[NTLUG:Discuss] Slack vs Redhat

[iostream@attbi.com]

The arguments for Red Hat here are based solely on Red Hat Linux.  Remember, Red
Hat will not support Red Hat Linux on a production system.  That is what Red Hat
Enterprise Linux is for.  It is tried, true, and well supported.  RHL 9 is an OS
for the developer or home user, and it does include many things that are not
quite ready for prime time in other distributions.  RH 8 betas included the
HZ=1000 value in the kernel.  This was released 2 days before Linus even put it
into the 2.5 kernels.  On the other hand, most of these experimental things they
include were worked on by their developers, Alan Cox, Ingo Molnar, etc.  This
allows them to test their work further (which should have already been well
tested) and makes Linus happy before mainline kernel inclusion.  It also does it
in a way which Red Hat can well support with the coders responsible already in
their employ.  Red Hat is not the only one to do this, most vendors do.  Look at
Kernel Newbies for a list of what all patches to the standard kernel are there
for each distribution and release.  All in all, I believe Red Hat put out a
storng product, but you are right, I would not deploy Red Hat 9 on a production
server.  Red Hat would not have you do that either.  To address the ridiculous
cost of RH AS, they have included the much cheaper ES now.

As for the MP3 and other technologies Red Hat is not including to comply with
the spirit of the GPL, they are usually available quickly from freshrpms or Guru
labs.  I would rather they be included in the Base OS myself, but I can
understand why they are not, and it is not too much difficulty to remedy.

Justin