Re: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Precise Pangolin is there !

On 12-04-26 01:28 PM, Dave wrote:
> I just received notification of that release, and was considering
> replacing my Fedora14 with that, something that doesn't require updating
> on a six-month cycle.
> I have no experience with Ubuntu on a Linux software-RAID, or running as
> a server (http, ftp).
> Your experience - favourable?
> I'd probably take the machine down to bare metal, rebuilding RAID
> arrays, intending to restore user and server files via USB external drive.
> Would this Fedora-Ubuntu migration be a Foolish Thing? What might bite
> me in the butt?
Dave:

Any major change of any complex software environment is a major pain in 
the backside.  Basically, complex server environments are a house of 
cards, with version-specific config file tweaks, file locations, paths, 
ownership issues and the like.  I've learned to never expect a painless 
transition even between versions of the same packages on the same 
distribution.

Every distribution has implementation-specific issues and different 
defaults.  The simplest path forward is generally to stick with what you 
know.  That being said, I made the transition from RedHat to Debian (and 
descendents) a long time ago and my life became a lot easier, as 
dependencies and version transitions seem better handled in Debian-type 
distributions (and more cautiously).  I tend to use Debian in production 
servers, Ubuntu LTS Server in development boxes and will be moving to 
Ubuntu LTS Server for my next round of production server updates.  I 
like being on a stable, long term supported platform, and like getting 
critical updates for a long period.

As far as RAID on Linux goes, unless you are willing to pay for serious 
(and expensive) external RAID controller(s), just use software RAID.  
The Fake-RAID "hardware" implementation on most non-commercial server 
products isn't worth using.  There is little noticeable speed 
differential (at the low end) with software RAID.  I've been running 
servers for years on Linux software RAID with no issues.  All this 
depends on exactly what you need/want from the box(es) - large space? 
redundancy? speed? ISP style client access?  Hosting lots?  All this 
stuff matters.  What's you traffic expectations?  Ask your ISP for 
traffic stats and find out what you are using for bandwidth.

I'd work on bringing up the new system(s) while the existing systems are 
in operation and functioning, and only transition them into service 
AFTER everything is working and tested under the new config.  RSYNC is 
your friend!

The only thing that is truly a nightmare is if you are running serious 
IMAP email server(s) and the data store formats change.  I've had to 
write scripts for porting Gigabytes of client data to and from maildir, 
dealing with ownership issues, SASL/database authentication issues and 
just about anything else miserable that has anything to do with email 
servers.

I'd do an inventory of all the server software you have running.  Check 
those products against your "new" platform.  Make sure everything will 
work, and define all the trouble you are looking at.  Then decide what 
to do.

I'd also get rid of FTP as a service.  Every toolset worth using 
supports SFTP, so why even run FTP.  I'd also support only public key 
access and get rid of passwords for remote access.  Nothing shuts down 
the dictionary attackers faster than not supporting passwords.

--
Bill Strosberg
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