware can be obtained quickly
• Cost
• Upgrade issues
• Hardware and driver compatibility
• Support

Linux, Windows and Mac OS X are all worthwhile solutions, each for slightly different reasons. If you have a number of people on-site who are familiar with Linux, it is a good choice. Otherwise, Windows is a stable option, provided that you:

• Have a good anti-virus/firewall strategy in place
• Implement policies that control what software can be installed on the server machines
• Use VMware and/or disk imaging to ensure that the servers can be reinstalled periodically

The following pages describe why Iguana is basically operating system independent and describe the pros and cons of each operating system solution in more detail.