Which Linux Distribution?

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Sat May 10, 2003 3:39 pm

I want to try out Linux. Which is the easiest/best free distribution to learn?

zooner · Post by **zooner** » Sat May 10, 2003 7:35 pm

I remember that I installed mandrake last year. I cant say how easy it was, but I can say that it was a BREEZE to install.

I think I might be going mandrake/gnome myself. Unless I can find something better.

let me know which you decide to use, although if I take the plunge first I'll pass along how it goes for me. I'm waiting for my lappy to arrive to try it.

Stef · Post by **Stef** » Sat May 10, 2003 9:29 pm

Debian is the best to learn from. I say that because the majority of their utilities are still command line driven. Not only that, but they are also very strict about the content of their distro and how it is organized.

It's easy to install, upgrade or compile software on Debian. They're still the only distro that has a special utility for compiling and creating your own kernel.deb package.

Configuring is easy as well, Debian has a few scripts that configure the kernel modules or init.d starting services. That way you don't have to edit as many conf files.

Some say that installing Debian is hard. It really isn't provided that you've actually researched the kernel and what modules you will need to get your system going. If you've used fdisk before cfdisk is more or less the same thing with support for a dozen more filesystems.

Mainly Debian is the best to learn from cause they're not trying to convince you that Linux is just as plug and play as windows. It's not, and you'll never learn Linux by using some sort of GUI configuration tool like LinuxConf -> which will never help you when XWindows does'nt load. Their is no safe mode in Linux, just a shell that blinks to welcome you

Unless you learn Linux the right way you'll be doing multiple installs on your system cause that's how you learnt to fix major problems in Microsoft's land. That's why distro's like Mandrake suck and are bankrupted!

If you liked MS-DOS but always wanted a true network operating system and a different GUI than Win3.1 Linux is perfect for you.

Stef

zooner · Post by **zooner** » Sun May 11, 2003 6:23 am

(trust me stef, I read every word you wrote!)

what about redhat? They recently came out with a new version, 9.0, and most of what I've read seemed good.

I'm not sure waht tonyt is looking for, but I'd like something more to get my feet wet. I dont have the time for a full learning curve.

thinking along the same lines tonyt?

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Sun May 11, 2003 8:13 am

I am more interested in Linux w/ a GUI and easy to figure out and use. Unfortunately, I came into computing after DOS and thus never learned command line use, other than the necessary DOD utilities for networking and such. Point and click is what I am lookung for with some command line stuff too.

Eventually, I want to set up a box w/ scrap parts and basic hardware w/ Linux and Apache (and other server side programs), just for LAN testing of scripts and web content.

Duzmor · Post by **Duzmor** » Sun May 11, 2003 8:56 am

Keep This Thread Going !!! I would like to Learn also- I have extra Computer I Can Play with !!!

Thanks

Duz !!

Stef · Post by **Stef** » Sun May 11, 2003 3:01 pm

Okay, if you want to try linux out I recomend that you burn a copy of Knoppix. It's a fully functional Debian based distro that run's completely from a compressed filesystem on a CD-ROM.

I you like it (it's got all of the same software as any other Linux distro) you can install it on your harddrive by using a simple command in the prompt. ( knx-hdinstall)

In the end you'll get a fully configured Debian system and a fully functional rescue CD

Don't worry, Debian has GUI configuration tools like LinuxConf and Synaptic so that you can install software and configure your system without using the command line. FYI, most GUI front-ends miss out on a lot of the functionality and power that comes from the original command line interface.

Good luck!

Stef

zooner · Post by **zooner** » Sun May 11, 2003 7:45 pm

Originally posted by Stef
Okay, if you want to try linux out I recomend that you burn a copy of Knoppix. It's a fully functional Debian based distro that run's completely from a compressed filesystem on a CD-ROM.

I you like it (it's got all of the same software as any other Linux distro) you can install it on your harddrive by using a simple command in the prompt. ( knx-hdinstall)

In the end you'll get a fully configured Debian system and a fully functional rescue CD

Don't worry, Debian has GUI configuration tools like LinuxConf and Synaptic so that you can install software and configure your system without using the command line. FYI, most GUI front-ends miss out on a lot of the functionality and power that comes from the original command line interface.

Good luck!

Stef

oh yes!!

i had forgotten about that, i'll give that a try first.

thanks!

zooner · Post by **zooner** » Mon May 12, 2003 7:47 pm

Originally posted by Stef
Okay, if you want to try linux out I recomend that you burn a copy of Knoppix. It's a fully functional Debian based distro that run's completely from a compressed filesystem on a CD-ROM.

I you like it (it's got all of the same software as any other Linux distro) you can install it on your harddrive by using a simple command in the prompt. ( knx-hdinstall)

In the end you'll get a fully configured Debian system and a fully functional rescue CD

Don't worry, Debian has GUI configuration tools like LinuxConf and Synaptic so that you can install software and configure your system without using the command line. FYI, most GUI front-ends miss out on a lot of the functionality and power that comes from the original command line interface.

Good luck!

Stef

simply amazing.

everyone should try this. works PERFECT and takes only a couple of minutes AT THE MOST.

a lot of fun for free. cant beat it.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Mon May 12, 2003 10:36 pm

Thanks Stef, Knoppix really rocks! Just what I was looking for. This will give me the chance to become familiar with the 'basics' of linux and the kiddies (my kids) can use it on their systems as well.

After about 10 minutes I am off to research boot managers so I can throw this on a partition. (already have win2k on one and 98 on another drive. I'm considering getting rid of 98 altogether and putting this on that drive!

Stef · Post by **Stef** » Tue May 13, 2003 12:31 am

Glad to hear that your finally making the big switch Tony! Hopefully, I'll be able to brainwash Norm as well

The dosmaster will fall!!!

ANyway, as far as boot loaders go:

LILO -> Linux Loader, can be configured to dual boot Linux with Windows (9x/ME/XP/NT/2k) and the BSD's, but it's main function is to load the Linux kernel. You can pass arguments to it at the boot prompt, but the real work is done by editing lilo.conf in Linux. Also, it can be configured to show a splash screen.

GRUB -> Grand Unified Boot Loader. Works with almost any UNIX-like OS, has it's own shell for advanced configuration and debugging at boot time. It can even be configured to boot a kernel image from a network share!!

If your not into UNIX boot loaders there's also loadlin. loadlin will boot a linux kernel image from real mode DOS. It's very usefull and can easily be added to AUTOEXEC.BAT as a menuitem

Stef

zooner · Post by **zooner** » Tue May 13, 2003 4:45 am

well...

i've made the laptop a full linux machine. no win98se at all.

no regrets so far.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Tue May 13, 2003 6:04 pm

HELP!!!!!

My 11 yr old daughter saw Knoppix running on my box, saw all the available games and has now taken over control of my Knoppix CD I burned!

Looks like i will now have to burn multiple copies of it (once the other 2 kids see it they too will want it).

Stef · Post by **Stef** » Tue May 13, 2003 6:50 pm

Morphix is another Debian based Linux-Live CD. It's got several different iso's that you can choose from: gamming, lightGUI, heavyGUI and KDE.

I recomended Knoppix because I have never tried Morphix yet, but maybe the gamming iso would be better for your kids.

Let me know how it turns out.

Stef

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Tue May 13, 2003 7:06 pm

Originally posted by Stef
Hopefully, I'll be able to brainwash Norm as well The dosmaster will fall!!!

I tried that Knoppix thing about a year ago, not bad.

You'll never brain wash me Stef. The governement and media have tried for decades and gotten nowhere.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Tue May 13, 2003 7:38 pm

Let me know how it turns out.

Sounds good. Will do, next chance I have to spend the time on the d/l and burn.

The governement and media have tried for decades and gotten nowhere

*inadvertant admission to having a dirty mind*

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Tue May 13, 2003 7:41 pm

Originally posted by TonyT
*inadvertant admission to having a dirty mind*

Man, you're good