[NCLUG] Suggestions for a distro change

[Mike Loseke]

Ubuntu is excellent as a server-only setup.  If you're familiar with Fedora,
using CentOS definitely has a small transition curve, but Ubuntu is
definitely a fine alternative.  They run a "Long Term Support" (LTS) model
where a major release is supported for 5 years with updates along the way.

I would suggest trying it out on a test machine, real or virtual, beforehand
to get a feel for it and to see if it meets your needs.

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

Click on the "Server Edition" tab for some information and a link to the LTS
release.  I'd suggest that for stability as it sounds like that's what
you're after.

Mike

On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 8:29 AM, Kevin H. Olson <k.h.olson at att.net> wrote:

> Hello All,
>
>  For a number of years, I've used Fedora as the distribution for several
> servers that we maintain at work. I've always been pretty happy with it, but
> recently Fedora seems to have really pulled everything together and they are
> actually pushing releases out the door every six months, and archiving the
> older versions.
>
>  The result is now that over 8 machines we have 4 different releases,
> ranging from Core 4 to Release 8. Every upgrade is unique, as some package
> or another doesn't want to upgrade, or Fedora didn't package the "latest" of
> an update in the Release (e.g., moving from 7 to 8 was on one machine was
> difficult because in Release 7 there was an update to the Kernel, but
> Release 8 had an older version, so it was necessary to run down on the net a
> fc8 release of the kernel later than the one already running on the
> machine).
>
>  With the rapid obsolescence of releases, I am concerned about security
> patches. It is not that the older releases in anyway fail us, it is just
> that they stop receiving any update support.
>
>  Therefore, I am looking for suggestions on replacing the distribution.
> I've been debating CentOS, as it seems to have a longer, stable life.
> However, I have to admit I'm not that familiar with the other distributions.
> I've read the basic stuff, and I think, for example, that Ubuntu is not
> appropriate since these are not desktop machines.
>
>  So, I turn to the collective wisdom of the group: what would be a good
> distribution and why?
>
>  Your advice is greatly appreciated.
>
> Kevin
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