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Bill, <br>
<br>
I'll leave it to the pros to suggest a distribution to use. I use
Mandriva, but I'm a rebel in a world of rebels. <br>
<br>
What I can speak to is using linux in a small business environment.
Here's the summary: there is a steep learning curve. There is
precious little management after that.<br>
<br>
I run:<br>
- linux on a couple of desktops in our office. No management. It was
basically download a cd and install.<br>
- linux on a couple of reasonably busy webservers. Very little
management once things are running smoothly. If I don't change things,
the servers will run unmonitored for years. Seriously. I never ever
ever reboot my webservers. ever.<br>
- the webservers also handle our office email. I never touch this.
Mail is a mystery to me. I had the pros install some server level spam
filtere a couple of years ago, nothing since.<br>
- linux handles our phone systems. It was installed 2 years ago, I've
had three problems since. Once the hard drive was full so I deleted
some messages and that was it. The other two times a reboot (you're
familiar with that process? :) ) fixed it. No idea why, don't care. <br>
- I've also got all my backups and archiving across a number of servers.<br>
<br>
<br>
So - an emphatic yes for use of linux on your small business servers.
As a small business owner who mostly handles my own server stuff, I
wouldn't change for the world. I can do almost everything myself and
what I can't, I've got access to a variety of readily available
professional support. AND your choice of gui or command line.<br>
<br>
If you want some reading, Google 'the perfect server'. Various linux
distributions have tutorials on how to set up servers. I wouldn't use
them as a guide on which distro to use, but you should get the idea of
ease of use and setup.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Bill Hazelwood wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:5DB8F63DBB03684FACBBDA2C85C34B1592D891@DELTASBS2003.deltaelevator.local"
type="cite">
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<div><span class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">Good
morning,</font></span></div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"></span> </div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">In
spirit of the recent post on what would be the best desktop
distribution, I would like to ask the same question for servers, but
first a little background. I appolise, but this is going to be long
winded.</font></span></div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"></span> </div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">I
am the 'IT guy' for an elevator manufacturer in Kitchener. I use the IT
term loosely as I have no formal training, I am 100% 'home-grown'. I
solve problems the hard way (lots of head scratchin' and bangin') and
if that does not work, I am on the phone to Microsoft. I have been
ITing for 10 yrs and I hold Microsoft wholely responsible for my
hairloss and premature greying. LOL!!!</font></span></div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"></span> </div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">We
are currently running Microsoft's SBS 2003 server suite and we are
looking to upgrade. I naturally looked to Microsoft for my next
headache... I mean solution. After all, once you become a sheep, what
else can you do??? This is where the problem begins, upgrading to Big
Mic's newest offering is going to cost the company close to $50k in
hardware and software (<span class="583450914-02022010"><font
face="Arial" size="2">We have 40 desktops, 2 remote offices and 40
mobile/PDA users.</font></span></font><font face="Arial"><font size="2"><span
class="583450914-02022010">)</span>. Ouch??? Are they kidding, who can
afford that??? What am I to do, the bosses are not going to be happy
with that request. So, I started looking for alternatives.</font></font></span></div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"></span> </div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">I
found many stories of users with Linux machines that just work. No
problems, no worries and best of all, no costs. The years of Microsoft
abuse has left me very skeptical. Is this possible? Can servers just
work? Is it possible to have a 'lights out' server room? </font></span><span
class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">For the most
part, I am a Linux blank slate. I spent a bit of time with QNX about
15yrs ago and I am an original DOS guy. I am no stranger to the command
line, however I am quite rusty for sure. </font></span><span
class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">So, where does
that leave me???</font></span></div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"></span> </div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">I
have grand plans and I am looking for direction on how to get there.
What distro do I use? I have been given the OK to take some training
courses and have looked at Red Hat and Ubuntu. If I trained in Red Hat
and later used Ubuntu (or something else) would the training be a
waste? I understand that there will be a steep learning curve and that
I will need to purchase support, but I figure that in the end I will be
better off.</font></span></div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"></span> </div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">Here
are some details;</font></span></div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">-
Continue to run WinXP as the desktop OS for the users</font></span></div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">-
Need Microsoft SQL Server</font></span></div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">-
Need (I think) Microsoft Server for other Server applications (AutoCAD,
Alarm System, Terminal Server for remote offices, Desktop Antivirus
server)</font></span></div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">-
DHCP, DNS, PDC, File, Email, Security, Backup, Print and Fax servers to
be some flavour of Linux</font></span></div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"></span> </div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"></span> </div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">Thank-you
to all for any support you can give.</font></span></div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"></span> </div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">Best
regards,</font></span></div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"><font face="Arial" size="2">Bill
Hazelwood</font></span></div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"></span> </div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"></span> </div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"></span> </div>
<div><span class="583450914-02022010"></span> </div>
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