[NTLUG:Discuss] Which Server Distro?

[Hank Ivy]

On Monday 07 December 2009 03:22 pm Michael Barnes wrote:
> 
> I've pretty much decided on this route.  The Dell 2850 has a pair of
> Intel dual-core Xeon 3.2Hz processors (4 total cpus). Their
> architecture is supposed to be x86_64.  I've never fooled with 64-bit
> stuff before.  When I looked for Ubuntu server isos to download, the
> 64 bit ones all say "ubuntu-8.04.3-server-amd64.iso".  Is that only
> for an AMD processor?  Should I try to find an iso for the x86_64?
> 
> Thanks,
> Michael

For my personal computer, I run the x86_64 Intel(R) version of Mandriva 
2010.0.  There other iso's.  But you want better advice than that.

What do you want to do with your system?
Just a server, personal client system, or both?
How much physical memory do you have?
What is the largest application that you run?  (Largest in terms of memory 
needs, real and virtual)
How long do you want to go between major upgrades?
What level of reliability do you want from the first day?

Answers:  (Yes , I have more questions than answers.)
If you have more than 2G of RAM, go 64 bit on the iso.
If the application will need than 2G, go 64 bit on the iso, and the 
application.  (Add more RAM until the application runs fast enough.)
Most major distros offer more stable, and longer support life releases every 
few years.

Best wishes.

-- 
Hank Ivy

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