Best Server Distribution (free)

[Wanch]

What server distribution is the best that is also free? I'm curious to know before I setup my next online server if anyone has any reasons for preferring one flavor over another. To me, they all seem the same with different package managers.

[Jordan]

I really like Fedora as a free server distro. CentOS is good as well and currently running this website and CodeCall. If you like the RedHat package manager then you will probably like either of these distrobutions.

[zErOaCid]

i would suggest Debian, CentOS and Ubuntu. There are lots of tutorials on these distro that you can setup your own server. FYI, i'm using Debian and i just did follow the tutorials and it is running smoothly up to now.

[sirizak]

I have spent years playing in the Fedora/RedHat environment, so for a server I always choose CentOS (built from RedHat Enterprise Source). They apply the same life cycle policy as RedHat Enterprise, 7 years of support for each major version. The problem with this is that they tend to get left behind abit when it comes to bleeding edge packages. I think from memory CentOS 5, is related Fedora Core 6. We are at what Fedora 10 now? So they do tend to get left behind. Updates are still being applied though.

I think it depends alot on your previous experience though, all three of the big players in the community, CentOS, Debian and Ubuntu are great distros. So go with what you know, it'll ease the learning curve for you.

[Tor]

I thought Redhat made Fedora Core as well?

[sirizak]

Yea Tor they sponsor the Fedora Project, I think that means they inject cash and programmers. Not sure though.

Fedora is fine for server installations, it just tends to get updated alot and old versions are abandoned sooner. Thats why I recommend CentOS as it is a much more stable platform.

It really depends what your needs are.