If I just wanted a web server what should I use?..

PAz · 14 Mar 2006 at 00:04

Hi, Ive had a play with a few linux distro's in the past (mainly ubuntu and mandrake) however this time is a little different.

I need a dedicated webserver (will be running apache), so my question is, is there a particular distro I should look at using for this?

I understand I could get it running on any distro, just wondered if there was anything specific I should consider (and any other advice is welcome

)

Thanks

deano · 14 Mar 2006 at 07:08

centos 3 or 4, debian, ubuntu. personally i would go with centos as there are lots of web servers about running this distro and support would be very good, eith issues already found/sorted. but any of the three really.

cheers
deano

afraser2k · 14 Mar 2006 at 09:09

Just use a base install of your favourite Linux for your web server. Ubuntu have released a server-specific distro called "Ubuntu-Server" that might meet your needs, although personally I just use Debian Sarge 3.1 with SSH login (mainly as I learnt about Linux using previous Debian releases).

michellez · 14 Mar 2006 at 12:49

Do you need a X at all or just SSH/console?
If just SSH I'd highly recommend Gentoo.

riven · 14 Mar 2006 at 16:23

Gentoo's a tricky one for servers, because of course any updates have to be compiled, and do you really want your server using cpu cycles compiling stuff, even if the emerge is reniced.

uk_viper · 14 Mar 2006 at 17:21

personally i would reccomend fedora or centos, if it makes it any easier, install plesk with their free single domain licence, that should help manage the server more easily

PAz · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:46

Ta for all the replies.

Plesk looks like it could simplify things which would be cool as I'm still very much a beginner.

May look at using the Ubuntu server distribution as I've used Ubuntu plenty in the past!

Thanks again

Ollie's Gadgets · 16 Mar 2006 at 09:43

I would go for debian sarge. Check out www.aboutdebian.com and www.debianhelp.co.uk both sites are all about using debian on a server.

Tigger · 16 Mar 2006 at 10:44

May i suggest one of the bsd's?

uk_viper · 16 Mar 2006 at 15:47

Tigger said:
May i suggest one of the bsd's?

i find BSD a bit fiddly and ive been using linux for years, even when i set up customers' servers it can become very awkward at times

Hades · 16 Mar 2006 at 22:02

My view would be Fedora or Debian, and possibly SuSE.

topbanana · 23 Mar 2006 at 13:55

OpenBSD !

Caged · 23 Mar 2006 at 16:48

uk_viper said:
personally i would reccomend fedora or centos, if it makes it any easier, install plesk with their free single domain licence, that should help manage the server more easily

You got more info on this free single domain license?

Edit: Found it, turns out the Plesk products are all free for a single domain, which is pretty :cool:

Kona* · 23 Mar 2006 at 23:22

I just set up a small webserver at home using CentOS 4 and it was painless, there are a few guides on howtoforge on setting up web-servers

uk_viper said:
personally i would reccomend fedora or centos, if it makes it any easier, install plesk with their free single domain licence, that should help manage the server more easily

Where on Plesk' site can you request a single domain license? I had a look and couldnt see anything

Craig