Next Major release OS version

[darky83]

Just to start the conversation again..

I personally don't really like the way CentOS is going with CentOS 7 and I guess I prefer Debian over CentOS anytime.
But.. how do you guys feel about it, should we stick with CentOS or should we move over to Debian for the next major release (version 4.x.x.x or something..)

One big thing to remember is that if we are moving to an other OS it means that there is no way for upgrade's from 3.x.x.x, so all systems should be re-installed/migrated to the new version.

Note that the current CentOS version (CentOS-6) is still supported until November 30, 2020, so we have some time
What do you guys think?

[buzzzo]

Well...

What are your doubts in regards to centos 7?

If is for systemd ...you know ..debian jesse will switch to it.
I think for a project like efa the lts (long term support) for the os is a must because reimplement all on
another os is too much overkill.

Debian in these days is not too much oriented to a lts fashion.

[shawniverson]

I've been following postfix and there seems to be a real disconnect between the postfix devs and debian maintainers. The postfix devs warn against using the debian packaged version of postfix due to implementation on part of the debian packagers.

However, MailScanner, thanks to Jerry Benton's hard work, is equally supported and released on both Debian and CentOS.

I am not sure about the other packages...more study is needed.

[pdwalker]

yeah, I really hate where systemd is going. It's turning the maintenance of OS system services into a pile of shit. (my opinion).

That aside, the biggest concern should be the packages that make up EFA and which ones are best supported under the OS of choice.

[darky83]

Its true I don't like systemd, but I guess its here to stay, its true Debian is moving over also so..
One of my main reasons is that I am a debian guy , I have allot more Debian knowledge than CentOS but ofcourse everything can be learned.

Also I want to start testing with EFA packages, I know how to package and maintain .deb packages but never created .rpm's (and last time I tried I run into some dependencies issues and gave up as source install was simple enough...) Ok maybe I sould read a few howto's

Also basic CentOS lacks a whole lot of packages that are default in Debian, needing to do source install or use external RPM sources.

[shawniverson]

I'm a debian guy as well...

I don't think it will be advisable to upgrade from 3x to 4x anyway even if we stick with CentOS.

Going from CentOS 6.6 to 7 with an in-place upgrade is ugly and requires the use of the Upgrade Tool which is not recommended anyway.

http://wiki.centos.org/TipsAndTricks/CentOSUpgradeTool

Things would be furthermore complicated as we attempt to transition from source-compiled binaries in 3x to pre-packaged versions in 4x. So much cleanup would be needed.

So, it would be very handy to be able to export and import EFA configs and data between appliances and versions. I think this will be very easy to accomplish since we already have a backup/restore option. If we create an import from backup option in v4 that can accept a v3 backup or export, then we are golden.

I say give it time, see where this goes... I can do Debian or CentOS, .deb or .rpm

[buzzzo]

My opinion is that debian these days is going too fast .
Average user of EFA does not care about OS... He see all the EFA stuff as a "black box".

So using centos gives him (ande dev too) more or less 6/7 years of "peace of mind".
By using debian you are forced to change OS (and re-dev re-adapt all the stuff) every 1/2 years.
This is why I tend to use centos everytime i would like to have something that basically should left untouched.

[pdwalker]

This is why I tend to use centos everytime i would like to have something that basically should left untouched.

That's why I have used Centos in the past.

When I want better package support, I'll use the Ubuntu LTS versions.

[darky83]

Buzzo do has a point there.

Debian livecycle is most of the times about 4 years, CentOS is much longer..

[buzzzo]

And just to make another point in favor of centos in regards to systemd (shit) support:
Redhat develops systemd, so the integration will be more and more stable on centos rather than on debian.

[pdwalker]

No, that's not a plus. The damn thing is a hellish abortion spewed from the bowels of the lowest levels of hell. (what? opinionated? heck no.)

Maybe it's time to go back to slackware.

[darky83]

lol yea systemd is ***** but guess we need to get used to it, most big distro's are switching over..

[shawniverson]

http://lxnay.files.wordpress.com/2013/0 ... =300&h=300

[cdburgess75]

FreeBSD may be what you are looking for. I can help with that and no worries about systemd.

[pdwalker]

Actually that, or openbsd, may not be a bad suggestion.

[darky83]

FreeBSD is my second nature... But not all used products work on FreeBSD.

(Had some issues with Image Cerberus for example)

[pdwalker]

and reality rears its ugly head again.

The 'bsds have become the unloved step children once Linux came along.

[bbrendon]

debian lts info https://wiki.debian.org/LTS/

[darky83]

And for CentOS:


CentOS-5 updates until Mar 31, 2017
CentOS-6 updates until November 30, 2020
CentOS-7 updates until June 30, 2024

Altough I like Debian myself I do have to agree, the support life cycle is just about 2 years where CentOS releases are supported for 5+ years.

[shawniverson]

...just a thought...haven't used it much...

What if we were to consider Ubuntu Server LTS? It looks like the support timeline is also about 5 years....

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LTS

[pdwalker]

It's Debian with more spit and polish. It's my second choice for servers after Centos. The other thing is that it has lots of packages available which means less time looking for a supported package.

[darky83]

might be worth looking at..

[shawniverson]

Yay, 1 vote (me)! Hurry, close the voting! We (I) have this one in the bag!!!!

[darky83]

Hehe

Might do some testing with Ubuntu LTS later on

[pdwalker]

*grumble* the votes fixed, I tell ya! There's no place to vote for SLS Linux!