I am curious as to why someone would prefer to use an Enterprise server distro versus a plain distro and then just modify it to fit their needs.

Do the enterprise distros (ie: SuSE Enterprise Server, RedHat Enterprise Server, etc.) provide any additional functionality or is it just easier because they have pre-packaged everything you would likely need for use in a production server environment?

I am aware that these Enterprise distros also offer technical support - but how necessary is that (or helpful) considering that in most cases I'd assume problems would arise from user error or poor (or sloppy) administration.

Can't you still achieve the same level of functionality from a regular distro and then configuring it yourself?

What other Enterprise Server distros are any of you familiar with or use at work/home business/whatever?

Thank you,
checkmate3001

You can run software on whatever you want, but many enterprise vendors mandate certain accredited platforms. you want to run an Oracle cluster, then you run redhat. Without the right versions and patch levels and such, they will not support and such. That's just one reason aside of course, but within enterprise it's a big reason. major vendors also support *everything* they ship. when you're running redhat, you got a kernel problem? redhat will sort it. you got a sendmail issue? go ask redhat. apache being weird? redhat. And compared to other monies that get chucked about, formal high level support for an operating system upon which your $10m web project runs is a no brainer.

you might know what you're doing, but you are one person, not a multi billion pound business with business needs which override what distro a geek prefers. sometimes...