Topic: Stability of SME Linux

[RAID]

Hi, I am sure many of you know that Linux OS is pretty much stabile OS. When you configure it on proper way to not touch it (do not play with it) and it will work for long time.
I would like to know what is your experience concerning stability of SME Linux Server in intranet or Internet application.
Is it as most of other Linux distribution-you configures it and you can almost forget about it or you have to watch it especially in server only mode? Is it smart to upgrade it if it runs perfectly?  

Thanks in advance,

RAID

[arne]

I have used SME servers for some years, and one of the main reasons for this is that I have experienced the sme server as more stable than any other operating platform that I have tried.

The times I have had some probplems I have allways traced that problem down to be something not related to the basic SME server itself, but to some changes or modifications that I have made myself.

As long as you have one basic unmodified SME installation it is exstremely stable.

I think or guess that one reason that it is like that is because that the SME (6.0.1) is basically a RedHat 7.3 During all those years up to Fedora Core 4, the SME server has just gone trough a series of minor modifications to improve configuration, stability and functionality.

When you install a Core x you often got some "help youself best as you can newest experimental server". When you install the SME server you got a fine tuned smooth running machine with proven stability and usability reflecting operating experiences from thousends of simular installations running all over the world.

My personal point of view is that it has drawback as well. I think that it does not has a performance equal to a new Fedora installation, but for many situations the increased stability over a Fedora installation will make the SME to be a bether choice than the Fedora. (One reason - the Fedora will require a lot of "manual" configurations where you "normally" will make some errors or some configuration details that is not the wery best one. The Fedora installation will allways require som debugging and problem solving phase. The SME server just runns perfect from the box.)

When it comes to upgrades .. don't know if I'm to conservative, but I try to avaid upgrades that is not really neccessary, as I expect them to involve potensial risks (But I don't know if I have really have experienced that the risk has been there.)

Don't remember for sure 100 %, but I belive the way that I have done the upgrades has been by making a data backup of all datas to a workstation, and then making a completely new fresh installation with restore of datas on that new installation. I think that there has been zero problems with that.

The reason that I'm not sure is that I have used the backup method a number of times to move installations between hardware or to upgrade hardware. I think I have done it the same way between versions as well, without problems, but I'm not 100 % sure about that.

[RonM]

Hi Raid - In my experience SME runs without issues for months and years at a time, recovers gracefully from power outages, adapts to hardware probem fixes or upgrades, and runs pretty well as-is on old systems.

The software allows the installation of most well-designed software packaged for RedHat 7.3 and for upgrades of system components (that have been properly packaged).

It has been wonderful, stable and undemanding, for 5 years and, what 4 or 5 major versions now. Gotta love it!

RonM

[dhardy]

Damn thing just works.

Just sits there, unassuming, unattended and unhacked.  

Use proper passwords and open up the security as little as possible and you'll have the same experience as we do.

In fact, in my experience its more likely that the hardware will fail than SME will. Take regular backups and you can reinstall and be running on different hardware in an hour or two - try doing that with other OSes.

Of course, YMMV!

David.

[adamperry]

I use SME Server 6.01 as an intranet server for 100 people and it has tremendous stabilty.  I don't think I've ever had unscheduled downtime on that box.  Uptimes of 100+ days.  Another SME Server that I used strictly for file storage had an uptime of nearly a year, only going down for a UPS replacement.  Like someone said - "it just works".

[psykoben]

I use SME server for 2 years and i have an excellent stability with no failure on default configuration.
In fact the problems with SME is that hardware is the first to fail so you need to backup your data regularly.
I have experienced some (stability) difficulties on self customization out of contribs topic and never in other documented sitution (except a big hdd hardware crash   on unbackuped system   ).