Which Linux Version is good for MID Server

[rohan_jain]

Hi Community,

I need to Choose the MID Server OS  for making the Cluster.

I need to know the Best Practices and the Recommendations as well,

So first is Choosing the Linux Distribution
as I am Currently Confused like which OS Config is best for us, as we are large organization handles a lot of ITOM tasks and Other Automation things Through the MID Server and ServiceNow

currently I have Two Distributions in Mind, One is Amazon Linux 2023 and RHEL 8

And I am thinking of making the cluster to prevent the failover.
so which config is best
Amazon LINUX 2023, Amazon LINUX 2023
or
RHEL 8, RHEL 8
or 

RHEL 9, RHEL9

One more Point to add as Amazon Linux 2023 is cheaper then RHEL Distribution
I prefer to go for Amazon Linux 2023
But I checked some where that ServiceNow Don't support it or something, so what Should I do, and want to know the best practice on this, and want to reduce the redundancy.
It will be really helpful if  someone can guide me through this.

Best Regards,

Rohan Jain

[Nilesh Pol · Accepted solution]

@rohan_jain 

When choosing an OS for your ServiceNow MID Server cluster, it’s essential to factor in support, performance, cost, and your organization's requirements, especially since you handle critical ITOM tasks and automation.

As you’ve mentioned, Amazon Linux is generally cheaper than RHEL, which is a critical factor for many organizations. If you're heavily using AWS services, Amazon Linux is highly optimized for AWS environments, with better integration and performance in AWS-managed environments.

RHEL is a well-established OS, and ServiceNow fully supports RHEL for MID Server configurations. This is a big advantage since you’ll have the assurance that if any issues arise, both ServiceNow and Red Hat support teams will be able to help. It is highly regarded in large enterprises for its stability, security patches, and extensive documentation. It’s a go-to choice for critical systems that require high availability.

Good to know: If you’re cost-sensitive and Amazon Linux 2023 works for your ServiceNow MID Server setup, you can choose it, but make sure to verify compatibility and support with ServiceNow. If you don’t get official support for Amazon Linux 2023, this could be risky in the long run. 

If reliable support and stability are more important than cost, RHEL 8 or 9 might be your best choice. It’s fully supported by ServiceNow and known for its stability in enterprise environments.

If minimizing costs is a priority and Amazon Linux 2023 is supported, go ahead with it, but confirm with ServiceNow regarding support for that version. If support and stability are more critical, RHEL 8 or 9 would be a safer choice for your MID Server cluster. Whichever OS you choose, ensure a consistent configuration across all nodes in the cluster to avoid potential issues with failover and maintenance.