Fedora vs CentOS -- php/apache and Drupal 7

[Mark LaPierre]

On 04/16/2013 03:41 AM, Roger wrote:
> This is a call for understanding because of lack of knowledge. Apologies
> for the mix of issues in one message but they all relate to the same
> problem.
> Firstly,
> I've been reading the pro's and con's of RHEL and Fedora and am none the
> wiser. It seems to be around cost of service and lack or availability
> thereof. The beginning discussion was, I think on stability.
>
> It made me start thinking about Fedora vs CentOS because of the problems
> I'm experiencing with Drupal 7 and php/Apache in Fedora 18 so here goes.
>
> I believe that the latest Apache updates of some time ago were flawed or
> do not correctly  interact with php or php updates were flawed and have
> not been corrected. I have nothing to back up this assertion other than
> the problems now being experienced and a recommendation to remove php
> 5.4 and revert to an earlier version.
> Please don't quote me on this, It's what I've noticed, read and considered.
>
> When I use Ruby on Rails I do not have issues because it uses WEBrick.
>
> Discussion to date says that CentOS circa 6.n has the Fedora 14 kernel,
> is rock solid and gets updates every 6 months approx.
> Fedora 18 has kernel updates every few days or weeks at most. Frankly I
> enjoy the update cycle. It's interesting to see what gets improved. I
> have always run latest Fedora versions and have not experienced the
> current raft of problems.
>
> Fedora 18 sudo yum update, updates everything apps, modules, etc that
> needs security fixes or improvements.
>
> CentOS is a server system but can be used for a stable desktop system
> and has been recommended as an alternative.
> So what does CentOS 6.n desktop, yum update actually update or does it
> leave all the apps like cinnamon desktop, skype, gimp, apache, php,
> libreoffice, python, pulseaudio, gnome, Firefox or chrome as they are
> first installed, circa Fedora 14ish?
> One would think that this would leave significant vulnerability.
> If it runs the latest spate of updates then is it not little different
> from Fedora 18 but with an old kernel?
>
> Further reading implies that the better CentOS installation should be
> text based as a server only and that I should run all my work on the
> server not Fedora 18.
>
> I am now having significant problems with an already built Drupal 7 site
> on Fedora 18 after the latest spate of php updates and am perplexed as
> to what to do to get a quality stable functioning and stay functioning.
>   I've got ubuntu 12.10 but it is now so slow that it's not easy to use.
>
> Further, I have 2 gig memory, intel mb, fast dual cpu, 250g hard drives
> and my desktop fedora 18 uses 55-63 percent memory. I thought this may
> be affecting php and apache, hence Drupal, but
> The Dell 1520 laptop has the same internals and memory and uses
> 25percent of the 2 gig memory, same drupal, same Ruby on Rails.
> I'm puzzled because after checking ps aux, top, and System Monitor on
> both they are very similar yet memory usage is markedly different. I do
> not know what I should be looking at to understand the issues and/or fixes.
>
> Is there an app that I can use to track what happens in the browser,
> apache, php and Drupal when I start the Drupal site on my machine.
> Help is greatly appreciated
> thanks in advance
> Roger
> Off Topic...Does anyone know of a Rails dev who would be able to help
> and teach me building a small application?
> Thanks again
> Roger
>
>

Hey Roger,

Comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges.  The two are not 
the same thing.

Fedora is a development system with a short life cycle.  It provides 
cutting edge applications.

CentOS is an enterprise class system with a 10 year life cycle.  It does 
not support the most recent versions of software for desktop use.

Your choice should be driven by your needs.

As for security updates, both Fedora and CentOS issue frequent security 
updates.  No need to worry about vulnerability issues with either system.

<computer consultant>
Determine what functions you require.
Determine what software you need to provide those functions.
Determine what OS is required to support that software.
Determine what hardware is required to support that OS.
</computer consultant>

As for me, I got tired of having to keep up with the frequent version 
updates of Fedora.  The software that I need runs just fine on CentOS 
which I use on my desktop.  Your mileage my vary.

-- 
     _
    °v°
   /(_)\
    ^ ^  Mark LaPierre
Registered Linux user No #267004
https://linuxcounter.net/
****