Is Ubuntu Server Edition stable enough for commercial use?

Question

Our organization use CentOS as our product running platform. It's a server application with a web interface.

Now we are planning to install our product into a smaller hardware and add a local user interface for the device. So we can make our software looks like a hardware device and sell it with higher price.

The problem is the CentOS's software repository is locked 2 or 3 years ago. So most libraries are outdated. That's not a big problem for server applications as we use C language Runtime only.

But for writing a User Interface, I need to depend on more libraries and I have to install many libraries by hand. It's complicated and it's easy to make mistakes.

So I suggested to my colleagues, if we can try to switch to Ubuntu Server Edition to use new software repository. BUT, all of them are skeptical about Ubuntu's stability :

TWO Main Reason :

1. It's could not be as stable as RHEL or Slackware.
2. It's originated from desktop version. So it's stability is not proved, is skeptical.

I've been use Ubuntu desktop for a long time and I feels it's stable. But I don't have any evidence that the server version is stable enough.

Maybe I am biased because I am more familiar with Ubuntu. So I think your objective advice could help me to find out the truth.

Answer 1

Some references for the Ubuntu Server Edition.

built on the solid foundation of Debian which is known for its robust server installations — has a strong heritage for reliable performance and predictable evolution.

1. Ubuntu 9.04 Server Edition Certified on New HP ProLiant Servers

   Ubuntu 9.04 Server Edition is now fully supported on the latest HP ProLiant G6 servers. In total, there are now 17 energy-efficient HP ProLiant configurations for which Canonical provides Ubuntu Server Edition support.

   • Canonical’s management and monitoring software for Ubuntu
     now manages Ubuntu Server Edition on the Amazon EC2 cloud
   • Ubuntu Server Edition 10.04 Lucid Lynx: Canonical’s ISV Priorities

     Canonical in mid-2009 announced that Alfresco (open source content management) and Openbravo (open source ERP) both run on Ubuntu Server Edition.

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Another discussion on familiar lines.

Answer 2

I use Ubuntu server on all of my *nix servers. So my answer is a bit biased. However, 6 servers, running for 4 years in a row had 3 hours downtime in the past 12 months. 2 of those hours where intentionally, 1 hour was due to third party software bug.

Ubuntu = debian = stability. If you want to be sure. Just install the bare minimum of packages with TCP/IP stack and apt-get everyting you need... With redundant hardware, you cannot go wrong.

Answer 3

Top Ubuntu Server Edition Deployments

Answer 4

Unfortunately, no. Ubuntu Server is a horrible server operating system. Ubuntu staff are also obnoxious and abusive when errors are reported as well. It makes for a very unsatisfactory business solution.