Linux, can it be?
 

What Linux supported NAME and STABLE version delivers a complete package that can provide a server set-up without conflicting dependencies and so no need to search the Internet for packages to install and run the server for today's environment that would support as many other software packages as possible? I mean the one that can be installed and configured right the first time so I can install and run whatever I might need to download to connect to today's world so I do not have to run windows next to Linux figuring out what and where can be found and getting replies to my questions.
Hopefully I am not asking too much, should I brake it down to several posts?:scratch:

Debian has the by far largest amount of packages available, and the package management system is widely regarded as the best available. Most dependencies are resolved and fixed automatically without you having to handpick libraries and support programs.

Most applications - especially server software - will require a bit of setting up before you can use it. This is to be expected - no distribution, no matter if it's Linux, Windows or Mac OSX, can provide an all-in-one solution that suits everyone's needs right out of the box.


Håkan

OK Hakan,

I got RedHat installed and debian on CDs version 2.2 tc3, for i386. Should I download new version of debian or can I still install the one I got for i686 machine?
Do I have to do a clean complete installation; I mean removal of RedHat and installing debian? I would like to set it as server.
Thanks.

Hi, first of all I would recommend getting a newer debian version. Debian comes in 3 "flavours": stable, testing, and unstable. Debian has a very strict policy for their packages, they go through the code and test it thouroughly, so it takes a long time for a package to reach stable. So even on their latest release (3.0r2 at the moment) you DON'T get the latest kernel and software. On the other hand, you KNOW it's stable, so its good for servers, unless you really need the latest samba, apache, or whatever.

But you can always upgrade (very easily) every package, and the debian packaging system resolves all the dependecies for you and install them along. You just have to configure the debian mirrors, no need to search the www: apt-get install apache -t unstable and you get the latest apache debian package available, that is preconfigured and normally "almost" ready to go.

Debian might be a little harder to install, but once it's running it might be easier to maintain.
You could try out their new installer, that is still in testing, but Ive used it several times and it has worked well for me, which would install the debian testing "flavour", they have a base installer (100MB ISO) and then fetches everything else from the web. But you do need some experience with debian, apt.

You don't have to delete your redhat installation. But you should create at least a partition for debians root. And you have to learn how to configure a bootloader for multibooting. I recommend using GRUB, google for a grub multiboot howto for more info.

Is there somewhere indicated what versions of let’s say: versions of apache, java, and etc. their stable version supports?
Somewhere where I can start and as you guys say I can always upgrade if necessary by small steps.
:rolleyes:

Try http://packages.debian.org for info on what packages are currently in Stable, Testing and Unstable.


Håkan

I also say Debian. I recommend stable for a server. It has first priority for security updates. And when testing becomes stable, you can easily upgrade your system.

and you can of course also upgrade certain packages, say, you want samba 3.

Trustix Secure Linux was designed for servers.
Also try ServerOptimizedLinux which comes with server necessities and not uneeded items such as a gui..

http:///trustix.org
http://sol-linux.com