[arch-general] Arch Linux on servers?

[Chester Wisniewski]

On 07/09/13 06:13, M Saunders wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm writing a feature about Arch for Linux Format, a UK-based
> newsstand Linux magazine. I've been using Arch myself for a while for
> testing new app releases, and it's brilliant for that purpose.
>
> I'm still left wondering though: who uses it on production servers? I
> mean, the distro's overall simplicity and trimmed-down base
> installation are plus points here, but surely a rolling release poses
> problems. After installation you just want security and critical bug
> fix updates for software, and not major version bumps, right?
>
> www.archserver.org seems to be on hold, and I've also seen this page:
> https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Enhancing_Arch_Linux_Stability
>
> which has some useful tips. But it'd be interesting to hear from
> people running Arch on production servers, how well it works for them
> and what (if any) problems they've faced.
>
> Thanks!
> Mike

I run two production Arch server boxes. I update them each about twice a 
month unless I hear about a vulnerability in a critical internet facing 
component on the system (WordPress, etc).

I just make sure to do it on Fridays and Saturdays. If something goes 
wrong, it can often take a little more time to back out than a 
traditional distribution. As a security professional, I appreciate 
always being up to date and having more detailed control over exactly 
what code is on my system. I have massively reduced my exposure to flaws 
in packages included by the distro that I never needed or even wanted.

Get Linux? Get Arch Linux. Not so sure about Linux? Call Rackspace.

Chester