Why is Linux better than Windows?

guygriffiths · 10-26-2003, 10:02 AM

I have recently got 150K ntl broadband, at on Windows, the maximum rate I've seen it going is 7K/s. In Linux I get about 17-18K/s which is what I was expecting. Does anyone know why Linux is so much faster? Both use my ethernet card.
Just interested really,
Guy

Onemessedupjedi · 10-26-2003, 10:26 AM

I have heard of quotas being put on connections. The speed that you are given may have been decided for you when you installed what came with the connection(well, something came with my broadband connection). Maybe linux just bypasses it. And Linux also seems to put more memory to just about everything running, thus the huge use of memory constantly and maybe that helps the data flow.Oh, by the way, your choice of a title isn't very clear. I was thinking it was going to be another linux<windows debate...
You tricked me

_KDF · 10-26-2003, 10:57 AM

I think linux just handles networking a lot better.. linux has always been faster when downloading from the same place as a windows box for me. Plus doesnt windows xp reserve some of your bandwidth for other uses ?

mordin · 10-26-2003, 12:45 PM

extra bandwidth for sending personal data back to m-soft? haha

V@no · 10-26-2003, 01:14 PM

maybe your windows was configured for speed whatever u had before.
there are many tweaks u can do on windows to improve internet speed.
try www.pcpitstop.com on both wind/linux see what u'll get (they olso have registry fix for windows)

nidputerguy · 10-26-2003, 02:54 PM

I doubt there is a real speed difference. Maybe just different numbers and units being used.

Zeon · 10-26-2003, 03:35 PM

It could be that you still have QoS packet scheduler enabled in XP. That could affect your speed a tiny bit, but it shouldn't matter that much.

Also, are you going to a site to download something for XP, then switching over and using Linux to download the same thing? If so, your ISP may be putting the site into cache, which would make access time a little faster.

jeffus · 10-27-2003, 12:32 PM

Mordin,

Hilarious!

Jeff.

nixnoobie · 10-27-2003, 01:00 PM

Linux doesnt handle the TCP/IP stack any better then windows. they both follow the basic RFC's for these things. However I think someone already said it, you may have QoS installed on your windows box this can and will effect performance on some setups. Sometimes things like AOL for windows will alter your Winsock and other settings so I would reinstall the TCP/IP adapter and protocol onto your windows box and see how it goes.

taggedd · 10-27-2003, 01:07 PM

One of the main reasons that I prefer Linux over Windows is the fact that you can run multiple apps on the same server. With all the Windows Apps I have, I keep getting the same answer "you need another server". Linux just handles the memory and processor management so much better.

Also, I don't have to reboot my Linux servers very often.

One last thing. Samba can transfer data via a windows share faster than Microsoft can. Proved it in some 500 meg transfers. Almost 2/3rds faster.

Regards.
Tim.

Looking_Lost · 10-27-2003, 04:56 PM

7k/s is about right for your upload speed 64K but obviously not your download, you don't have any other programmes running or anything on windows that are using up the bandwidth in the background?

www.pcpitstop.com

is an alright place that'll run tests against your system that may help highlight problems

guygriffiths · 10-30-2003, 09:47 AM

Quote:

you don't have any other programmes running or anything on windows that are using up the bandwidth in the background?

Of course! That's it! Silly me, running that Welchia program! Well, I stopped running it and everything's back to normal.
Guy