Linux
The operating system under most cloud infrastructure. Linux is an open-source operating system kernel, used with distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian, Red Hat Enterprise Linux and its derivatives. It runs the majority of cloud servers, container hosts and Kubernetes nodes. Production use involves choosing a distribution, hardening, patching, monitoring and troubleshooting.
When it is the right choice
- You run servers, containers or Kubernetes, which is nearly always on Linux
- You need control over performance tuning, networking and security settings
- You want long-term support releases with predictable patching
- Windows Server remains the better fit for workloads tied to Windows-only software
How we use it
- Choose and standardise distributions with long-term support for your environment
- Harden and configure systems with Ansible and baked images
- Automate security patching with staged rollouts and reboots
- Monitor hosts with Prometheus node exporter and alert on real problems
Ansible
Packer
NGINX
Prometheus
Linux: frequently asked
Which Linux distribution should we use?
For most teams, a long-term support release of Ubuntu, Debian or a RHEL-compatible distribution is a safe choice. Consistency across your fleet matters more than the specific choice.
How do we keep servers patched without downtime?
Patch in stages, starting with test machines, and design services so instances can be replaced or rebooted one at a time.
Running Linux, or deciding whether to? Tell us what you have; the first consultation is free.
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