Misc go-to FOSS options
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I've been wondering about others' preferences on a few things. The landscape of operating systems and databases has changed a bit in the last few years. Not curious about Windows or MSSQL, nothing new there.
Server OS: I've bounched back and forth with CentOS before Stream (the split between 6 and 7 was weird), Ubuntu Server (seems to get a lot of hate, no idea why), Fedora Server (also seems to get some hate, not sure why), RHEL (only when the customer absolutely requires the support and can't convince them otherwise), Debian (not used a ton, not sure why, pretty barebones)
NoSQL DB: MongoDB went through a really shady legal bit when they were doing their as-a-service initially, which basically spelled out they own your IP if you use their DB with your app, haven't checked back to see if that got cleared up. On-prem I've used CassandraDB and MongoDB mainly, and started looking into ScyllaDB more recently.
Relational DB: Defaulted to MySQL until some devs spun off concerned with the Oracle acquisition and started defaulting to MariaDB, mainly see PostgreSQL in larger deployments but don't know much difference to go with one over the other than what a vendor leans toward.
What are some of your go-tos these days? Why?
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@bbigford said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
Server OS: I've bounched back and forth with CentOS before Stream (the split between 6 and 7 was weird)
For me, I prefer the RHEL ecosystem, but I do not believe in the super slow updating RHEL itself. So I use Fedora server when given a choice. Most people that I have seen complain about Fedora Server are complaining because they think it is bleeding edge, which it is not.
Now that said, when I said "when given a choice," i mean that because many times I am installing some solution. Nextcloud, UniFi Controller, FreePBX, VitalPBX, Mesh Central, wtfever..
When I am installing those things, I do not force my preference. I install them on the operating system supported by the development team of the solution.
Because I am doing things in a business environment that requires I be able to get support. Sure, most of the time that support is myself and Google or a community like this. But if push comes to shove, I need to be able to pay the developers support team for support, and to do that, I need to be on the platform they support.
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@bbigford said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
NoSQL DB: MongoDB went through a really shady legal bit
Still is.
@bbigford said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
TSQL: Defaulted to MySQL
MariaDB is the standard default installed DB in all operating systems now, except maybe Oracle Linux because owner...
As for what DB to use, I do not do development, so I do not choose databases. I use whatever the tool says.
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@bbigford said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
I've been wondering about others' preferences on a few things. The landscape of operating systems and databases has changed a bit in the last few years. Not curious about Windows or MSSQL, nothing new there.
Server OS: I've bounched back and forth with CentOS before Stream (the split between 6 and 7 was weird), Ubuntu Server (seems to get a lot of hate, no idea why), Fedora Server (also seems to get some hate, not sure why), RHEL (only when the customer absolutely requires the support and can't convince them otherwise), Debian (not used a ton, not sure why, pretty barebones)
I favor native ZFS based systems server side:
- FreeBSD because I am sick of the Linux corporatocracy pushing inferior technical solutions, b.s. internal power play politics, yes (wo)men shills, etc.
Otherwise something IllumOS based:
NoSQL DB: MongoDB went through a really shady legal bit when they were doing their as-a-service initially, which basically spelled out they own your IP if you use their DB with your app, haven't checked back to see if that got cleared up. On-prem I've used CassandraDB and MongoDB mainly, and started looking into ScyllaDB more recently.
No preference here, not a dev, so whatever is called for. But, yeah, two thumbs down on Mongo shady licensing change 'chit.
TSQL: Defaulted to MySQL until some devs spun off concerned with the Oracle acquisition and started defaulting to MariaDB
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MySQL replacement: Percona
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Else otherwise PostgreSQL. I favor ROSS: Real Open Source Software.
What are some of your go-tos these days? Why?
Others that scratch my various itches:
Web: Nginx
IMAP: Dovecot
SMTP: Postfix
But surely all of this is old news? Or maybe start a popularity poll?
Have fun!
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@bbigford said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
Server OS: I've bounched back and forth with CentOS before Stream (the split between 6 and 7 was weird), Ubuntu Server (seems to get a lot of hate, no idea why), Fedora Server (also seems to get some hate, not sure why), RHEL (only when the customer absolutely requires the support and can't convince them otherwise), Debian (not used a ton, not sure why, pretty barebones)
We moved to Ubuntu. The hate mostly comes from using the LTS release rather than the current one. Current is very good.
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@bbigford said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
NoSQL DB: MongoDB went through a really shady legal bit when they were doing their as-a-service initially, which basically spelled out they own your IP if you use their DB with your app, haven't checked back to see if that got cleared up. On-prem I've used CassandraDB and MongoDB mainly, and started looking into ScyllaDB more recently.
Databases have to be chosen by role. You don't just have "a go to NoSQL DB", it doesn't work that way. All depends on the code base and workload.
That said, MongoDB has not changed, don't use it at all.
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@bbigford said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
TSQL: Defaulted to MySQL until some devs spun off concerned with the Oracle acquisition and started defaulting to MariaDB
I think you mean "Relational Database". SQL is a general purpose query language intended for relational databases but used for any kind. T-SQL is the specific language of MS SQL Server and nothing but Microsoft's product ever has used it.
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@bbigford said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
TSQL: Defaulted to MySQL until some devs spun off concerned with the Oracle acquisition and started defaulting to MariaDB
Again, it's about workloads. Doing a website, MariaDB. Doing a robust application, PostgreSQL. Doing a traditional workload with only one application touching it, SQLite.
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@gotwf said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
I favor native ZFS based systems server side:
Lower performance and rarely are the features beneficial. It's not that Linux is pushing something inferior (Linux has ZFS for a long time now anyway) but actually pushing something superior for the use case. For normal server workloads XFS runs circles around ZFS.
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@gotwf said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
MySQL replacement: Percona
Percona is a DB support vendor, not a database maker. They provide packages and support for MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, etc. But it's just the other databsaes, with Percona's support.
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@gotwf said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
Web: Nginx
We moved to OpenLiteSpeed. It's noticeable how much faster it is.
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@bbigford said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
Server OS...
Debian (not used a ton, not sure why, pretty barebones)Debian is widely used but not widely marketed because there are no commercial interests controlling it. It's 100% community-based and community-controlled, just like the Linux kernel project.
So it's not a community sponsored by a company, unlike many other distros.
That's why is been around for a long time and why it's the base for many other distros, like Ubuntu.
Personally I like it for it's versatility to be whatever I need it to be.
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@scottalanmiller said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
We moved to OpenLiteSpeed. It's noticeable how much faster it is.
Interesting. I used Lightspeed bitd, before they had yet even a logo. I guess it went commercial? Stopped using it in favor of nginx when they hit a bunch of security issues. This was long ago. Have not looked at it since.
Up and coming new kid on the block that I am looking real hard at web server side:
But I have not yet deployed it so omitted from my initial reply.
There are many reasons I prefer to avoid Linux these days. I don't have time, nor interest, in an exhaustive list, since I am pretty sure NIH will prevail regardless. Perhaps one of the most attractive aspects of Illumos based stuff are the communities around them. Very helpful and welcoming. Takes me back to the good 'ol days in the 90's before FOSS had become so corrupted by special interests.
The hostility of many (most?) Linsux groups is one of the major things that have morphed Linux into Linsux. It has to do with size and mass adoption leading to developer/helper fatigue, one upmanship gamesmanship, etc. I see FreeBSD slipping and sliding down this slope as well. Sad days. OpenBSD has always been a bit "edgy" - you'd better have done your homework before posting, always been welcoming to newbies, but also a low tolerance for entitlement attitudes expecting "hand holding" w/o putting in any efforts/minimal on their end.
As for Debian... way too political and these days pretty much a serf of Canonical. Besides that, the "Debian Way" does too much tweaking for their own justifications. Makes troubleshooting more complex, relatively speaking, to something staying "more true" to upstream, e.g. Archlinux.
Been bit one too many times in the past by 'buntu though. Brain dead stupid stuff that caused lots of grief. It may well be great. For now. But I cannot trust is any longer.
As for ZFS... I am well familiar with ZOL having been an early adopter long before Unbuntu embraced and bundled. Heh, BTRFS was the long hoped for and awaited, waiting, more waiting Linux darling of the day. And boy, ho boy, did I get flamed on #archlinux whenever I would bring it up. Fast forward a bit and some of those same folks now asking me for "recipes". So I posted up a blog post on it, which I could link here for shits and giggles but, heh, that stuff is so old and dated that I have not yet even bothered to convert to https....
My two bits worth. Your mileage will likely vary. I endeavor to be objective but life experience will still leave us with prejudices. Sometimes that is called "learning". Others closed mindedness.
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@scottalanmiller said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
Percona is a DB support vendor, not a database maker. They provide packages and support for MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, etc. But it's just the other databsaes, with Percona's support.
Nope. Their xtradb and clustering stuff was (cuz I have not used in a while since my got to is PostgreSQL RDBMS side) much nicer experience than anything I had used MySQL based. Maybe this has been pulled into MySQL and/or MairaDB by now? Once again, I try to stay away from that entire ecosystem modern times. I like BSD licenses.
So maybe at least take a gander before dismissing: https://www.percona.com/software/mysql-database/percona-xtradb-cluster
Maybe not too many folks here need to concern themselves with clustering? Just throwing it out there in effort to be helpful. No skin off of my nose either way.
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@scottalanmiller said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
@bbigford said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
TSQL: Defaulted to MySQL until some devs spun off concerned with the Oracle acquisition and started defaulting to MariaDB
I think you mean "Relational Database". SQL is a general purpose query language intended for relational databases but used for any kind. T-SQL is the specific language of MS SQL Server and nothing but Microsoft's product ever has used it.
ah, you're right, relational was meant here, not TSQL. Good catch.
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@scottalanmiller said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
@bbigford said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
TSQL: Defaulted to MySQL until some devs spun off concerned with the Oracle acquisition and started defaulting to MariaDB
Again, it's about workloads. Doing a website, MariaDB. Doing a robust application, PostgreSQL. Doing a traditional workload with only one application touching it, SQLite.
Where does MariaDB fall down with a more robust application compared to PostgreSQL? Wondering when you start to lean toward PostgreSQL.
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@bbigford said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
@scottalanmiller said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
@bbigford said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
TSQL: Defaulted to MySQL until some devs spun off concerned with the Oracle acquisition and started defaulting to MariaDB
Again, it's about workloads. Doing a website, MariaDB. Doing a robust application, PostgreSQL. Doing a traditional workload with only one application touching it, SQLite.
Where does MariaDB fall down with a more robust application compared to PostgreSQL? Wondering when you start to lean toward PostgreSQL.
Basically anytime that I need to be doing anything other than a cached read of a site. Basic websites like WordPress are built around MariaDB. If I'm building my own code, it's always SQLite or PostgreSQL. PostgreSQL is faster, more robust, and has more features. MariaDB is targetted at read heavy websites and blogs.
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@gotwf said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
So maybe at least take a gander before dismissing: https://www.percona.com/software/mysql-database/percona-xtradb-cluster
It's just clustering on top of MySQL, though. I wouldn't use MySQL at all. MariaDB is better, but I'd only use it to the point of software built to use it. Building a cluster of MySQL seems odd. Not entirely terrible but... odd. If I had something that important, it would never be on MySQL.
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@gotwf said in Misc go-to FOSS options:
So maybe at least take a gander before dismissing: https://www.percona.com/software/mysql-database/percona-xtradb-cluster
This seems less good than Galera, the built in included clustering in MariaDB. Not sure why I'd replace Galera with something else unless it has a significant advantage. I'm not against Percona, if I needed commercial support they'd be my first call, this is what they do. And I love that they are a one stop shop for support of many open source DBs. But I've never needed third party support and I wouldn't want to stray from the base product that everyone can support.
