Best linux for home server
I'm setting up a home server, primarily it's to allow me to run apache, php and mysql for coding.
But I know I will fiddle with it and install new things, even for pointless play sake. Like make it a mail server or connect it to the internet and allow incoming connections... that of course later on, first it will be a basic server for web development.
So with all that in mind, what Linux would you recommend? (please, don;t suggest windows, I beg you)
I have been advised by a good friend, who is also a good server manager, to use centos, but I read good things about a few others, kubuntu, debian to name a few.
teammatt3 posted this at 00:32 — 7th December 2008.
He has: 2,102 posts
Joined: Sep 2003
Hmm, you should probably go with Windows.
decibel.places posted this at 00:45 — 7th December 2008.
He has: 1,494 posts
Joined: Jun 2008
I use xampplite as a local server on Windows - it has Apache, PHP, MySQL - I think you can configure it for mail.
There is another package called wampserver, about the same...
[edit - I just read the OP, the info below is probably irrelevant]
There are some links to "linux server software" on this Google search
I have used Ubuntu as a dual boot on my PC, but not sure if it is usable for a server.
I know that FreeBSD is popular server software, it is UNIX-like therefore like Linux...
greg posted this at 01:30 — 7th December 2008.
He has: 1,581 posts
Joined: Nov 2005
There is another package called wampserver, about the same...
[edit - I just read the OP, the info below is probably irrelevant]
There are some links to "linux server software" on this Google search
I have used Ubuntu as a dual boot on my PC, but not sure if it is usable for a server.
I know that FreeBSD is popular server software, it is UNIX-like therefore like Linux...
I dunno, maybe it's just me, but I tend to read the OP of a thread before answering.
Guess it's just me, I like to be topical, and, well, at least attempt to be helpful.
Thanks for the link to google search though, I never thought of doing that.
I guess I might try Ubuntu as you mentioned, as you say it's good, although maybe not for a server, which is, well, kinda what I wanted, hmm **scratches head
So, I'll just throw this out there as a random question in the hope someone might read it and answer...anyone recommend a decent LINUX OS (that's not Unix or Windows) to use as a home server OS?
teammatt3 posted this at 01:28 — 7th December 2008.
He has: 2,102 posts
Joined: Sep 2003
Sorry, I couldn't resist on that first post
For my home server I use Ubuntu, and on my "real" web server, I run Fedora Core 6. I hate Fedora Core. I can never figure out where config files are located, it's hard to locate where startup scripts are and it's harder to find support for it on forums.
I love Ubuntu simply for the fact that all the config files are in /etc/ and all the startup scripts are in /etc/init.d. That just makes it soooo much easier to administer. So my vote goes toward Debian, or a variant like Ubuntu.
Jeeves has a good tutorial on how to get up and running with Deb.
greg posted this at 01:36 — 7th December 2008.
He has: 1,581 posts
Joined: Nov 2005
yeah, I've seen your cheekiness before, I knew what your game was
So going by what you say I will sway away from fed. And I do read lots of good things about Ubuntu and debian, mainly they are good for simplicity, although I have compiled kernels and setup installs years ago with gentoo, the hard way *groans
I might go for debian, as I do think Liam has a great knowledge of servers, I can follow his guide, rather than search for one and 'hope' it is accurate and trustable...cheers
It's not that I have anything particularly against windows, it's just that whenever I see server software and the scripting that runs specifically on win server, it comes with a cost.
Why pay when Linux and PHP is there. I've also read of problems with php on win servers, also read it isn't too bad, but again, why bother with even possible issues and headaches when with linux it simply works.
pr0gr4mm3r posted this at 01:50 — 7th December 2008.
He has: 1,502 posts
Joined: Sep 2006
Another vote for Debian or Ubuntu. I use CentOS on my commercial servers only because I have to. I use Ubuntu on my home server, and it has all the usuals, such as Apache, PHP, MySQL, Samba, FTP, etc.
After you setup a home server for web development, learning how to configure Samba would also be a plus, so you can use it as a file/backup server. I would also recommend installing Torrentflux so you can run torrents, even if you shutdown your desktop at night.
greg posted this at 01:59 — 7th December 2008.
He has: 1,581 posts
Joined: Nov 2005
So obviously you don't out of choice on your home one. Is there any particular reason for that, or just preference / what you got used to?
EDIT
I just found the forum link from Liam's Debian tutorial
http://www.webmaster-forums.net/server-management/apc-article-how-build-...
So I guess the answer to my question is simply the requirement of cpanel then..
pr0gr4mm3r posted this at 02:24 — 7th December 2008.
He has: 1,502 posts
Joined: Sep 2006
Ya, cPanel limits my choice to CentOS or RedHat. I prefer Ubuntu because the debian packages are better than RPMs in my opinion. I also have Ubuntu on my home server because that's what I have on my desktop, and it's easier to maintain them both when it's the same distro.
cmoyer posted this at 02:12 — 9th December 2008.
He has: 131 posts
Joined: Jun 2008
Another Debian/Ubuntu vote here
I run different variations of Debian or Ubuntu simply for the apt-get command, which makes it so, soo, sooo easy to install new software. Considering I use Webmin/Virtualmin for a CP it isn't the only option out there. Other than that I have my mac set up to run php5, MySQL5 and Apache2 by installing through macports(the apt-get for mac).
I tried Fedora but the images were too big and kept getting corrupt on the download, so I forgot it.
Regardless of what others say Windows makes a terrible web server, I could never get it to work out.
Ubuntu/Debian makes a quite capable simple web/document server, however I have never tried it under a heavy load.
Shaggy posted this at 02:36 — 13th December 2008.
They have: 121 posts
Joined: Dec 2008
I've always had extremely good luck with BSD - specifically FreeBSD. I've been running it on development and production machines for about eight years now. The product, and documentation are excellent!
Cheers,
Shaggy.
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