OT: Linux flavors...

[Jay R. Ashworth]

On Wed, Jul 07, 2004 at 11:23:25AM -0500, Chad McWilliams wrote:
> I am in the process of trying to determine what flavor of Linux to use
> to replace my Red Hat servers.  I've tested several (White Hat, Debian,
> LFS, etc.) but have not had a chance to test Suse (seeing as I can't
> download a copy to try out, unless I've missed it).  It seems that many
> of you think highly of it, which has peeked my interest.  The question I
> have is which version are you all running?  From the website I see:
> 
> Personal 9.1
> Professional 9.1
> Linux Server 8
> Linux Enterprise Server 8

Nope.  Avoid 9.1; it's not yet ready for prime time.  My perception of
the current concensus is Pro 9.0; that's what we're using with good
success.  The only problem I've found so far is that filePro's idea of
'linux' isn't compatible with the SuSE console driver.

> I am looking for "real world" input on these versions, as opposed to the
> glossy details on the website.  I have 10 servers that I will be loading
> the os on when I decide what to go with, and 4 of them will eventually
> host filePro applications.  One of the things that is important to me is
> the update facility for security patches.  I don't always have the
> opportunity to manually recompile a program the minute the patch comes
> out and install it at all locations.  That was one thing I liked about
> Red Hat's errata/update system.

YOU is *nice*.  The only thing I see problems with concerns non-SuSE
kernel modules; these may require manual juggling when YOU updates a
kernel unless there's a mechanism I haven't learned yet -- I'm using
ndiswrapper to manage a client's laptop's Broadcom wireless card and it
didn't track the kernel upgrade from -226 to -231; I had to copy the
module manually and depmod.

Other than that, though, *sweeeet*.

Cheers,
-- jra
-- 
Jay R. Ashworth                                                jra at baylink.com
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	"You know: I'm a fan of photosynthesis as much as the next guy,
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