So I’m going to buy a new server to replace my old one. I’m getting a Dell PowerEdge 1600SC and I want to put either Linux or FreeBSD on it. I really like FreeBSD and I’ve worked with it for a long time, but I also like Linux, especially Gentoo Linux. I like the portage systems of FreeBSD and Gentoo, but the one on Gentoo seems to be more robust. This is good hardware, and I’m paying good money for it, and I want to get the best operating system for it. What, in your opinion, is a good server Linux distribution? Do you think its okay to use Gentoo as a server? Do you think FreeBSD is worth installing on such expensive hardware? Cheers.

I personally like FreeBSD, even use it as my desktop when not working under WinXP, but I think it comes down to what you feel more comfortable working with, really. Or hardware issues, although with both supporting a large chunk of hardware out there, so doubt that would be an issue. So either way, I don't think you'd go wrong.

I'm not afraid that FreeBSD is not going to support hardware, I'm just afraid that if I chose FreeBS now and then find out that feature XYZ works with my server in Linux 2.9 and FreeBSD will not have this support...

I don't think that you'll be missing any "features" on either operating system. Your server's abilities are more dependant on the software you run, and I don't think Apache and the other server software really cares what environment its in. Just do what you're more comfortable with (in this case, apparently, Gentoo).

From a technical/performance standpoint, I think both operating systems are pretty much neck and neck. Before the 2.6 kernel I would have probably said FreeBSD, but it seems that 2.6 has addressed the major problems that I had with Linux (namely the lack of a real threading model).

For most cases, I don't think it will really matter. I want to say go with FreeBSD, but I couldn't back that up with a valid reason.

for a server it doesn't matter much either way.

I've used FreeBSD before, and although I most definately won't use it for a desktop, it works great as a server.

Your fear of fbsd not getting the new features as fast as linux does is valid, but servers don't really need new features, they just need to work.

you can run the linux kernel under freebsd and get the best (and worst) of both worlds. See here.

Quote: Original post by TMAN
you can run the linux kernel under freebsd and get the best (and worst) of both worlds. See here.

That's running linux binaries, not the kernel. Linux kernel + fbsd has never been done, iirc.

fbsd kernel + linux binaries can be done with that compatability layer, or with the debian freebsd project.

hi, I'm somewhat knew to the Linux scene, so can somebody please explain why FreeBSD isn't Linux, but everywhere I go it is grouped with it?

Quote: Original post by Cipher3D
hi, I'm somewhat knew to the Linux scene, so can somebody please explain why FreeBSD isn't Linux, but everywhere I go it is grouped with it?

They are both UNIX-like OSes, but are using different kernels.