I really, really, really want to run Debian, but...

[iocon]

I've been prototyping on a local VMware server - going thorough bare install, playing with configurations, breaking things :-).

I am running Webmin 1.110 (installed using it's native upgrade capability) and I just loaded up the newest virtualmin (and the related stuff, like quota ... noticed Perl 5.8.0 is now on Woody! ...also found a bug*).

My Q: If I want to go live with this service set, and my 5-10 initial users, is this enough? Is it 'reasonably safe' to actually let users access the system this way (it does appear to limit them quite well)?

I was toying with the idea of using ISPman (a free ldap-based multi-server admin tool) but it's over the top for my needs.
I think that a cPanel solution would be perfect, but it's not ready and I'm looking to setup here at serverbeach in <2wk

Also, how would I find out how the systems are setup? (which packages, etc.)



*virtualmin gives an error regarding postgre not being there even if it's turned off. adding the webmin module (without installing the service) shuts it up.

[iocon]

OK, I decided I broke too much stuff too easily on my Debian test servers (in VMware and on a spare PIII box) so I'm going with one of the RH9/cPanel boxen first.
I'll continue to use Debian.woody.r1 here for my local server needs until I'm at a point where I can bulletproof (and adminproof) the distro myself.

[JonTrainer]

What kind of problems did you have? Maybe someone here can help.

I'm new to Debian as well -- so far I'm finding it much easier to administer than Red Hat. apt-get alone is worth the change -- though it is available for rpm based distros as well.

I like the simplicity of the Debian base distro. To me Red Hat seems to include everything plus the kitchen sink in the base installs. I much prefer adding what I need, when I need it vs trying to find and ripout stuff I'm not going to need.

Just my 2 cents.

[iocon]

Mainly I'm running into 2 issues.
First some of the stuff in Debian/stable is old. I mentioned above I had to update Webmin to be able to use user/virtual and I break apt when I do that.
Second is more fundamental - I'm just not entirely confident I can do all the things I need to (because of me, not Debian). cPanel/whm looks like it will give me the features and limits I want for client accounts without keeping me up at night.

I am using Debian on my server at home however. So, one day I'll have it all figured out. That will not be any day soon I imagine.