kev wrote:

> stability - debian stable machines can run for years at a time - and even
> go through major upgrades without a reboot - how does this compare with
> gentoo? do updates cause problems?
> (i am thinking of a server box so no X or any obscure apps - it would
> mainly be apache, postgresql, FTP, postfix etc).

I've had no stability problems here. I run a MythTV and a homebrew NAS
machine, both on Gentoo. Plus, from what I gather the Gentoo.org
servers themselves are (appropriately) running Gentoo.


> security - debian stable has security patches released extremely quickly -
> and all patches/updates are installed from a single command. again, how
> does this compare with gentoo? does the 'emerge sync' command also bring
> in security patches?

That was the first thing I missed by switching from Debian to Gentoo.
The ability to turn off all updates *except* security ones. Portage
(Gentoo's package manager) is supposedly going to have this
functionality added in the near future.

There's currently glsa-check for automatically checking security
updates, though it's a work in progress.
http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/portag...ntegration.xml

With somewhat older hardware and no need for cutting edge software, then
Debian might still be appropriate at this time. Otherwise, give Gentoo
a shot, though.


-WD