Linux ?

Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 3:55 pm

There are so many distributions of Linux out, and I have heard each one touted as THE one to use. My local Linux 'expert' seems to think Ubuntu is the best. Another thought CentOS was better for running a server, another....

Which Linux should I use for a dedicated server, and why?

Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 4:28 pm

The best Linux Solution for servers coul be Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), CentOS as you mentioned yourself and SuSe Linux Enterprise Server. Although Ubuntu is gaining ground on the server side I will still not recommend it for servers (on desktops is the greatest solution), even when Wikipedia is planning to move all his server infrastructure from RHEL/CentOS to Ubuntu Server Edition.

Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:23 pm

Problem with ubuntu is that everyone is using 6.06 LTS but finally there's 8.04 LTS
The old one never upgraded to PHP 5.2.x which is a PITA

Aside from that (k/ed/x)ubuntu versions always fail to upgrade. I have several upgraded systems that to be reinstalled.
Haven't had that issue with my CentOS and Fedora boxes before.

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:30 am

I just upgrade Ubuntu 8.05 to 8.10 no problems except for jEdit which I had to reload as I was using a newer version not in the Ubuntu repository but that only took 20 seconds.
Upgrade took 15 minutes (not including file download time).

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 8:43 am

I've been upgrading ubuntu since ages without any major issues. I am a happy ubuntu user and upgrader since version 5.10 I think. But this may not be the case in server side (where upgrades tends to be a little bit more complicated) that is the focus of this discussion.

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:05 am

Desktop upgrades have issues as well, it just depends what you've installed and using.

My Kubuntu:

Mozilla Thunderbird + Lightning 7
Had to remove lightning from adept and install manualy (repo version is old and not upgradeable)

VirtualBox
Got slow with new kernel, had to revert to *.19

X
When i log out i get a black screen and keyboard fails to work, have to forcefully reboot.

Kubuntu run-level 2,3,4,5 all run X and the whole shebang, don't have a decent TTY with single user mode

Fedora:

run-level 5 = X others are clean and great and no useless sudo
sudo is not save:
- no need to know root password, just use your own
- 'sudo su' switches to root user anyway
- same "feel" as Windows Vista except: in Vista you just click several times "ok" and in X just one-time your own password

Involved Joined: Apr 06, 2008 Posts: 484

Ive never had any major issue's with ubuntu and can recommend it ten fold....

here's an invaluable guide for anyone getting started

http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Gutsy