Best Linux distribution for web servers?

[adonis]

Which Linux is the best for web servers? And why?

[Bob Saget]

I use Redhat.. never troubles..

[tgpmakers]

I second that redhat works great

[garett]

Depends on what your needs are.

If you want easy to use package management, automatic software updates as well as decent support from the distro manufacturer etc. then Redhat isn't a bad choice.

If you want to maximize performance you might be better off with a stripped down, hack-it-yourself distro like Slackware.

If your top priority is security then a distro like Engarde or Trustix would be a good choice.

[zagi]

Drop linux, get FreeBSD

[adonis]

Originally posted by garett
If you want easy to use package management, automatic software updates as well as decent support from the distro manufacturer etc. then Redhat isn't a bad choice.

We're already on RH7.1, It seems it's quite old, whenever you want to install something, you need to install something else updated before it, and then you need some other package. Is RH10 the latest? I remember RH started to charge a monthly fee, am I wrong?

[Doctor Dre]

It depends on the system admin and what you know ...

There is no good answer for this question

[garett]

Originally posted by adonis
We're already on RH7.1, It seems it's quite old, whenever you want to install something, you need to install something else updated before it, and then you need some other package. Is RH10 the latest? I remember RH started to charge a monthly fee, am I wrong?

RH 7.1 .. in terms of Linux, is ancient. IIRCC it's about 5 years old or so.

That is a problem with Linux and one reason to consider using an alternative if you need to constantly update software.

However, if you manage your services correctly .. for instance, if you just need apache and ssh you can disable everything else and just focus on keeping those services up to date from source, then you can get by running an old distro for ages.

[BoNgHiTtA]

Redhat Enterprise. Its not free, but solid. Also it does autoupdates, which is really sweet. I am not a real hacker though, just good enough to admin a few boxes, so I can't say if this is the best for you.

[http]

CentOS

[Eve]

FreeBSD....oh wait you said Linux...*sigh*

Debian is rock solid, less BS to deal with than RedHat, way easier to manage packages too...

[Magg]

Originally posted by http
CentOS

this is great for those who want to keep running redhat but dont want enterprise version.

[underzen]

For sure FreeBSD is the best. However if your set on Linux then I'd say Redhat.

[Argoz]

freeBSD

[Hansm]

Redhat Enterprise.

Its working good.

[SinisterStudios]

We love debian, we run it on our clusters