Arch Linux

appel

Member

From: South Africa

Registered: 2008-03-25

Posts: 32

Arch on servers?

Hi,

I was wondering if there was some sort of [stable] repo for Arch, not because I found it particularly unstable, but because I'm abit uneasy about having bleeding edge software on servers.  Is this a warranted concern of mine?  Is it really a bad thing having the latest packages on a server when stability and security is of utmost importance?

Please don't misunderstand me as saying that Arch is unstable.  I use Arch on all my workstations, and have never had any issue.  I'm just abit unsure if it's a correct choice to use it for servers too.

Thanks!

rson451

Member

From: Annapolis, MD USA

Registered: 2007-04-15

Posts: 1,233

Website

Re: Arch on servers?

There is no stable branch, this has come up many times and never really gets off the ground.  The last attempt was about a month or two ago, you can search to see if any progress was ever made with that project but I don't recall anything coming from it.  As for use on a server, you could always just install arch and only update those packages which have known security vulnerabilities, but this means you'll have to keep an eye out for security notices on your own.

I have a personal server I use at home that has had arch on it for over a year and I've not once had an issue, but keep in mind that this isn't in a production environment.

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ekerazha

Member

Registered: 2007-02-27

Posts: 290

Re: Arch on servers?

Arch is rolling release and almost bleeding edge. If you want something more stable/tested, try things like Debian stable, CentOS, OpenSolaris...

Personally, I wouldn't use Arch on a server system, but it's a matter of choice.

Last edited by ekerazha (2008-07-13 17:05:54)

skottish

Forum Fellow

From: Here

Registered: 2006-06-16

Posts: 7,880

Re: Arch on servers?

I think the general consensus of this discussion before has been if you're really skillful and talented then Arch is fine for servers in a production environment. Otherwise stick with something like Debian or BSD.

Last edited by skottish (2008-07-13 17:15:17)

dolby

Member

From: 1992

Registered: 2006-08-08

Posts: 1,581

Re: Arch on servers?

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arch_Linux_Stable

http://arch-stable.wholebean.info/

Last edited by dolby (2008-07-13 18:43:25)

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There shouldn't be any reason to learn more editor types than emacs or vi -- mg (1)
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appel

Member

From: South Africa

Registered: 2008-03-25

Posts: 32

Re: Arch on servers?

Thanks guys.

I think the general consensus of this discussion before has been if you're really skillful and talented then Arch is fine for servers in a production environment. Otherwise stick with something like Debian or BSD.

I doubt this would have much to do with talent or skill, it would just have to do with effort.  Manually keeping up with security updates, manually updating that which needs updating, and fixing breakages as they would happen.  (which is the only thing that really requires much in the way of skill).

I, for one am not willing to do the above on a fleet of servers routinely, way too much effort.

Anyway, thanks.  I've volunteered to help out with that Arch stable project linked, perhaps that will work in the end.  In the meantime, I guess it's not the correct choice to use Arch on servers.  And thats OK, because Arch's purpose wasn't for servers to begin with, I would've just loved the same Arch style on servers too...

Cheers!

crouse

Arch Linux f@h Team Member

From: Iowa - USA

Registered: 2006-08-19

Posts: 901

Website

Re: Arch on servers?

I use Linux on 3 servers........ none mission critical, but have had EXTREMELY good results. 
I have thought many times about creating a "stable" branch, but that requires as you put it, much testing/manual updating etc...... I haven't had any hiccups I would consider deal breakers just using Arch as is, and updating every week or so.  (I DO test the updates on a spare desktop machine before updating the servers ......... that's "my" testing method    Not real scientific or fool-proof, but it's worked for me for 2 years.  I have several websites running on my 3 Arch servers.

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kezar

Member

Registered: 2007-08-14

Posts: 61

Re: Arch on servers?

I use arch on all my machines including servers too, no problem so far, very stable and efficient (a bit more up-to-date than debian, with a bit more entropy :°).

dolby

Member

From: 1992

Registered: 2006-08-08

Posts: 1,581

Re: Arch on servers?

As some people say, the best server OS is the one you know best. Specifically for Arch if you have a machine you can test the packages before updating your server, and of cource you are familiar with possible hickups of an Arch system then Archlinux is the best server OS.

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There shouldn't be any reason to learn more editor types than emacs or vi -- mg (1)
[You learn that sarcasm does not often work well in international forums.  That is why we avoid it. -- ewaller (arch linux forum moderator)

timetrap

Member

From: Here and There

Registered: 2008-06-05

Posts: 342

Website

Re: Arch on servers?

There is a current forum thread that has successful deployments of Arch Linux,
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=50021.

Also archlinux.org runs on Arch Linux, so the stability/speed/uptime of this site can be used as a measure of Arch's success as a server.

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