Which free Linux distro for a server?

Redhat discontinued support for their free RedHat Linux as of April 30... What's the best alternative for migrating a RH Linux server to a distro that's kept up to date? Since it's a server, the desktop and GUI needs are very basic.

I think the short list is down to: Fedora, Mandrake, SUSE, and Debian. Should I even consider BSD?

OpenBSD is probably the most security free disto out there IMO. SuSE or Debian is a good choice as well.

If you want speed and ease, Red Hat and Mandrake are the fastest and easiest to setup. But you cannot keep them running for years, support ends after a year for each version. Updates are a pain. Mandrake is buggy as hell too. I'd avoid Mandrake. I haven't used the latest versions of Red Hat.

SUSE doesn't have free ISO downloads, so avoid them unless you want to shell out money.

If you know what you're doing, I'd go with either Debian Stable or FreeBSD. Rock solid stable, can easily be updated for YEARS to come. FreeBSD comes with something very similar to Debian's apt-get. But you have to be comfortable with the Unix command line and editing text files.

OpenBSD is also good, but unnecessary unless you need very high security. It takes much more work to setup.

Actually yes they do.

They have a free downloadable EVAL CD, which you can run SUSE from the CD to test your hardware compatibility and get a look and feel of it.

and you can install SUSE via FTP install. All you need to do is download the boot floppies or boot CD, boot off of it, point it to the appropriate distro server and let her install across the wire. Similar to an NFS install but you're using FTP.

SUSE doesn't have free ISO downloads, so avoid them unless you want to shell out money.

Why does this topic (and similar ones) keeps showing up???

SuSE (Novell) is offering a free download currently (to prepare for Novell Linux Desktop ? very much)

I have Fedora Core 1 on my home fileserver, and Red Hat 9 on my main web/DNS/email server. I'm just to lazy to upgrade them, since they have around 150 days uptime.

At work, we use Red Hat Enterprise.

Originally Posted by peterbrowne

SuSE (Novell) is offering a free download currently (to prepare for Novell Linux Desktop ? very much)

Hmmm! Why do you dig up an 8 month old thread?

Originally Posted by peterbrowne

SuSE (Novell) is offering a free download currently (to prepare for Novell Linux Desktop ? very much)

Yes why do you keep digging up old threads?
I have noticed at least three threads, one of which was in hot deals.

I really have to start checking posting dates... this is the third "new" thread I've seen that's been bumped from the dead.

i use search and dont read the dates until.... its too late. so, no i am not post wh0ring at RFD, just replying to stuff that interests me