I want to do Linux on my server...which version?

[Rufio]

Hi,

I want to put Linux on my new Dell server

Which Linux is the best to put on there?

Which one is free?

Thanks guys!

 

[Spyro]

They're all free, so that shouldn't really be much of a deciding factor. As for which one is the best, well that just tends to depend on your needs. OpenBSD is extremely secure, but it takes a bit of work to setup. Slackware is flexible and minimum, but its also lacking in things like package management and pretty looking setup interfaces, I'm also quite sure that its as hard to configure as openbsd but without the security orientation. Red hat and mandrake are both easy, but they're not as stable as the other distros and using their GUIs can really slow down a good system. Gentoo is really flexible, but it also suffers from bugs and windows 98-like instability. Debian is rock solid and uses apt-get, but its noted for requiring a bit of effort to install and configure.

Personally if I were you I would use either Debian or OpenBSD.

 

[mikecel79]

What do you plan on using the server for? Is it an actual Dell server or just a machine your using as a server. I think Dell ships Red Hat as it's recommended Linux distro.

 

[Rufio]

it's an actual dell server.

they recommend red hat, but i have to pay for it...i'm confused..
isn't linux free?

 

[Rufio]

i wnat to learn how to use linux on my server, use it as a web server, email server, file server...etc etc

 

[mikecel79]

Just go to Red Hat's site and download it. It's free. Red Hat can be used for everything you want to do.

The server probably came with software that will help you install and configure Red Hat (similiar to Compaq/HP's SmartStart software).

 

[Rufio]

i go to red hat's site and they make me pay!

how do i get it for free?

 

[mikecel79]

Originally posted by: Rufio
i go to red hat's site and they make me pay!

how do i get it for free?

Try doing a little searching next time. The link is right on the front page


linky

 

[GhettoFob]

Gentoo is really flexible, but it also suffers from bugs and windows 98-like instability.

A little off topic, but I was thinking about trying out Gentoo. Does it really have windows 98-like instabilty? That's scary. :Q

 

[drag]

Hehe Linux is Free, but it doesn't nescesarially mean you get it with out paying for it!

But if you want to check it out for no cost Linux ISO dot org has a bunch of links to free cd images. But of course if you want to use it for a production server it may be a good idea to pay for it, that way you can get a service contract if you want ($) with RedHat, so if you run into problems they will be but a phone call away.

Redhat is a good distro to try out, but keep in mind if you want to get into the "meat and potatoes" of the operating system later distro's like Debian, SLackware, or one of the BSD's like FreeBSD can offer a more "educational" experiance.

Other then that in terms of server performance and hardware support all distros are roughly equal (as long as they are a linux, of course). Since it's all open source they all share the same programs and such, but what is different in the packaging, initial setup, support and sometimes file orginization. (like start-up scripts and folders). In fact some insane linux zeolots don't use a distro at all! They just build everything up from scratch.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: GhettoFob

Gentoo is really flexible, but it also suffers from bugs and windows 98-like instability.

A little off topic, but I was thinking about trying out Gentoo. Does it really have windows 98-like instabilty? That's scary. :Q

I don't like gentoo much but AFAIK it's plenty stable, assuming you don't run their "unstable" branch, whatever it's called. It definitely is nothing like windows 98 (which I use pretty often, and is pathetically unstable).

 

[TheOmegaCode]

Rufio You're going to need to do a lot of research. If you can't even find where to download RH iso's, you're going to be in a world of hurt when it coomes to configuring your server... You need to put a lot of time and effort into researching Linux if you want to learn anything...

Originally posted by: GhettoFob

Gentoo is really flexible, but it also suffers from bugs and windows 98-like instability.

A little off topic, but I was thinking about trying out Gentoo. Does it really have windows 98-like instabilty? That's scary. :Q

Who ever said it has 98-like instablility is a tard...

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: Spyro
but it also suffers from bugs and windows 98-like instability.

Originally posted by: TheOmegaCode
Who ever said it has 98-like instablility is a tard...

bahahah

 

[TheOmegaCode]

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

Originally posted by: Spyro
but it also suffers from bugs and windows 98-like instability.

Originally posted by: TheOmegaCode
Who ever said it has 98-like instablility is a tard...

bahahah

but of course I ment it in the kindest sense of the word :evil:

Seriously though, I have the luxury of saying that. I put two 'o's in come, I can smell my own kind...

 

[Spyro]

Who ever said it has 98-like instablility is a tard...

That was me, and I meant that in the most forgiving of ways considering that my windows 98 boxes are as stable as they get. If the only purpose of gentoo is too compile your own packages then I figured that most people would want the latest and greatest, which is usually inherently unstable. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't see the point of compiling your own packages if you won't be using the latest stuff. BTW, what is a tard?

 

[Spyro]

Originally posted by: TheOmegaCode

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

Originally posted by: Spyro
but it also suffers from bugs and windows 98-like instability.

Originally posted by: TheOmegaCode
Who ever said it has 98-like instablility is a tard...

bahahah

but of course I ment it in the kindest sense of the word :evil:

Seriously though, I have the luxury of saying that. I put two 'o's in come, I can smell my own kind...

Huh????

 

[TheOmegaCode]

heh, forget what i said... just pointing out i'm stoopid...

i compile some things from source (not always the newest version) just because i like configuring certain programs to my specifications, like mplayer, etc.
other than an occasional sef fault, my few stints with gentoo never lead to a 'crash.' i've also never heard of anyone getting 98-like instability (unless they did something weird, like installing some program that's in its infancy). besides, if you are talking about new cutting-edge programs crashing your system, then that's the program thats fubar, not the os...

 

[Spyro]

Originally posted by: TheOmegaCode
heh, forget what i said... just pointing out i'm stoopid...

i compile some things from source (not always the newest version) just because i like configuring certain programs to my specifications, like mplayer, etc.
other than an occasional sef fault, my few stints with gentoo never lead to a 'crash.' i've also never heard of anyone getting 98-like instability (unless they did something weird, like installing some program that's in its infancy). besides, if you are talking about new cutting-edge programs crashing your system, then that's the program thats fubar, not the os...

Ahhh, O.K........ Gotcha.........

I think I need to call it a day

 

[TheOmegaCode]

damn it, i need to call it a day too my fat fingers keep hitting the wrong keys... 'sef faults'?

 

[Rufio]

Originally posted by: TheOmegaCode
Rufio You're going to need to do a lot of research. If you can't even find where to download RH iso's, you're going to be in a world of hurt when it coomes to configuring your server... You need to put a lot of time and effort into researching Linux if you want to learn anything...

Originally posted by: GhettoFob

Gentoo is really flexible, but it also suffers from bugs and windows 98-like instability.

A little off topic, but I was thinking about trying out Gentoo. Does it really have windows 98-like instabilty? That's scary. :Q

Who ever said it has 98-like instablility is a tard...

well, i was looking for the pro version to d/l...i am d/l'ing v9 right now.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: TheOmegaCode
damn it, i need to call it a day too my fat fingers keep hitting the wrong keys... 'sef faults'?

It's all sef's fault, don't feel bad.

 

[Sunner]

I wouldn't call RedHat any more unstable than Debian or Slack really.
It's definately more of a PITA to manage "thanks" to RPM, as opposed to APT, but for server duties, where you rarely mess around with it much, RedHat is fine IMO.

If the only purpose of gentoo is too compile your own packages then I figured that most people would want the latest and greatest

It's not.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Sunner
I wouldn't call RedHat any more unstable than Debian or Slack really.
It's definately more of a PITA to manage "thanks" to RPM, as opposed to APT, but for server duties, where you rarely mess around with it much, RedHat is fine IMO.

As long as they don't put a beta version of a core package into a stable release. What was it, gcc?

 

[Sunner]

Yeah it was GCC, and it was a major blunder.
But as long as they don't make a habit out of it, I can forgive them for that one, hopefully they've learned something.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Sunner
Yeah it was GCC, and it was a major blunder.
But as long as they don't make a habit out of it, I can forgive them for that one, hopefully they've learned something.

Yeah, I know. I was just ragging on Red Hat.

As far as the original post is concerned, any version should work well. I use Debian, out of habit I suppose, and because I like features like apt. I would assume that Red Hat has something like that by now. I mean, it's just one of those great ideas.

The Debian install isn't really all that hard, especially when you aren't setting up X. It's mostly just hitting <enter>.