I'm been hearing all about the hype that FreeBSD is a very stable platform for a Web Server. And with RedHat moving away I was thinking about trying FreeBSD as my new web server. My question is there active development on FreeBSD for:

* Apache 2 (mod_ssl, mod_auth_mysql, etc)
* OpenSSL
* MySQL
* SSH
* PHP4
* Samba (Windows Filesharing)

I'm a total BSD newbie, but I heard that Linux and BSD are similar except to the kernel and drivers and such. I basically have my server box and my main computer close together and I make major changes using Dreamweaver accessing a Samba connection. I also use SSH to make any changes requiring a terminal. (I only have two connections coming out on the server box, ethernet and powercord)

So would FreeBSD be a good choice for the performance and stability? Along with those applications I presented? (I don't need much other than those presented above)

Thanks
David

All the applications you listed are regularly updated in the Ports Collection (/usr/ports).

The only similarity between BSD and Linux is they are both `UNIX-like' (more so BSD).

Yes, Freebsd is a good choice for a web server. All of that software exists on the port system, and they can be updated at any moment very easily.

/usr/ports/www/mod_php4
/usr/ports/www/apache13-modssl
/usr/ports/databases/mysql41-server/
/usr/ports/net/samba

You only need to install this ports to have it all installed under /usr/local/.
The config files go to /usr/local/etc/. Edit them and protect your instalations.
At this point I think you know how to create keys with openssl and how to configure php/apache and samba. Use your traditional methods of linux, edit the configs and restart the daemon.

If you have any question, post it here and you«ll be helped!

Thanks for the info nullpt, ports makes rpm's look like hell

Btw, How do I update software? (stuff that I installed with ports that is)

Install the PortUpgrade port: `/usr/ports/sysutils/portupgrade'.

# cd /usr/ports/sysutils/portupgrade
# make install clean

When it's done you'll have portinstall (to install ports), portupgrade (to upgrade ports) and portversion (to check the ports state).

# portupgrade <pack> -> will upgrade the port
# portupgrade -a -> will upgrade all ports

Toc check for outdated ports:

# portversion | grep '<'

To install a port:

# portinstall <port>


Anything else I can help?