Mike Posted June 29, 2006 Share Posted June 29, 2006 We've just bought a couple of servers at work and we need to run Linux on them.. our supplier has told us that we should be fine to run Centos, but we could use Redhat for an extra cost if we want (the cost is irrelevant)... The engineer I spoke to said Centos 'does the job', but because it's free lots of companies don't feel comfortable about that (mine will feel great about that!).. therefore some people go for Redhat... For now I have said we'll go for Centos (as I have no reason not to?), but I know it will be a nightmare if we get problems later on to change operating system.. The server will handle *lots* of XML requests, process them, and then send on data to a HP Dec Alpha.. these machines are going to be busy and I mean *busy*... any opinions? Centos or Redhat...? - also anyone got a good Linux reference I could get? how different is it to Windows? Cheers peeps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbeh Posted June 29, 2006 Share Posted June 29, 2006 We use/support Redhat and Suse here, not heard of the other but I'm not much into Linux personally. Its good, kinda windows looking with mostly Unix based OS/file structure... so if you understand that it should be ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edd_t Posted June 29, 2006 Share Posted June 29, 2006 have limited knowledge and use of Linux, but from peeps around they say go for Redhat. pay out now and not later. they'll also be more support just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted June 29, 2006 Share Posted June 29, 2006 Centos is practically Redhat Enterprise... just without the paid support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted June 29, 2006 Share Posted June 29, 2006 Use the Fedora core if you want free Redhat. How like windows is it? Get ready for chalk and cheese - previous suggestions that it looks like windows are PURELY graphic window managers of which there are shit-loads to choose from. They run completely differently (as in, they keep running, unlike Mr Gates's finest ) so if your company seriously expect you to set one up, get them to send you on some kind of training. Doubly so if this thing has to field XML, which makes me think it's probably internet facing, and will need some serious hardening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted June 29, 2006 Share Posted June 29, 2006 Use the Fedora core if you want free Redhat. Fedora core is for the desktop, centOS is the free version of Redhat Enterprise server. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hob Posted June 29, 2006 Share Posted June 29, 2006 I had the choice of windows vs linux (used red hat & suse) but chose windows (much to the dismay of a few anti windows people) so far around 6 months with no problems *touch wood* server 2003 is highly underated although it does cost £££ if you dont get it *ahem Pre installed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted June 29, 2006 Share Posted June 29, 2006 Really? OK. We mainly use Solaris here, so I don't keep up with that stuff. If Sonic wants to have a play about, try Knoppix or Damn Small Linux, which will boot a Windows PC straight to Linux to muck about with, without buggering anything up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilli Posted June 29, 2006 Share Posted June 29, 2006 Centos is practically Redhat Enterprise... just without the paid support. exactly, redhat is good as you've noticed there are loads of flavous of unix (suse, redhat, freebsd, debian etc) but they mostly do a similar job not like windows but being familiar with any os will be a help a lot of the guts of linux is configured using scripts and config files rather than gui's (although many versions have gui's around). I'd say if it is for work, pay the little extra (not a lot) for Redhat with support (rather than centos) just so when you get stuck you have someone to ask, and go on a 2 or 3 day basics training course at least to get you started Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted June 29, 2006 Share Posted June 29, 2006 Solaris is good, we use it on Sun boxes and i even have a Solaris 9 x86 desktop for admin work. If we use linux then its Fedora, although designed as a desktop distro it has all the bits needed for use as a internet service server and its very easy to turn services on and off etc, Centos as already mentioned is also free and more server orientated. I would never use windows directly on the internet, just personal preference, dont get me wrong all our office desktops are XP and I like windows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren-K Posted June 29, 2006 Share Posted June 29, 2006 if you use redhat then quite a few windows apps will work ok, via "wine" which is a part of redhat tha allows windows stuff etc,. linux is ace yet very different.,i would even say better than windows in many ways ,the only reason i changed back to windows is cos i use many audio apps and they just will not run on linux. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted June 29, 2006 Share Posted June 29, 2006 I'd say if it is for work, pay the little extra (not a lot) for Redhat with support (rather than centos) just so when you get stuck you have someone to ask, and go on a 2 or 3 day basics training course at least to get you started That's very good advice, and you can always then set up a development/test server running CentOS (or whatever) that you can play around with yourself. Once in house linux skills improve then you could look at using it on future production servers. We're going to be giving CentOS a go on a couple of servers at work, I've gone full circle with Linux distro's now I think, started off with Redhat, moved to fedora, then moved onto debian based distros... now back to Redhat based ones again I still don't like RPM but package management is much better now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted June 29, 2006 Author Share Posted June 29, 2006 wow.. lots of knowledge on this one..! Thanks to all of you for replying Yep, that sound like a plan think we'll go with Redhat for the support aspects and also for training... probably better to go for something a bit more 'proven' than to step into the unknown.. especially with a project of this size... Thanks again for the replies fellas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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