Hi,

Which OS do you think is the most reliable web and database (mySQL and PostgreSQL) server -- OpenBSD or FreeBSD? Why?

Which one would you choose for a dedicated or co-lo server? Why?

What have your experiences and observations been?

I've read that OpenBSD tends to need periodic reboots due to kernel panics when pressed into firewall duty -- but have no personal experience with this -- nor know if the same would apply to OpenBSD if used as a web or database server...not sure how this compares to FreeBSD.

Of course, OpenBSD is billed as being more secure than FreeBSD due to the extensive code auditing for potential buffer overflows and other security vulnerabilities. However, I'm wondering if FreeBSD can be secured just as well if set up properly with security utmost in mind. Your opinion?

Which would you choose and why?


Thank you for responding,

Louis

My view: I've researched this extensively... but I'm primarily a Windows 2000 Server user. I use OpenBSD for my firewall systems...

1. OpenBSD *IS* more secure than FreeBSD, the kernel and core packages have been cleaned up. The kernel has special features to deal with memory problems (double release of same memory page, etc). Again and again, you will find newly discovered buffer overflows found for FreeBSD that the OpenBSD team had fixed already...

2. That said. FreeBSD is great. It is far better than Linux in terms of quality.

3. OpenBSD is not the place to be if you want current packages and applications. Compatibility is not a strong suite.... the FreeBSD team makes much more effort to have a usable system... where OpenBSD team favors security over features. For example, OpenBSD completely lacks any SMP support.

3a. Same could be said for Linux over FreeBSD. Linux supports way more hardware and features, but it also includes things even when quality is not good.

OpenBSD highest quality -- > FreeBSD good quality --> Linux is features over quality :)

*IF* OpenBSD will do what you want, it is a great choice. But too often, people find that somethign they need is missing. FreeBSD is a good compromise.

Stephen

I'd say that FreeBSD is the best of from any UNIX OS.. I'm using FreeBSD on my home computer ;) I like it and I love it!
Actualy FreeBSD was the first..

- OpenBSD isn't better in security.. I use "ipfw" (kernel firewall) on FreeBSD - it is very small firewall, but it works best and easy!

p.s. - I think that Linux will be commerce project.. For example you can take RedHat. FreeBSD was always free and best, I hope it will be free and best forever.

Originally posted by Miha
I'd say that FreeBSD is the best of from any UNIX OS.. I'm using FreeBSD on my home computer ;) I like it and I love it!
Actualy FreeBSD was the first..

- OpenBSD isn't better in security.. I use "ipfw" (kernel firewall) on FreeBSD - it is very small firewall, but it works best and easy!

There is more to security than packet filtering. Some would say that that firewalling is the last step in keeping a system secure, or even a bandaid.

I strongly suggest you read:

http://www.openbsd.org/security.html
http://www.openbsd.org/crypto.html

I agree with StephenRS,

I got an OpenBSD box to make a web development server. And I found many of the things were not available for it. The patch support was less. So I was forced to have a reinstall with FreeBSD :) And loving it since then...

May be OpenBSD can be used for firewall or other jobs.

I've been running FBSD as my main server since December and i find it to be more reliability oriented compared to LInux..

However i've continued to use slackware for mySQL as many ppl have said multi-threading under linux is 100000x better than in BSD..

Another plus about FBSD is that i didn't really have antyhing to worry about when that whole zlib crap blew up in everyones face :) sure i had to upgrade the libs, but aside from that fbsd didn't have as serious issues as linux :)