Dedicated server OS

[Jack Norton]

I was thinking about getting a dedicated server somewhere in (near) future since lately things are going well.
However today I asked some questions to Layeredtech (very low prices) and got a bit confused: basically they said that RedHat 9 is a dead OS because they stopped developing it, so I presume it isn't a good choice (you guys what use?).
All I wanted to know if I could use some sort of Linux distribution (anything that's not crap, they use only Debian or Redhat) and not install CPanel but a more cheap one (like Plesk or DirectAdmin) but in the end they didn't answered really my question :D
What OS/CPanel do you guys use or recommend? I saw also FreeBSD, but I don't know well that OS (if is good to admin a server or not)...

Thanks!

[Mike Boeh]

Supposedly CentOS is the good one now. It's just like Redhat enterprise linux, but free :) I still use redhat 9 though...

[carl]

My colo (dedicated server) runs on Debian. It's been perfect for me so far. There is a lot to be said for the ease-of-use of apt-get.

[Dom]

I second the use of Debian.

Managed to hose Red Hat a couple of times trying to install the latest patches, but Debian is (thankfully) pretty idiot proof. Apt-get is so much better than rpc for non-guru linux users (and idiots like me).

[Jack Norton]

Supposedly CentOS is the good one now. It's just like Redhat enterprise linux, but free
Cool, they have it on their OS list, maybe I'll go with that one, or Debian (since here anyone recommend it).

[Mike Boeh]

Patrox had some Debian/CPanel issues if I recall....

[Larry Hastings]

My pal has been bringing up our LayeredTech server over the past couple of days. He's a recent Debian convert, having switched from Red Hat Enterprise (that's what's on our current server), and I must say I can see where he's coming from.

The fresh install of Debian didn't have "unzip". So I logged in as root and ran apt-get install unzip and bam! before I could turn around it installed unzip. It didn't have Python, so I ran apt-get install python and wham! now it had the current version of Python.

Debian has been around for years, it's stable, and it makes it easy to stay current with security fixes. If I were installing a new server today, I'd absolutely go with Debian "sarge". Luckily I don't have to ;)

[Jack Norton]

Hmm yes actually I spoke with Patrox too about those debian problems... I am NOT a linux expert so I don't want to have to use SSH and type line-commands!! :)

[Sillysoft]

If you want to stay away from the command line as much as possible then your choice of control panel is important. I use CPanel/WHM and am very happy with it. You can do most everything from the control panel interface. I have no experience with other control panels so I cannot compare them, but from what I have heard cpanel is the most full featured one.

[Jack Norton]

but from what I have heard cpanel is the most full featured one.
Is also the more expensive (25$/month)... ;) well I'll think about it, maybe better spend 25$/month than 1 hour of tech support...!

[Larry Hastings]

Ah, indeed. If you're not comfortable working with the command-line then I fear I can't help you. Me, I got dizzown wit' da UNIX back in college, and never gave it up. I think "cpanel" and its ilk are, well... cute.