Which Linux distribution to choose for the server?

Question

linux

Hello Habrlyudi!
I got settled in a new job. This is a large enterprise with a complex infrastructure. I inherited a Domain on Windows 2008, a file server on Windows 2008, a router on Ubuntu 10.04, and a BuckUp server on Ubuntu 10.04. All this economy is spinning half on ESXi, the rest is in pieces of iron on racks. Since the last Admin worked here for quite some time, the infrastructure was either supplemented or individual modules were cut out, I’ll immediately say that everything is set up and works stably. Having delved a little into the network and into all this economy, I decided to raise my orderly infrastructure. There is a scheme in my head and on paper, and now I settled on choosing a Linux distribution that would manage this economy, namely:
Router (DNS, DHCP, NAT, Firewall, Web server, SQL server), File server, BackUp server. etc. etc.
Actually the question is this, help with the choice and not with the choice, but with advice.
There are preferences for Linux systems, more precisely for SUSE distributions, so I think it's better:
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 (I can't figure out the licensing of this product, namely support and update).
OpenSUSE 12.x (it's frightening that packages for SLES are being tested on this distribution, and then questions immediately arise (Stability, Security, etc., etc.)).
You can of course consider other Distributions, but the emphasis is still on SUSE.

Answer 1

And why break if everything is set up and working fine?
Update ubuntu to the latest LTS,
Update domain controllers, mail and other screw servers.
Ubuntu on the servers works like clockwork - there were no problems with it, unlike suse / opensuse / rhel - on which we had Oracle at one of my previous jobs.
It is necessary to remake the network structure only in one case - if it is done in an idiotic way.
otherwise, I would spend my time more productively.
This is the first - the second - not a single normal admin will keep a backup server on the route.
If I were you, I would think that all servers that should be accessible from the outside - mail, dns, web, ftp, etc. - should be moved to the demilitarized zone, and the local network was closed with another router
and

Answer 2

Debian

Answer 3

The one you know best

Answer 4

well, you didn’t remember the dinosaur ...
I have Debian Etch on file storage from NetGear and plows normally. Uses rep - deb archive.debian.org/debian etch main , but almost never updated.
Approximately once every 2 years, distro comes out, oldstable is almost fully supported. And that is actually 4 years old. In addition, the update between versions is very smooth.
If, of course, self-sawed specific software is used, tuned for a certain version of glibc, then here you will choke on problems everywhere.

Answer 5

Router (DNS, DHCP, NAT, Firewall, Web server, SQL server)

omg… SQL server to gateway?.. Are you serious? And this is your PLAN? The web server hasn't gone anywhere yet, and that's not a very good idea. And this despite the fact that you do not rest against the number of iron servers in the form of virtualization.
In general, I am for Debian, and you need to install what you know better, because. you will set it up better even if it is not quite born for this.
Why look at SLES when OpenSUSE is just as good? Take, of course, already 12, although I generally don’t like SUSE for its filthy YaST.
I hope that you won't think of raising CD on samba and leave it as it is right now on Win2k8.

Answer 6

By the way, regarding OpenSUSE in ESXi, compatibility is not declared here

Answer 7

Do you want to try specialized distribution kits? ClearOS there, for example?

Answer 8

Ubuntu 12.04 is recommended, LTS releases of Ubuntu are usually successful. By the way, 10.04 is still supported and can continue to be used until April 2015 (server version)

Answer 9

Thanks everyone! Of course, I would like to hear the views of SUSE'vodov on this issue, from all of the above, I did not hear anything new. I own both deb-based and rpm-based distributions, although I have never tried Red Hat, although I started with bsd distributions. The dispute is divorced of course, but Linux is the same in any manifestation of Linux. The opinion of the people is good.

Answer 10

In general, the division is planned in the virtual machine, of course. People question about stability! at the last work of SLES in uptime, everything has been tripled for a very long time, the licensing policy is not satisfied.

Answer 11

It is necessary to abandon sousse, since it did not take off and is now in a not very clear state, now in production de facto it is rhel (centos, scientific) and ubuntu.
With the knowledge of these distros, it is easier to get a job than with suse (and the next admin will be glad to see a familiar centos or ubuntu), to be honest in production in Russia and in Usa, I have never met suse, they say they use it in Europe, because suse is being developed in Germany .

Answer 12

For the role of a router, I would suggest PFSense / OpenSense, for a debian / ubuntu / freebsd file dump with domain entry, I would use the backup system built into Windows. sql on a separate machine (depending on which sql is needed or Windows (if MsSql) or the same debian, web server on debian. If you want 1c with databases in the database server, it is better to keep the server and the database server on the same machine