[gentoo-server] Good practice: to use various kinds of software?

[Zhang Weiwu]

Today one of my server crashed. I am an inexperienced admin, looked 
through log files and determain berkdb is very much likly crashed.

My administration rule of thumb is "to keep it simple and stupid", so I 
hate to have all different software with same function all around. I 
configured the openldap, cryus, postfix, webapplicaton and web analizer 
all use berkdb, in fact many of them could be configured to use gdbm or 
mysql, but I hate to add administration difficulty by using different 
software.

Now I am thinking perhaps I am wrong. "simple and stupid" maybe makes 
the system risky. In my case, berkdb crashed (reason not clear yet. Now 
still working on recover data) and openldap, cyrus .... all about a 
dozen of software depending on berkdb no longer work. If I seperate 
them, use different db for different purpose, I am putting eggs in may 
baskets.

Just wish to hear your suggestions. Yours
Zhang Weiwu