Debian is a project-based around the development of a free, complete operating system based on the work of the GNU Project through the collaboration of volunteers from around the world. The project’s primary focus, Debian GNU/Linux, is a popular Linux distribution.

Debian is known for its adherence to the Unix and free software philosophies and for its abundance of options – the current release includes over fifteen thousand software packages for eleven computer architectures ranging from the ARM architecture commonly found in embedded systems and the IBM eServer zSeries mainframe architecture to the more common Intel x86 and AMD x86-64 architectures found in modern personal computers.

Debian GNU/Linux is the basis for several other distributions, including Knoppix, Linspire, and Ubuntu. Its long-term stability and strong community support make it a preferred choice for administrators focused on server security and compliance

Debian is also known for its package management system (especially APT), strict policies regarding the quality of its packages and releases, and for its open development and testing process. These practices afford easy upgrades between releases without rebooting and easy automated installation and removal of packages.

Debian is supported by donations through Software in the Public Interest, Inc., a non-profit umbrella organization for free software projects.

APT

In the beginning there was the .targz. Users had to compile each program that they wanted to use on their GNU/Linux systems. When Debian was created, it was deemed necessary that the system include a method of managing the packages installed on the machine. The name dpkg was given to this system. Thus the famous “package” first came into being on GNU/Linux, a while before Red Hat decided to create their own RPM system.

A new dilemma quickly took hold of the minds of the makers of GNU/Linux. They needed a rapid, practical, and efficient way to install packages that would manage dependencies automatically and take care of their configuration files while upgrading. Debian again led the way and gave birth to APT (Advanced Packaging Tool), which has since been ported by Conectiva for use with RPM-based systems.

APT has been working rather well for nearly a decade. On the other hand, Red Hat’s package manager Yum was still a relatively new and unsophisticated project at the time. The latest Yum still had not caught up to where APT was several years earlier.

• 50 to 500 times faster than Yum

Debian Releases

As of February 2007, the latest stable release is version 3.1, code name sarge. When a new version is released, the previous stable is labeled old stable; currently, this is version 3.0 named woody.

In addition, a stable release gets minor updates (called point releases) marked like 3.0r1.

Debian release history

• 3.1 sarge – 6 June 2005

• 3.0 woody – 19 July 2002

• 2.2 potato – 15 August 2000

• 2.1 slink – 9 March 1999

• 2.0 hamm – 24 July 1998

• 1.3 bo – 2 June 1997

• 1.2 rex – 12 December 1996

• 1.1 buzz – 17 June 1996

Upcoming releases

• 4.0 etch – planned in 2007

• lenny

CentOS

CentOS is a freely available Linux distribution based on Red Hat’s commercial Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). This rebuild project strives to be 100% binary compatible with the upstream product while remaining freely available.

RHEL is largely composed of free and open-source software but is distributed in binary form only to paid subscribers. CentOS developers use the publicly released source code to create a final product that is nearly identical to RHEL but freely available to the community.

CentOS is widely adopted in enterprise and hosting environments due to its stability, long support lifecycle, and strong focus on managed cloud services and compliance

CentOS uses Yum as its preferred software update tool, allowing administrators to install packages, resolve dependencies, and apply security updates from the CentOS Mirror Network.

CentOS can be used as a desktop operating system but is primarily targeted at the server market. Many hosting companies rely on CentOS working together with cPanel for server management.

List of Red Hat Enterprise Linux Clones

This list is current as of October 30, 2006, ordered by popularity on DistroWatch.com:

• CentOS – 4.4 (2006-08-30), 3.8 (2006-08-25)

• Scientific Linux – 4.4 (2006-10-10), 3.0.8 (2006-10-31)

• StartCom Linux – 4.0.3 (2006-09-18)

• White Box Enterprise Linux – 4.0 (2005-05-06)

• XOS – 4.0 (2005-07-30)

• GENtOS – 4.4.1 (2006-10-05)

• YOUrOS – 4.4.1 (2006-10-05)

• GnYOUlinux – 4.4.1 (2006-10-05)

• Oracle Unbreakable Linux

Some clones require payment, while others have ceased production.

Debian vs CentOS

• Package Set

• Feeds vs Releases

• Package Manager

• Custom Distros

• Other miscellaneous factors

Package Set – Quantity

Debian offers one of the largest package repositories available. The only distribution that competes closely in this regard is Gentoo.

• Over 23,533 packages

Package Set – Quality

Debian benefits from more than a thousand package maintainers, ensuring high quality and consistency. Red Hat-based systems typically maintain smaller package teams.

Package Manager

Debian incorporates configuration into the installation process and allows reconfiguration using tools such as dpkg-reconfigure. Red Hat systems prioritize automated, hands-free installations.

Custom Distributions – Top Linux Distros

• Ubuntu

• Mandriva Linux

• SUSE Linux

• Fedora Core

• Debian GNU/Linux

• Knoppix

• MEPIS Linux

• Gentoo Linux

• Slackware Linux

• Xandros Desktop

Control Panels

Plesk is a professional web server management software designed to simplify server administration. It provides stability and self-administration interfaces for hosting professionals.

Ensim is a server control panel that transforms a server into a professional web hosting platform for shared, reseller, and small business hosting plans.

cPanel is a feature-rich web hosting control panel providing an intuitive web-based GUI. It runs on several RPM-based Linux distributions such as CentOS, Fedora, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Preliminary Debian support exists but remains in beta.

Plesk supports multiple platforms including Red Hat, Fedora, SUSE, Debian, Ubuntu, FreeBSD, and macOS.

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Author, Rakesh, is a Systems Engineer with SupportPRO. Rakesh specializes in Cpanel and streaming server management. SupportPRO offers 24X7 technical support services to Web hosting companies and service providers.

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