[Scottish] Large Linux environments

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Hi,

I'm looking into running the servers for our game on Linux.

I'm interested in any information people have about how companies manage 
large numbers of Linux servers (500-700 machines). What distros do 
data-centers use, what management software (Elwell says he uses 
cfengine). How are updates managed and rolled out? What other 
considerations are there when running an operation that large? These 
machines would be accessible via the public internet.

I'm mainly looking to gather some good links and information so I can 
understand more about what this entails.

thanks,

Rob