I would like to solicit some advice... I am wondering which distribution of linux (or even bsd) I should acquire. I am trying to (basically) ween myself from windows. (I currently run Win2k Pro and only have a few complaints but I am starting to think this is the last (and first) good version of windows made.) ... I want more control over what the OS does... (This supposed phoning home windows supposedly does is starting to worry me), I want the window manager to work the way I want it to, I also want it to look the way I want it to(!) and last but not least I want to UNDERSTAND what the damn computer is doing (used to be so simple with dos, now ... crap I don’t know half of what is running.). In short, I’m a control freak (and windows is taking that away from me; that will never do!) My line of thinking is that if the next version of windows really is as bad as it occasionally seems then I’ll already have my foot out the door (so to speak) and I should not have to deal with it much. However if the next version of windows is worth a damn, well then I’ve lost nothing. So it seems I can’t go wrong in that regard In the past I have played with Red Hat Linux 5.2 and Linux Mandrake 8.1. I don’t really understand the workings of Linux* and heck I never did figure out man or where to find the documentation for the c runtime library At any rate I’d appreciate advice on which linux/bsd...

1. ... is Easy to setup and maintain. -- as mentioned I really don't understand linux land all that well yet. I'd like as painless setup/admin as possible.
2. ... is stable. I really don't like system crashes. -- I've not had the best of luck with my current linux mandrake installation, though I think mostly I’m just crashing X.. but I won’t swear to that.
3. ... would make a good development platform.
4. ... is fast. Win2k Pro here goes pretty good, I don't want to go slower! (I want to run kde/gnome/something-like-that)
5. ... is easy to update. -- Debian's apt-get sounds quite useful for instance but my net connection (which I've yet to get to work in linux) is abysmal at best. ... I don't want to have to DL a lot f stuff.
6. ... a distro that will hold my hand when I need it and get the hell out of my way when I don't.
7. ... something that I can use like windows.. aka set it up and not have to tweak it to keep it running. ... i.e. turn on, and start working.

My current thought is to go with Mandrake Linux 9.1 I think it is, the power pack one. However I know some are adverse to Mandrake Linux though and some say go Debian or Slackware or gentoo? (looks promising), etc. I'm not opposed to a BSD flavor but I know less about them than I do Linux. (similar as I understand it but different). I would greatly appreciate WHY you think I should go with a particular distro. (i.e. `go xxx` is less than useful to me I'm afraid), though your vote would be noted nontheless. * If I did I’d be able to figure out how to boot to a text console and change my video drivers... The current setup has voodoo5 drivers and I’ve a GF4 ti4200 now. ... Needless to say I broke me linux Thank you, Feral [edited by - FeralofFireTop on August 2, 2003 3:30:35 PM]

I have tried lots of distributions, but I always end up going back to Mandrake. Some people say it''s a newbie distribution, well it IS pretty newbie friendly. I am however not exactly a newbie. I have been using linux since Slackware 3.5. I just don''t think it''s entertaining to configure a system, it is a lot more comfortable to have a system that pretty much configures itself, like Mandrake. That way I have more time left to do real, somewhat important stuff

Also, Mandrake 9.1 is one of the best mandrake releases to date. Try it.

My two cents,

I have found that Slackware is easy to setup/maintain and is quite fast. It's only about a 550 MB download and installs only what you need.

If you're looking for really fast distribution, try Gentoo. It's alot more difficult to setup, but is well worth it. It's a 60 MB download, but then it downloads everything else you want and compiles it specifically for your machine. It also is easy to maintain, but it's definitly not for beginners.

Redhat, Mandrake, Suse all are easy to install/maintain but seem slower and bloated and they all require you to download several CD's

No matter which one you choose, they all make great development platforms.

I recommend Slackware for you because it's fairly quick, easy to install and maintain. Once it's setup, you really don't have to mess with it too much


Cheers,

Bob



[edited by - scourage on August 2, 2003 7:24:04 PM]

Person 1: Slackware cuz of X, Y, & Z! Nobody else has X, Y & Z

Person 2: Hey Debian has X, Y, Z, and W!

Person 3: Gento is teh r0x0r! Slackwaries are meanies!

Person 4: Redhat also has X, Y Z, & W. I think Slackware has W, too...

Person 5: but slackware is V!

Person 6: No it isn''t, you''re just dumb!

^^ summary of every "What distro should I use" thread ever created. Everything you read will be junk. Just pick one, try it, and maybe try a few others. Fill in XYZWV with any words that make sense.

Well, this is philosophical....


1. Easy Install: Red Hat & Mandrake. FreeBSD has the better documentation, but since no one reads it before they install, it isn''t the easiest install *grin*

2. Stability: Debian, BSD (Stable branches). Both run a little "behind" the curve though, in exhange for more testing. Red Hat and Mandrake are pretty cutting edge, which is great if you want a certain feature, but horrible if your main concern is stability, but since you probably aren''t running a mission critical server....I think even Red Hat 9 has been pretty stable from my testing at work.

3. Any! All the Linux distros are GNU based, so you can get all that good stuff. You should probably decide what your target platform is and use that in this case. Red Hat is probably the most popular for corporate work (you see most drivers tested and built on RHat, though this doesn''t matter really). Look into autoconf to avoid little distro differences.

4. Most software will run faster in most cases. If you have hardware that doesn''t have good Linux support, you might not get the best performance (not all driver manufacturers are conviced of Linux yet, shame on them). You have more choices on Linux, they even have window managers designed to run lean and mean.

5. Debian and BSD in my mind are the easiest to update. Ports and Packages on BSD are well maintained and plentiful. Same for Debian. But you''re right, both require bandwidth unless you get the necessary packages on CD. There is a LOT of software in the Linux/BSD world. Debian is about 10 CDs lately, Red Hat is 6 if you get the SRPM disks, and I''m not even sure how big the BSD Ports collection is (but its massive). I would splurge and buy CDs at your local computer store, or order them online. There are plenty of web sites that sell CDs at cost + shipping, so you can get them cheap. Then just worry about downloading updates or patches.

6. Hand holding...uhm....yeah...uhm... (grin). This is the weakness of Linux in general. You won''t find the best helpfiles. You will find great support online though. Almost any problem you have, someone else has had it. Google will be your friend. Red Hat and Mandrake have the most information during install lately, but they don''t do much post install. FreeBSD has excellent organized documents online. Red Hat probably has the most exposure on the web if you look for help, so might be a better choice for this question.

7. Tweaking. All the distributions are close to this now. Red Hat and Mandrake default to UI logins and GUI running, so probably win this one. Personally, I tweak the hell out of my Windows setups to get the look and feel I''m used to, same with the Linux distributions. I get more return on my time on Linux however, just accept what I got on Windows.

I''ll say this, it doesn''t matter what you pick. Based on what you said, I would probably go Red Hat, being sure to get the disks online by mail order or get them at the store. But choosing any other won''t make a huge difference. Once you realize that most of the software is the exact same code on each distribution, you can focus on seeing what features each distro offers you like. While I say Red Hat, I would bet money once you learn enough Linux, you will find another distribution you like more for any number of reasons that would start flame wars.

I prefer FreeBSD personally, but admit that its spartanism only really appeals to those who don''t mind spending effort on their system setup (though, for making network servers, its fantastic to have that spartan approach). I use Red Hat at work with no real complaints. I haven''t bothered with Mandrake (didn''t like the non-geeky feel..magic wands? what geek wants magic wands on their screen!!). Debian is my second choice to FreeBSD for many of the same reasons. Gentoo in my mind is all hype, but I think its a great concept and won''t knock it. Slackware I never tried (only so much time in a day), but I hear good things about it as well.

Int.

Thank you all (guess even C-Junkie ) for your input I would also like to thank you for not turning this into another pointless flame fest

... Anyway ...

So many choices

I''m reading up (Google.com/linux is neat!) in an attempt to ask only good questions.

It is sounding like the a BSD''s port will DL if necessary then compile, etc. While Debian''s apt-get and Gentoo''s Portage will also get the dependencies? Am I
understanding that right? BSD will not automatically get a port''s dependencies?

I like the automatic fetching of dependencies quite a lot, I''ve got caught in dependency hell before; one of the reasons I''m opting for a new install vs trying to update my
current system, fwiw.

Am I right in understanding that I can use my generic DVD drive to install a linux/bsd distro DVD ?

Thank you.

P.S. finally got around to getting my mandrake 8.1 to boot to a normal text console... Now I''ll just have to see if I can install the nvidia drivers

BSD ports will fetch dependencies, as well as Debian packages. I didn''t play with Gentoo much, but since everyone raves about the package system on that distro, I''m assuming it also fetches dependencies.

You can install from DVD. I believe Debian even has a DVD ISO, or directions on how to build one. The FreeBSD ISO is small (relying on internet ftp sites for ports and packages, though I think I heard of people offering CDs of the distfiles for BSD and the ports.

Most people run cvsup to get their BSD updated after install, so don''t bother with getting all the distfiles ahead of time, but then again, that doesn''t help those with dialup.

I just wanted to say again, most distribution will be about the same for things you need or want to do. Its the package system thats probably one of the biggest differences.

G''luck

It''s good to hear BSD''s ports will get dependencies too... I hope the other linux methods start doing that too.

As for BSD cds, Outpost.com has this FREEBSD TOOLKIT, which sounds like it has a lot of stuff, but really I''ve not much of a clue yet ... Was that basically what you were thinking Interim?

I think I''m being tempted by Debian or FreeBSD ... Basically my only reservation about FreeBSD is whether my Gf4 ti4200 will work or not. (I was reading there were drivers but a few issues) ... I''ll probably go FreeBSD if I can figure out if it will work or not (not the greatest hardware support?) ... The FreeBSD separatism approach I thinking of as an advantage... Less to learn, less clutter and less to get in the way.. (= I say that now that I know BSD will get the dependencies for me ... I also see learning FreeBSD now as a leg up for the future should I need to setup my own web-servers/game-servers/etc.

I do understand that most of the software is the same (wonders of open-source I thinks).

Heh I wonder how long a (FreeBSD) cvsup would take at 44k...

I''d like to reiterate how much I appreciate the input, thanks guys

Luck,
Feral

play around with the os more...... and u will find something out of it.......

quote: Original post by johnc82
play around with the os more...... and u will find something out of it.......

Which OS are you refering to? .... Any something in particular?

Thanks