I noticed with the CentOS VM it installs and allows me to throw on a gui with X and VNC services (all without needing a dedicated Internet connection). Ubuntu server does not install a gui from the install medium (so I hear?). This isn't a deal breaker, but makes it less appealing for what I'm trying to do which is keep it mostly offline and convenient. A lot of tweaks I use for Arch are available for Ubuntu, which is an added plus- not many rpm options with CentOS for some goodies I'm used to having on the workstation (which, this is not going to be anyway). -- Jeremy MountainJohnson Jeremy.MountainJohnson at gmail.com On Mon, Mar 25, 2013 at 8:05 PM, Robert Nesius <nesius at gmail.com> wrote: > What's wrong with Ubuntu server? > > -Rob > > > On Monday, March 25, 2013, Jeremy MountainJohnson wrote: >> >> Awesome, thanks for the suggestions! I like Debian overall, however it >> feels very similar to ArchLinux. I'll check out SL to compare with >> CentOS. No need for Red Hat Enterprise, this project is not of that >> caliber or worth the cost. >> >> I'll also look into cURL for the web page button. Already found a >> starting point: >> >> http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2366549/curl-and-click-a-button-in-a-website >> >> Thanks again, >> >> -- >> Jeremy MountainJohnson >> Jeremy.MountainJohnson at gmail.com >> >> >> On Mon, Mar 25, 2013 at 12:50 PM, Andrew Dahl <droidjd at gmail.com> wrote: >> > Another +1 for RHEL/SL/CentOS. >> > >> > On Mar 23, 2013 4:44 PM, "Jeremy MountainJohnson" >> > <jeremy.mountainjohnson at gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> >> Howdy, >> >> >> >> I'm in need of a Linux server on a separate, primarily offline network >> >> I have set up at a job. I was initially leaning toward Arch Linux, my >> >> distro of many years I use for my workstations and some home servers. >> >> BUT, I don't want to spend loads of time updating rolling updates, >> >> monitoring security vulns and bugs, and I don't really have time to >> >> build a server up from scratch either (relinquishing controlling / >> >> minimalist nature to allow time saving in this case). Ideally SE or >> >> security centric values are important. >> >> >> >> I also need it to bring up a wireless interface (in addition to the >> >> wired network) for Internet connectivity on occasion for updating NTP >> >> and grabbing security updates and AV definitions. I can BASH script >> >> and run a cron job for everything, however the wifi requires an Accept >> >> button be pushed on a web page before access is granted every time a >> >> connection is made to it. It's a Cisco based access point. I did a >> >> quick search on Google and didn't find any kind of automation for >> >> this. Worst case scenario I could do a Python script to make this >> >> automated (hopefully, page is SSL) and kick it off from my cron job >> >> BASH script if no one has any suggestions. On a separate note, I'll be >> >> securing the wifi transmission as well. >> >> >> >> The server will run services for a gigabit switch comprised of mostly >> >> Windows 7 workstations with one Linux workstation (total of 8 ~ 10 >> >> computers). It will service anywhere from 0 - 4 users simultaneously >> >> and run backups and database back-end for an application every so >> >> often. >> >> >> >> I plan to set up an OS disk and separate software RAID0 for storage. >> >> >> >> Services to provide: >> >> * NTP >> >> * DNS >> >> * SMART (monitoring disks) / mdadm (RAID mgm, monitoring) >> >> * Syslog (for intake of switch logs) >> >> * postgres >> >> * SMTP server (sending alerts, notifications) >> >> * File server (Samba, NFS) >> >> * Comodo AV, some other home brew scripts for malware >> >> * SSH >> >> * X, lightweight but ready to use WM/DE like LXDE or XFCE- server will >> >> be headless after setup >> >> * Firewall service covering both intermittent wifi and wired networks >> >> >> >> Long term I may add: >> >> * HTTP (for webmin, monitorix, log reporting) >> >> * Room to be flexible for future needs... >> >> >> >> I've worked very little with CentOS at my last job awhile back, >> >> however am leaning toward it as I recall liking it. Are there other >> >> open source enterprise server distros people recommend for what I'm >> >> trying to accomplish? If so, how come? If I go with CentOS or whatever >> >> people recommend, are updates obtainable via command line and >> >> automation friendly (for the script)? Will I need to re-install with >> >> each major version? Are there gui front ends for most daemons or at >> >> least managing daemons (I'm used to text files and systemd, but want >> >> added convenience / time savings)? >> >> >> >> I'm open to poking around with LiveCDs / VMs for bit, the project >> >> isn't quick turn around or anything. Thanks for any suggestions! >> >> >> >> -- >> >> Jeremy MountainJohnson >> >> Jeremy.MountainJohnson at gmail.com >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota >> >> tclug-list at mn-linux.org >> >> http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota >> > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > > > _______________________________________________ > TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list >