Linux Server Distributions

With the popularity of Ubuntu and the Android mobile platform, there has been much talk lately about Linux in mobile phones, on netbooks, and even on desktop computers. Nevertheless, it was on the server that Linux first gained popularity, and, according to UK server hosting company 34sp.com, most of the largest Linux businesses are still primarily in the server market.

Although many people think "free of charge" when they hear Linux mentioned, there are actually two options for server operating systems: free and commercial. Both are free and open source in terms of licensing, but commercial Linux companies additionally offer paid services, such as tech support, while non-commercial distributions rely on community support.

There are benefits and disadvantages to both options, and what follows is a brief list of some server-oriented Linux distributions to help you decide which one is right for you.

Commercial Distributions

A commercial Linux distribution still uses the same free and open source Linux kernel and also uses some or all of the commonly-shared GNU operating system components. Therefore, the core distribution itself will always be released under the GNU General Public License, and any other free software licenses found in the accompanying software.

The unique attribute that distinguishes commercial distributions from freely downloadable distributions is that a commercial distro may include some proprietary (closed source) software and often uses a commercial company's copyrighted and trademarked logos, artwork, and distinctive aesthetic framework. When they release the source code for their distribution, they will strip any of these non-free components. Other commercial distributions, however, do not add any additional components. The only difference is that they provide paid support for their products.

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) - Red Hat is the largest of the commercial Linux vendors, with a 2009 revenue of $748.2 million. Originally geared toward producing a widely-used variety distribution that was popular with desktop users and server administrators alike, Red Hat later changed its business model to primarily sell and support enterprise-level servers and business workstations. Numerous web hosting companies run servers with RHEL installed.
• SUSE Linux Enterprise - Sold by Novell, SUSE Enterprise is one of the main competitors to Red Hat. Like Red Hat, their distribution was originally configured for Linux users of all varieties who wanted commercial support. They have since split their distribution into multiple versions, with SUSE Linux Enterprise designated for servers. This distribution is not nearly is prevalent on dedicated web servers, but it offers many of the same features as RHEL.
• Oracle Enterprise Linux - One of many commercial distributions derived from and compatible with RHEL, Oracle Enterprise Linux is Oracle's attempt to keep customers in-house by offering an enterprise-ready server operating system with their official support.
• Mandriva Enterprise Server - A household name in desktop Linux, Mandriva is not well-known for its server capabilities, but over the past few years, the commercial Linux company has expanded its offerings to include a server edition. Mandriva is a Paris-based company that is very popular in Europe and South America.

Non-Commercial Distributions

A non-commercial Linux distribution is one that is freely available for download and use, not just in source-code, but in binary format, with a fully functional installer. These distributions are typically developed by community volunteers, but some also have the financial backing of commercial organizations, such as Red Hat, IBM, and Intel.

Being free of charge means that the distribution is provided "as is" with no warranty and no commercial support. However, most will offer support through help documentation, wikis, forums, mailing lists, and IRC chat. In the age of social media, their support may also include Facebook, Twitter, and developer blogs.

• CentOS - Community ENTerprise Operating System is by far the most popular Linux distribution for web hosting and dedicated servers. It is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and boasts 100% binary compatibility with the upstream distribution. This means that users are essentially getting RHEL without paying the licensing fees. This means that they will also not receive Red Hat's warranties or support. What they do inherit is a large community of developers and like-minded users who have run, tested, and re-tested the OS on small and large servers alike.
• Debian - Debian prides itself on being a distribution that sticks to free and open source software principles. All of their software is community developed, requiring community approval to proceed. Debian has been used on servers for many years and is trusted by a plethora of IT experts for its stability, long-term release support, and package management system.
• Ubuntu Server Edition - What could be called the baby of the bunch, Ubuntu Server Edition is an offshoot of the highly acclaimed desktop version of Ubuntu (itself a derivative of Debian). While Ubuntu dominates the Linux desktop arena, it is relatively new to the server market. Those who are comfortable with Ubuntu on their desktops or with another Debian-based distribution, will appreciate the familiarity, coupled with the option for Canonical's commercial support and added features.
• Fedora - Fedora is sponsored by Red Hat and is designed to be the testing ground for RHEL. It also offers community support and participation. It is not designed to be a long-term release, and it will usually have the latest releases of software long before RHEL. This can, at times, make it less predictable. Nevertheless, Fedora comes with the complete infrastructure necessary to run web servers and is used by many who want a low-cost option.
• Slackware - Tried, tested, and developer approved, Slackware is considered one of the most stable, clean, and bug-free distributions. The developers make very few changes to the base upstream source code of their packages, relying on plain text files for configuration, when necessary. Slackware remains a legitimate option for server use, and the community support for the distribution is strong.
• Gentoo - Perhaps the most unique of all the Linux distributions, Gentoo has a ground-up philosophy in its approach to software. Generally, Gentoo software is compiled from source to fit the specific architecture and hardware peripherals of the computer running it, making it smoother and often faster than distributions that use generic binaries. But the time it takes to compile software from source and the amount of technical configuration required may steer some system administrators away from Gentoo. Still, the community support is vast, and the user documentation is more complete than many other distributions.

There is no scientific tool or magical device that will reveal to you the perfect Linux distribution for your server. You must consider cost, ability to customize, support, and the technical expertise required to maintain each distribution. Once you weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each, you can make an informed decision, one that will hopefully propel your server to the next level and beyond.

This is a guest post by Tavis J. Hampton, a librarian and writer with a decade of experience in information technology, web hosting, and Linux system administration. He currently works for LanternTorch.Net, which offers writing, editing, tech training, and information architecture services.

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