On Thu, Jan 03, 2013 at 01:33:16PM +0100, Soren Hansen wrote: > We'd be happy to explore possible ways Ubuntu Server could stand out. I > can just say that historically the Ubuntu Server community has by far > preferred that Ubuntu Server remain a minimal install. It's been a > while since this discussion has last been active, though. Would you care > to start this discussion on the ubuntu-server mailing list?
Servers are usually enabled for access via a serial line so that the system can be accessed remotely during the BIOS boot. It would be useful if the defaults were to make sure that absolutely everything from power start (which is done via remotely cycling the power) through the end of boot shows up on the serial console. Yeah, I know, there are supposed to be all of these fancy new methods of doing things. The problem is, in practice they fail when you need them and the only thing I am aware of that has worked fairly consistantly is the serial line. Next, under no circumstance should a server blindly come up in a mode in which it cannot display to a virtual console. Never. Ever. No Excuse. Next, if a system locks up, it should not ever blank the screen. That may be the only data you have to diagnose a rare problem. Assume that a server is going to connect to an ancient KVM and probably a glass tty that is there because it is so old and crufty (but reliable) that no one wants it any more. This is not a matter of special cases. This is *typical* of corporate backend racks in data centres. You have to assume that the guy doing the install has a fixed scheduled amount of time to do an upgrade. At the end of that time period, things should just work. They should not require research, argument, or philosophy. The guys working in these facilities could care less about such things. It either works or it doesn't. If it causes bother and requires special admin, then unless it provides something unique that is mission critical... it gets pulled and replaced by something that is less trouble free. Time is money. Ubuntu, for a number of years, was very trouble free. The last few years I have been having more and more agony with it, and I find I am not alone in starting to shift back to Debian for a number of things. I am simply stating the facts as seen by someone who spent nearly two decades doing admin on two continents, for systems or critical services in universities, major banks, accounting firms and large corporation via a customer in Manhattan. Them's the hard facts of life in a fast past world where *lots* of money rides on keeping them running. I am very glad to say I am (mostly) out of that world and doing something much more fun and far less stressful... (I work in NewSpace now). -- Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss
