Server Operating Systems

Server Config
1

I’m in the middle of creating a technical wiki and in the process, I’ve decided to create a template for server profile information the users can use to inventory the hardware we have (i.e. - RAM amounts, storage space, application purpose, etc.) In doing so, I’m at a somewhat impasse for what to include with the operating system options.

I’ve done a few Google searches and came across links that lead to both big and small lists with nomenclature different across every one. So with this being said, I would like a semi-general idea of what kind of OSs I should provide as options to select from when someone records a server. I was hoping some of you more knowledgeable server guys around here might be able to lend some input into whether the following list would suffice or if it needs less or more specificity. Maybe the entire list itself needs a different direction? Any insight is appreciated:

Localhost Development (i.e. - WAMP, XAMP, etc.)
Linux Ubuntu Server < 10.04
Linux Ubuntu Server 10.04 LTS “Lucid Lynx”
Linux Ubuntu Server 10.10 “Maverick Meerkat”
Linux Ubuntu Server 11.04 “Natty Narwhal”
Linux Ubuntu Server 11.10 “Oneiric Ocelot”
Linux Ubuntu Server 12.04 LTS “Precise Pangolin”
Linux Ubuntu Server > 12.04
Linux 5 Update 5* Red Hat Enterprise (IA32 and EM64T)
Linux 6* Red Hat Enterprise (IA32 and EM64T)
Linux 6* Red Hat Enterprise EM64T UEFI
Linux Enterprise SuSE Server 10* SP3 (IA32 and EM64T)
Linux Enterprise SuSE Server 11* SP1 (IA32 and EM64T)
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003* SP2 (IA32 and EM64T)
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R1 Standard Edition (32/64-bit)
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2008* IA32 SP2 legacy
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2* EM64T
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2* EM64T with Hyper-V
Microsoft Windows 7* (IA32 and EM64T)
Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2011* (Standard, Essentials, Premium Add-on)
VMWare ESX 4.1 U1*
VMWare ESXi 4.1 U1*

2

Why not just have a text box and let them manually enter the Operating System they are using…?

3

two obvious ones that seem to be missing are Linux Debian and Linux CentOS :slight_smile:

4

I kind of did, logic_earth. I’ve allowed an “other” option where they can then use an actual text input, but I’m trying to avoid any catch alls with this and maintain as much consistency as possible across answers.

And thanks for those two that were missing, ScallioXTX. :slight_smile:

5

We went to the combination of free-form text fields with auto-suggest years ago, works pretty well.

I’d separate things out a bit myself for searchability – OS family (linux, windows, bsd, VMWare) and variant (Ubuntu, Slackware, Server 2003, Server 2008). This was an object lesson from our own similar list.

6

What about old Novell NetWare servers? There’s probably a few of those kicking around. Although, from what I’ve seen, most shops have been migrating over to a Windows Server variant over the past 3 years or so, rather than NetWare’s successor: SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.

7

Not only seperting out the OS / Variant, but the architecture too - x86 / x86_64. Though some users might not actually know what what they are running! :smiley:

Been there, had that issue… “its a server, it sits over there points”

8

I definitely have some homework to do with all this, but your ideas have been wonderful. I never thought I would have to worry about the architecture and this is mostly because I never had to worry about this kind of thing. And yes, FF, I should probably include Novell boxes as our LDAP seems to be geared around this.

9

Currently the only x86/x64 to worry about mostly, but there could be older machines running on Itanium chips still in use? equally, ARM are making a push with HP now into the server market, which opens up another set of options.