going with a *bsd or linux type for server/router, but which to choose...

[manwithplan]

hey everyone

im shortly going to be 'retiring' my current machine into active service as a router/firewall/fileserver and I think im gonna give a unix-type a whirl.

Ive been looking at linux and the bsd's and I think ive narrowed it down to either; debian or slackware for linux but im finding it hard to make any sort of choice between free, open and netBSD.

Ive had limited experince with solaris (mainly 5) on sun sparc systems in uni and some work on solaris 8 with kde as a gui (the uni just upgraded half the sun systems, the only down side being theyre now dog slow 🙁)

What do any of you guys and gals recon about these different os's and the (limited) amount of unix experience ive had?

cheers, c.

 

[Nothinman]

I highly recommend Debian. For a router potato would be fine, if you need newer software you can upgrade to woody, although it's technically not labeled finished it's extremely stable.

The installer can be a little difficult, but you only have to go through that once =)

 

[n0cmonkey]

Debian is great for linux, but so is slackware.

The main differences between the BSDs are:

FreeBSD: Fast, stable, and relatively secure by default. Runs on i386/alpha with ultra sparc and Mac PPC ports coming out in the near future (still unstable I believe). Probably the easiest to use and has the best x86 hardware compatibility, but for a firewall that wont be a big deal. It also has the most extensive ports list.

NetBSD: This image says it all for me. Relatively secure, great portable code base, will run on just about everything, but more geared towards academics. I also think they moved to a SysV init style, or atleast there is one available, so depending on your tastes and needs you may or may not like this. I know I dont, but Nothinman thinks Im nuts.

OpenBSD: Secure by default, 4 years without remote root hole in the default install. From the creators of OpenSSH, one of the best remote management tools out there right now. Fast and stable. It comes with its own brand new firewall, or you can install IPF. I run an older version on my firewall so I can use IPF, at the time IPF wouldnt run on OpenBSD 3.0, but I have considered moving to 3.0 and using the newer PF. I also run this as my desktop/httpd/mail/dns server (soon to drop the desktop part out, just need more machines).

In my opinion (as any BSD fanatic would say), OpenBSD is the best choice.

 

[manwithplan]

cheers for the quick replies! having searched through the forums beforehand I had a feeling you two might be among the first ones to pop up with advice 😉

Im thinking I might, at the start anyway, dual boot with debian and openBSD then choose which one suits best out of those two.

How easy is it to remotely manage the two of them? can the majority of tasks be done through a web browwer? Im planning on running the server as a standalone box without any monitor, keyboard or mouse. just stick it in a cupboard and forget about it pretty much!

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< cheers for the quick replies! having searched through the forums beforehand I had a feeling you two might be among the first ones to pop up with advice 😉

Im thinking I might, at the start anyway, dual boot with debian and openBSD then choose which one suits best out of those two.

How easy is it to remotely manage the two of them? can the majority of tasks be done through a web browwer? Im planning on running the server as a standalone box without any monitor, keyboard or mouse. just stick it in a cupboard and forget about it pretty much! >>



OpenSSH will work for either of them. No need for an insecure web browser. There is a how-to on the OpenBSD site on dualbooting linux and OpenBSD. Please read that if you decide to do the dualboot thing. It should make your life a heck of a lot easier.

 

[Nothinman]

You could use webmin and if you use the SSL capability you can avoid the 'insecure web browser' thing =)

 

[AkumaBao]

Go with OpenBSD.