Best Linux for server?

[marjo]

For a real stable and secure server, use FreeBSD. But then you must spend some time on it.

 

[PoleCat]

Any pre-compiled binary OS is for your average Linux admins/users.

For power/advanced users, FreeBSD is your best bet, or Gentoo.
FreeBSD makes the best servers, and Gentoo produces the best Workstations.

Debian is nice to use when you gotta admin alot of machines, but when it comes down to editing the source yourself and compiling the source, Debian, RH etc suck real bad.

Another HUGE issue I have with all precompiled binary package systems is that they are a hige nightmare to upgrade.
With FBSD, you checkout the source, compile it and you got a new release. And the ports you just "portupgrade -irR" and its done. Gentoo's emerge is very much borrowed from FreeBSD's mentality and works the same.

 

[Paul_S]

Another HUGE issue I have with all precompiled binary package systems is that they are a hige nightmare to upgrade.

Not a problem with (K)Ubuntu.
I've upgraded twice now and every time it worked perfectly.
It's one of the only binary distros that seems to get the upgrading process close to perfect.
For the packages that aren't cutting edge enough I just compile those from source.

Compiling everything from source is just a waste of time.
Rather just compile what needs to be compiled.