Re:Novell: Why we don't need a third Linux distro
by wiredfool on Tuesday October 12, 2010 @08:54PM
(#1785602)
I started running debian back in 2000 or so, and was happy with it for a while, but now I've mostly converted to ubuntu LTS releases on the server.
I find that debians support cycle for stable is troublesome for long lived servers, as the support lifetime is unknown, other than it's a year past the release date of the next stable version. That means that the minimum lifetime before needing to recheck everything for stability is one year plus however long until they release a new stable.
In contrast, ubuntu is at 5yr support for their longterm releases, with a known 2 year cycle in-between. Which means that even if you install in the worst possible time in the cycle, a new install will be supported for three years.
I really like those extra two years of security updates.
I find that debians support cycle for stable is troublesome for long lived servers, as the support lifetime is unknown, other than it's a year past the release date of the next stable version. That means that the minimum lifetime before needing to recheck everything for stability is one year plus however long until they release a new stable.
In contrast, ubuntu is at 5yr support for their longterm releases, with a known 2 year cycle in-between. Which means that even if you install in the worst possible time in the cycle, a new install will be supported for three years.
I really like those extra two years of security updates.
(edit for iPad text entry)