Secure OS/vBulletin Suggestions

[Jerry Davis]

After a recent hacking (our third incident in three years) I'm reviewing our choices in OS software in hopes of getting something more secure as a platform than what we've been running in the past. While I know any OS can be made secure from the default install I'm interested in people's thoughts and experiences on the subject of security. I'm not trolling or trying to start what amounts to a religious debate on whose OS is the best but instead would like to know your real world experiences.

We've been using various Red Hat Linux versions and are considering moving to something less well known in hopes some OS obscurity will make our lives easier. I know security through obscurity is a generally discredited idea but I'd like any edge I can get.

I'm thinking of three OSes:

1) Red Hat Linux
2) FreeBSD
3) OpenBSD

I'd go with OpenBSD but unfortunately we need SMP support (dual processor) which OpenBSD does not have. Given that you NEED high quality SMP performance and WANT security what would you suggest?

Thanks,

Jerry Davis
Information Systems Manager
Chicago Reader, Inc.
11 E. Illinois St.
Chicago, IL 60611

E-mail: mailto:jdavis@chicagoreader.com
Phone: (312) 828-0350 x661
Fax: (312) 828-0865
Web Sites: http://www.chicagoreader.com
http://www.straightdope.com

[Chris Schreiber]

I'd go with RedHat Linux... it can be secured very well, and I would highly recommend using the RedHat Network to keep the server updated with all the latest patches and security fixes as soon as they come available. I have my server updated every night with the latest fixes automatically.

[eva2000]

i think Red Hat is best too still... for some reason there have been a higher number of instances of vB performance problems on FreeBSD then RH :confused:

also isn't FreeBSD's smp support still developing ?

i'd check the last line in Chris' sig ;)