[Asterisk-Users] Linux Distribution for Asterisk server use

[Jay Milk]

Just my two cents... but with that ambitious deployment plan, you
shouldn't ask about distros, but rather start interviewing some linux
admins.  If you're really planning on deploying all those machines on a
platform foreign to you, the distro is a fraction of your battle.
You'll need to understand linux security, create failover
configurations, etc.  You won't learn that in a month or two... And even
if you're able to deploy, what are you going to do when the system
fails?  There's never a good time to acquire debugging skills, but when
your DS3-connected server is down at 10am on a Monday, that's just about
the worst time.

That said, for proof of concept, go with CentOS 4.1 -- smooth install,
all the benefits of RHEL4 and you'll be in business in no time.  Later
on you can moderately tune the kernel if needed or simply re-install
when you get someone who knows linux.  Of course, there was the
obligatory plug for GenToo on the list, and I'm sure I'll get flamed for
saying this, but I recommend you simply skip over that.  Yes, it sounds
attractive and there's a very vocal group of supporters, but in my
experience (and that of several associates), the effort required to
achieve a stable system (or even a "running" system) are in no sensible
ratio to the "benefits" (perceived or otherwise).  

The above was written by a professional Windows Programmer (since before
Win32) and spare-time Windows Admin (since NT 3.5).  As you, I first
arrived at Linux with Asterisk being the *only* reason.  Now, a year
later, I'm looking at how to replace my NT servers with Linux
machines...


-----Original Message-----
From: TWV [mailto:voip at teleweb.be] 
Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2005 1:45 AM
To: asterisk-users at lists.digium.com
Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Linux Distribution for Asterisk server use


Hello,
 
My question is about which Linux distribution to choose for Asterisk.
(/me holds breath)  OK, hopefully you're still reading, because whatever
you were thinking now, you're thinking wrong! ;)
First of all, I want to make clear that I have read EVERY message and
reply that I could possibly find about this topic, so that includes the
dozens of messages here on the Asterisk mailinglists, on the Digum
forum, and even Google search results!
 
Still, my question was not answered!  Mainly because the same answer
always came back: "Use the one you are most comfortable with".  Well, I
already knew that (linux is linux), but it doesn't apply to my situation
at all!
 
Let's make things clear and concrete now:
In my professional life, I work as a windows system & network
administrator and as a developer on the .NET platform, and have a long
and extensive experience with telecom and VoIP.  Working for a telecom
company, I now have accepted the challenge to extend our offering with
Asterisk.  During the past 6 months, I have learned as much as I
possibly could about the Asterisk PBX, successfully set up a complete
test environment, developed IVR systems, and now we feel the time is
right to put these services into production.  BUT, before we can go
live, one important problem remains: as I said, I am a Windows guy, I
have a VERY profound knowledge of Windows and manage almost 20 Windows
2003 Servers that run mission-critical applications on a 365/24/7 basis,
and support a large number of Windows applications and Web services
(some of the applications I have developed are used by more than 25000
users every day!)  Why am I telling this?  Well, because I want to make
it clear that I am perfectly happy with my platform/OS (windows), and
have no intent whatsoever to ever change servers or application
platforms to linux (let alone my workstation).  What's more, I have
NEVER come in to contact with linux/unix before, so I have never worked
with ANY distribution.
 
Having explained all this, it should sound logical that I chose the
AsteriskWin32 version for learning Asterisk.  Of course, I realize that
we can't put any production system on AsteriskWin32.  So before we can
go live with Asterisk servers and services, this last issue remains to
be resolved: what Linux distribution should I choose (and learn)?
As I explained, I see Linux merely as a "necessary evil" (because of my
lack of knowledge) for running Asterisk.  So I'm asking about the best
linux distribution only to put up asterisk servers.  I'm NOT asking for
the easiest one or so (I always enjoy challenges and learning new
things), I'm asking for the best choice to build a carrier grade telecom
system, having to support thousands of users each and every day.  So it
must be reliable and easy to maintain and upgrade.  We are going to use
Asterisk in our own datacenters (supporting nation-wide services), as
well as in servers that we sell to corporations and callcenters for use
as an advanced PBX/CTI system).
So it should be clear that I'm not talking about a hobby or home
deployment here.  Our central asterisk systems for example will have to
manage DS3 or (lots of) E1 trunks.
 
If you need more information, I am happy to supply it.  I appreciate
your time and am hoping for some good suggestions and arguments which
will lead me to the correct choice for now and for the years to come.
 
Thanks!