Re: [exim] Moving Exim from Solaris to Linux

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Author: Graham Butler
Date:  
To: 'exim-users@exim.org'
Subject: Re: [exim] Moving Exim from Solaris to Linux
> -----Original Message-----
> From: exim-users-bounces+g.butler=hud.ac.uk@??? [mailto:exim-users-
> bounces+g.butler=hud.ac.uk@???] On Behalf Of Graham Butler
> Sent: 01 October 2012 13:59
> To: 'exim-users@???'
> Subject: [exim] Moving Exim from Solaris to Linux
>
> We are currently looking at replacing our Solaris boxes with a flavour of Linux to
> run Exim with a focus on Red Hat and Ubuntu. I am trying to collect some
> evidence to which OS is being used to run EXIM and why, before we make a
> decision. Could you please respond by sending me, or the list, information on
> which OS you are using to run EXIM and any information on why your decided
> to run it on that particular platform.
>
> I am also asking other list for similar information on Squid, BIND, Apache,
> etc.......


I would like to thank all the people who replied to me regarding the question above. As with many people who run Solaris, we are moving to an alternative OS as a result of the change of ownership of Solaris from Sun to Oracle. Over the past 6 months we have investigated installing application from source and packages on all the major Linux distributions. During this process we got a feel of each of the OS. My next step was to provide some evidence to management on what the general community was using and why. I now have sufficient testimonials to proceed from this stage.

I am pleased to say that nearly all the replies I received supported my own conclusions. First is that Exim will run stably on all the popular flavours of Linux with very little performance difference. The second, which was in nearly all the replies, is that the choice of OS was down to the administrators experience, skills and preferences.

For completes I have include the number of users using each OS, if it was stated in the reply. Because the sample is so small it may not be an accurately representation. It includes replies from the BIND, Exim, Apache and Squid mail list for the same question.

        Centos          5
        Redhat          5
        Ubuntu          4
        Debian          3
        OpenSuse        3
        Gentoo          2
        Fedro           1


And finally a summary of the points raised when choosing which Linux flavour to run Exim.

        Administrators experience and skills
        Administrators preferences.
        Administration time.
        Availability of replacement staff with experience of OS and training requirements.
        Compilation or packages installs.
        Availability  of suitable packages (if not using source).
        Ease of compilation from source (if not using packages)
        update cycle (Cutting edge or stable).
        Online support or commercial support (Budget).


Once again, many thanks for all the people who replied.

Regards,

Graham Butler
Infrastructure Team.
Computing and Library Services.
The University of Huddersfield.

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