Should I use desktop Red Hat Linux or Server Red hat linux?
 

Hi,

I want to build a Linux server at home and I am unsure on getting the Red hat desktop 5 version or Server 5 version. Which one should I try to get, and what is the big difference between them? Can't you run a desktop server with RH desktop version 5 too? Thanks for any advice on how to startup.

Because I'm not a RH guy, I can't comment on the differences, but I'm sure it has to do with Red Hat's own configuration tools and which tools/utilities/programs/updates are available to which release.

If you want Red Hat, get CentOS. It is basically Red Hat stripped of the name and logos.

If you'd like to explore other options, try Slackware or Debian.

If you are not running an enterprise then stick with the desktop. LinuxCrayon is mostly correct, the main difference is server config tools. However to be honest, I don't use most of the tools provided with the OP Sys. I use webmin and other tools along with the old fashioned command line and manual editing. Just works better in the long run.

Besides if there's is anything software wise missing from the desktop edition it doesn't matter. It's available out there.

Hope that helps:)

one thing I have noticed is that the workstation does not come by default with mod_ssl enabled in apache. There a re probably many other packages not available in the workstation channel such as ldap servers and such.
My home server is a CentOS server and I am very happy.