Best Linux distro for a server?

[robisc]

OK, I am going to build a Linuxbox and use it as a server, what distro it the best SERVER distro, I would guess Redhat even though I don't like it as a desktop, what I am looking for is ease of admin and connectivity from other machines, this will be only a file server for both a large MP3 collection and standard files. I will be connecting to this box with diferent OSes, Windows all flavors, Linux and OS X what are your suggestions? I already have the latest boxed version of SuSE, Lindows and Xandros and of course all the free distros can be downloaded with no problem.

 

[Tiger]

Forget Lindows. The only thing it's got in common with most of the rest of the distro's is the Kernel.
For a server you want something stable which uses mature and secure packages.
I'd say Debian or Slackware.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Any of them should be fine.

 

[Syran]

Redhat, Suse, or Debian would be my picks.

 

[Sunner]

If commercial support and such isn't an issue, I'd go Debian without a doubt.

The setup/install is a little rough sometimes, but once you get it setup, you'll love it.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Gentoo perhaps?

 

[TheOmegaCode]

You're just file sharing, use whatever you're most comfortable with.

 

[Nothinman]

Debian.

 

[manly]

You bought Lindows? My condolences.

 

[robisc]

You bought Lindows? My condolences

Well, I got a deal on Lindows. I will say I like SuSe 8.1 and Lycoris as a standard desktop distro better, but in Lindows so far everything as for HW works pretty much out of the box, better than any distro I have tried, and believe me I try them all as soon as they are released. What is so impressive I will have to say it the Click-n Run thing, it is so simple to click on what you want and walk away and come back and it is all installed and the menu items are put in their proper place, no libs or depencies to worry about.

 

[TheOmegaCode]

Well, I got a deal on Lindows. I will say I like SuSe 8.1 and Lycoris as a standard desktop distro better, but in Lindows so far everything as for HW works pretty much out of the box, better than any distro I have tried, and believe me I try them all as soon as they are released. What is so impressive I will have to say it the Click-n Run thing, it is so simple to click on what you want and walk away and come back and it is all installed and the menu items are put in their proper place, no libs or depencies to worry about.

Welcome to apt-get

 

[vash]

Welcome to apt-get

I'd have to say that this functionality of Debian is the single best reason to use it for the server linux distro. The stability and secure factors of Debian are very important, but the software updates of the Debian stable tree are excellent. For my desktop, Debian's stable tree is a bit stale, I'd rather be a bit more bleeding edge with the kernel/drivers, etc.

Go Debian for your server, make sure to get a NIC card that is autodetected! I had a heck of a time trying to get the net install going with my Tulip card -- only to find that I need to install an updated driver to get my NIC card working for Debian. Funny how useless the net installer is without detecting my NIC! Not a problem, swapped the NIC with an Intel card and was up and running in a few minutes. All the features, none of the bloat -- Debian is quite nice.

vash

 

[Tiger]

Gentoo perhaps?

Gentoo is too bleeding edge to run as a server.
I run it on the desktop.

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: Tiger

Gentoo perhaps?

Gentoo is too bleeding edge to run as a server.
I run it on the desktop.

I run it as a server, and have no problems with it. I much prefer it over RedHat, Suse, Debian, Mandrake, etc... The only other distro I like almost as much as gentoo is slackware.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: KraziKid

Originally posted by: Tiger

Gentoo perhaps?

Gentoo is too bleeding edge to run as a server.
I run it on the desktop.

I run it as a server, and have no problems with it. I much prefer it over RedHat, Suse, Debian, Mandrake, etc... The only other distro I like almost as much as gentoo is slackware.

Lots of people prefer Windows for a server, it's all a matter of taste, in-depth knowledge (or lack of), and anecdotal experience.

Can you run a stable server with Gentoo? Yes. Is it more likely that you will run into (possibly fatal) bugs when compared to a more conservative linux distro or a BSD? Yes.

 

[Workin']

Debian (stable or testing). Set it up in an hour. Run apt-get every few days. That's it. You get only what you need and no more. Not an extra boatload of shiet installed like Red Hat.

My Debian server has been up for 120 days now, and it would be over 220 except the power went off for 2 hours 120 days ago.

 

[lowtech1]

Originally posted by: NuclearFusi0n
Gentoo perhaps?

I can see a large group of angry people waiting to log into your server while it is compiling.

Debian, or any of the mainstream distro for support.

 

[MainFramed]

RedHat IMHO

 

[Spyro]

Go 4 debian.

 

[N11]

Originally posted by: Workin'
Debian (stable or testing). Set it up in an hour. Run apt-get every few days. That's it. You get only what you need and no more. Not an extra boatload of shiet installed like Red Hat.

I'll never understand this mentality.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: N11

Originally posted by: Workin'
Debian (stable or testing). Set it up in an hour. Run apt-get every few days. That's it. You get only what you need and no more. Not an extra boatload of shiet installed like Red Hat.

I'll never understand this mentality.

Seems reasonable to me, what don't you agree with?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Workin'
Debian (stable or testing). Set it up in an hour. Run apt-get every few days. That's it. You get only what you need and no more. Not an extra boatload of shiet installed like Red Hat.

My Debian server has been up for 120 days now, and it would be over 220 except the power went off for 2 hours 120 days ago.

My iBook has been up for 74 days straight. Do I get a cookie?

 

[N11]

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

Originally posted by: N11

Originally posted by: Workin'
Debian (stable or testing). Set it up in an hour. Run apt-get every few days. That's it. You get only what you need and no more. Not an extra boatload of shiet installed like Red Hat.

I'll never understand this mentality.

Seems reasonable to me, what don't you agree with?

I don't agree that you can't customize a red hat installation and selectively determine what is or is not installed.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Originally posted by: lowtech

Originally posted by: NuclearFusi0n
Gentoo perhaps?

I can see a large group of angry people waiting to log into your server while it is compiling.

uh, it only needs to compile stuff when you install it AFAIK
it's not like it recompiles every package on reboot

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: N11

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

Originally posted by: N11

Originally posted by: Workin'
Debian (stable or testing). Set it up in an hour. Run apt-get every few days. That's it. You get only what you need and no more. Not an extra boatload of shiet installed like Red Hat.

I'll never understand this mentality.

Seems reasonable to me, what don't you agree with?

I don't agree that you can't customize a red hat installation and selectively determine what is or is not installed.

Can you manage a 90MB install with redhat?

And even if so, to get the useability of debian you need apt-rpm, and at that point, why even use redhat? Redhat and debian are very different distros for very different crowds.