Mr. Windows finally reaches for a cup of Linux... (a server project)

[SerialCoder]

I have build a few linux machines over the last coulple years but hve never really embraced it. At work I am responsible for 4 Win Servers and about 50 workstations but nary a linux.

I got a request to open up FTP access to our clients. I'm a little nervous about opening FTP om my production machines because much of or business is run throug web apps so I figured why not go linux? There are a few other mitigating factors that are driving me to this as well but I'll get into those another time.

Hardware
I dug around and found a Gateway 960 Server with a 2.4-GHz Xeon Processor and 512 DDR.

Software
Most of my experience is with Fedora so that is my natural choice. Are there any other suggestions? I will be running Web, FTP and SMB for services.

Are there any suggestions, cautions etc?

Regards,
Dave

[Thrillhouse]

If this is a critical server, and it sounds like it is, I would go with CentOS instead of Fedora. Fedora's a bit bleeding edge and may not be as stable as you need it to be. They're actually making another release in about 2 weeks. CentOS is a Red Hat clone, so you should be as comfortable with it as you are with Fedora and it's free like Fedora.

That's not to discourage you from using Fedora. You can go ahead and do that if you really want to but it's just a suggestion.

[PureGrain]

If this is a critical server, and it sounds like it is, I would go with CentOS instead of Fedora. Fedora's a bit bleeding edge and may not be as stable as you need it to be. They're actually making another release in about 2 weeks. CentOS is a Red Hat clone, so you should be as comfortable with it as you are with Fedora and it's free like Fedora.

That's not to discourage you from using Fedora. You can go ahead and do that if you really want to but it's just a suggestion.

I could not agree more. Fedora is great and bleeding egde as he has stated and more for the Desktop user IMO. I have CentOS in several Production instances and it is solid.

[SerialCoder]

What about the security on Lunix? I hear that it is much better as far as vulnerabilty for destop usage against virus and spyware but how about as a server? Does it have a built in firewall?

[PureGrain]

You still have to be protective no matter what your OS is but yes there is a firewall. Most people prefer to turn of SELinux though. I would do some research on that so you have a better understanding of what SELinux is, does and how it may or may not be of any help to you.

Security wise, if you lock your box down solid and don't allow direct root login you shouldbe fine. I would like to suggest maybe since your wanting to use it for FTP that you choose maybe VSFTP. I am sure others may have better suggestions, but I have used vsftp in many setups and it is very nice.

Have fun!

[Roxoff]

There is a built-in firewall, indeed it's not the bolt-on extra that you find in some less capable operating systems, but is a fundamental part of the way IP data is routed around the internal system. You can turn it off, but that just opens out the rules so everything can go everywhere.

You can use IPTables rules to get some pretty fine-grain control over how the firewalling works. May I suggest you investigate this in detail, either Google it, or visit places like Netfilter, Redhat's own docs, or IPTables Rocks.