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Which OS do you use on your server and why?

We are looking at LINUX servers and would like to know which Operating Systems other members use. Pros and Cons of CentOS 5 or Ubuntu 8.

Any others we should consider? Why? Why not?

Thank you.

Sun, 10 May 2009 17:39:40
  • andrea_r
    • The Incredible Code Injector

    I dunno if I’d run a site off Ubuntu. Seems to me that OS is more geared for desktop use not webservers.

    CentOS I used to say was fine, before I knew the differences. here have been soem issues with memory leaks.

    Right now, we have a vps on CentOS (yes with issues from time to time) and are transitioning to a NginX setup (*drool* AWESOME). We also run a local box with a few dev WPMU sites on Debian. Pretty good so far. And Fedora Core works dandy too. (that’s my local dev box.)

  • drmike
    • DEV MAN’s Mascot

    And her daughters are running Mandrake. :slight_smile:

    Just curious, Andrea. Have you had any clients request Red Hat Enterprise? We’ve had a few request it only to be surprised that we didn’t offer it. Seems like folks assume that’s the biggie when it comes to hosting.

  • andrea_r
    • The Incredible Code Injector

    “And her daughters are running Mandrake. :slight_smile:”

    Actually, one of them bought a computer with Vista on it. That’s how they rebel. (WHERE DID I GO WRONG? :stuck_out_tongue: )

    “Just curious, Andrea. Have you had any clients request Red Hat Enterprise? “

    Nope. Any client of mine with that level of knowledge has already picked the OS on the server. :smiley:

  • drmike
    • DEV MAN’s Mascot

    Any client of mine with that level of knowledge has already picked the OS on the server.

    Nah, we get “You’re not running RHEL? Isn’t that what you;re supposed to be running for servers?” every so often. Folks think that’s the only server software that’s available. More of assumed knowledge over actual knowledge.

  • Andrew
    • Champion of Loops

    Actually, one of them bought a computer with Vista on it. That’s how they rebel. (WHERE DID I GO WRONG? :stuck_out_tongue:

    Vista you say? Just one?

    Let’s see :smiley:

    4 x XP (two netbooks + two ultralights)

    8 x Vista (four desktops + two beefy notebooks + two media center machines)

    3 x Fedora Core (three mini dev boxes)

    Back on topic:

    For servers I used to be all for CentOS but I experienced the memory leak issue first hand on my three mini dev boxes and have switched to Fedora Core.

    Thanks,

    Andrew

  • drmike
    • DEV MAN’s Mascot

    You get memory leaks on all OSes. I have to shut down Firefox every so often on the laptop and we all know how much Luke loves Firefox.

    I personally think you should go with whatever OS you feel comfortable with. One of the reasons why I use FreeBSD is I feel comfortable with it since I came out of mainframes and the college environment.

    It also depends on the datacenter as well. I know a lot of them require you to run one of only a few OSes. That way if the techs need to, they will be able to support them.

    And then of course it may also be a hardware issue. I know I’m stuck with *shudder* Mac OS X Server on my backup XServes.