What to look for in a Linux server

If you have decided to move your company’s web sites to a dedicated server, there is a good chance that you have chosen a Linux-based operating system to run on it. Linux, a free and open source alternative to proprietary operating systems such as Microsoft Windows or variants of UNIX, comes in many flavors, called distributions. Not all Linux distributions are alike, and not all of them are optimized for servers. Here are some tips for choosing one that is right for you.

1. Compatibility

If your server will come with Linux installed, then you do not have to worry about this one. If, however, you are setting up and managing the server yourself, you will need to make sure that the hardware is compatible. Some distributions, such as Redhat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), tend to use older kernel versions for stability purposes, but if your hardware is relatively new, you might need a more recent version to work with your hardware.

2. Cost

This consideration covers not only the price of purchase but the cost of support and updates. For established companies with the money to invest, RHEL or Novell SuSE offer enterprise solutions. License fees and support come at a premium cost, but you will have that added comfort knowing that you are covered by whatever guarantees the vendors offer you. If you are running a smaller upstart business, a free distribution such as CentOS, Debian, or Ubuntu might better suit you.

3. Packages

In Linux, the compressed archives that contain application files are called packages. Each distribution has a unique packaging system, and each one offers a variety of free software solutions. You will need to decide which ones offer the software packages you need. For example, you might need a particular version of PHP or MySQL that only Debian offers.

4. Life expectancy

Debian has a very long and sometimes unpredictable release cycle. Sometimes they can take a year or more to upgrade to a new stable release. The developers argue that this increases reliability and stability.

RHEL release every 18 to 24 months and supports their product 7 years after its release. SuSE Linux Enterprise has a 5 to 7 year support plan and a development cycle of 24 to 36 months. Ubuntu releases every six months, but they also include annual long-term support releases that are supported for 5 years. Depending on your needs and how often you would like to do major upgrades, this will be a factor. All distributions will have small security fixes and periodic updates.

5. Support

The commercial distributions, such as RHEL, SuSE, and Ubuntu Server will provide you with traditional technical support. Free versions such as CentOS and Debian do not offer traditional support. Your technicians must rely on their own knowledge, documentation, and community forums and mailing lists.

Each distribution has its own style, brand, and level of sophistication. It will be up to you to decide which one works best for your company, or you can pay someone to make the decision for you. You can also narrow down your search for the web host that fits you best based on the Linux distributions they offer.