Crunch time: Debian, Libranet or FC1?

[Tom Wilson]

On Fri, 2004-04-30 at 11:21, Michael Hipp wrote:
> I need to build a new server for a client. Primary app for now will just 
> be Samba but later PostgreSQL. Hardware will be a P4 with dual SCSI 
> mirrored. This client is smallish, but they would be out of business in 
> no time if this system doesn't "just run".
> 
> Until now, I always just used the latest version of RHL for a server 
> distro, but that is all changed. Please offer me your opinions and any 
> pros/cons you can think of...
> 
> - I'm by far more familiar with Red Hat than anything else.
> 
> - The stability of Debian is legendary. But some of the software is 
> ancient and I don't know how stable the unstable repository is. And 
> security updates are generally unavailable for unstable.

Generally 'testing' is stable enough for regular use.  Unstable is
usually ok but for a server that someones business depends on, I
wouldn't use it.  

> 
> - Libranet is a jewel, but it is not intended as a server distro.

I run Libranet on a Squid proxy server and it is fine.  It is an IBM x
series 220.  I had no problems with it at all.  All the server software
is there for the installing.  Or you can apt-get it.  

> 
> - FC1 is easy, familiar and up to date; but would I be crazy to use it 
> for a production server (even a small one)?

I feel the same way about FC1 as I do about Debian unstable.  I would
put it on a server that a business depends on.  

> 
> - Do I just need to bite the bullet and learn Debian?

It depends on what you want to do really.  I'm in a similar situation as
you.  Most familiar with RH but Fedora's release cycle is just to fast
for me.  So I choose to go the Debian route.  

> 
> - Is there any good reason to continue to think of Debian as an 
> intimidating/difficult distro?

No.  The install is what everyone held up as the difficult part.  In
reality, if you new exactly what hardware you had, it wasn't hard at
all.  The package installation is a bit tedious because there is soooo
much to select from.  The next stable release of Debian will have a new
installer, though I haven't looked at it so I don't know what it is
like. 

> 
> {Here's some unscientific data ... Went down to Books-A-Million in 
> Little Rock. The book rack for "Operating Systems" had (16) items that 
> mention Red Hat right in the title and several others that are based on 
> Red Hat but don't say so in the title, (2) items that have SUSE in the 
> title and (1) about Debian. Is staying with the "leader" still the best 
> choice?}
> 
> Opinions please ...

There is also Slackware.  I used it on a couple servers at my old job. 
One intranet server and an internal ftp server.  It was rock solid.  

$.02 deposited.  Opinions worth less.

Tom Wilson 
McSwain Carpets 
513.771.1400 x4433 
----- 
Joe Cool always spends the first two weeks at college sailing his
frisbee. -- Snoopy