Re: Linux Distribution Preferences?

Gavin Flower <GavinFlower@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> · Tue, 15 Jan 2013 05:34:20 +1300



    On 14/01/13 22:24, Hendrik Visage
      wrote:

    
            On Sun, Jan 13, 2013 at 8:27 PM,
              Shaun Thomas <sthomas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
              wrote:

              Hey
                guys,

                
                I'm not sure the last time I saw this discussion, but I
                was somewhat curious: what would be your ideal Linux
                distribution for a nice solid PostgreSQL installation?
                We've kinda bounced back and forth between RHEL, CentOS,
                and Ubuntu LTS, so I was wondering what everyone else
                thought.

              
              Find the one that suits *you* (or rather your
                employer/client) and use that ;)

                 
              We can debate the pros and cons of each and every distro,
              and in the end it'll be the one that suits your (or your
              client/employer's) needs and makes you (or your
              client/employer) happy that'll win the battle.

              
            In the bigger enterprises, RHEL and
              SuSE typically wins.

            
            As you go down the
              Centos/Fedora/Ubuntu/Debians start to become more
              prevalent (license costs etc.)

              
            The questions you'll need to ask
              and investigate:

            
            1) Do I want license/support that I
              can pay somebody to look into my OS troubles?

            
              2) How "active" is the community for this distro?

            
            3) Which distros are the people
              around you using? (ie. replacement/backups/etc.)

            
            4) Do you want
              bleeding/leading/stable/old releases?

            
            5) Can you compile from source for
              this?

            
            6) What OSes are your hosting/etc.
              supporting? (for the servers on the net out there)

            
              7) Am I/company/client happy with this choice?

            
    In essence...

      
      It is that most irritating replies a highly paid
        consultant can give: "It
          depends!"

          
          You have to decide what are
              the important criteria for your situation, the above list
              is a good starting point.  I would add 'security" &
              'performance' requirements.  I am well
                aware, that if I had attempted to provide a list, that I
                would have missed some of the questions
                  Shaun raised.  I am sure other people can add good
                  questions as well.

                  
                  A lot depends on your actual situation, and your intended use cases.

                      
                      In a few months, I may have to go through the same exercise for
                          real. :-(

                          
                          Cheers,

                            Gavin