Linux Distributions

lanjoky

Ok everyone, I am a windows junkie who's looking to get into linux. I have a P3 650mhz laptop that I want to set up with linux. Here are a few questions I have:

What is a good Linux Distribution to put on this machine? Ive done a red hat install on it in the past but thats the only dist ive tried
What are some good Linux references (books, and websites)?
Any install tips that I should keep in mind when installing on this machine?
Any misc comments you may have.

Thanks in advance

jimson

don't install LINUx <= very itchy

run BSD... open / free or net

www.freebsd.org

goldbug

Gentoo!!!

Oh wait, that's not for newbies. Oh well, Gentoo anyway!

dalecosp

So many Linuxes...jimson may have a point. With BSD, you've only got about 3 to choose from. FreeBSD for me...

I've often thought about trying Linuxes just based on the names. How 'bout www.chainsawlinux.com ?

Heh 😃

RH, SUSE, are oft considered good migrations from that Other Company, they use GNOME and KDE desktop environments, respectively. Gentoo is an up & comer, and respected because they've got something like unto the BSD ports tree...

the_myth

I'm running XP (:o) and Linux Mandrake on my machine. I honestly haven't found the time to play around with Mandrake too much, but I've found it to be fairly easy to use.

stolzyboy

If you are a real newb, RH8 or RH9 is probably the best at implementing guis, and its still free if you download it from their site, you won't want to if you are on dial-up, it is huge so you may want to spend the 9 bucks you can get it for on ebay, that is where i got it

jstarkey

I run KRUD www.tummy.com/krud . The guys are very security concious and manage 3 servers I lease for myself and clients. Keven is co-author of the security HOWTO. They also, through the local LUG, played a big part in me learning linux from 99 til now.

I can send you a copy if you want to email me your address info. I get a free subscription to their monthly updates, but I use RHN for keeping track of my machines, so they just told me to give my monthly copies away to people who are interested in Linux.

lanjoky

Originally posted by jstarkey
I run KRUD www.tummy.com/krud . The guys are very security concious and manage 3 servers I lease for myself and clients. Keven is co-author of the security HOWTO. They also, through the local LUG, played a big part in me learning linux from 99 til now.

I can send you a copy if you want to email me your address info. I get a free subscription to their monthly updates, but I use RHN for keeping track of my machines, so they just told me to give my monthly copies away to people who are interested in Linux.

Sounds good starkey ... I pm'd you with my email address.... thanks 🙂 ... appreciate it

jstarkey

NP.

I'm actually helping a client right now, who's trying to set up a dual boot with KRUD. So it's developer tested, cleint approved 🙂 (ok goofy, but I just woke up)

Sxooter

Another vote for KRUD. I've met Kevin (he lives here in Colorado) and he's a nice guy.

Other than that, look at RedHat, debian, suse, or mandrake.

FreeBSD is pretty good, but if you're a windows user it'll feel awfully primitive at first. I don't mean that in a bad way, I like BSD, but it's no where near as simple to install and administer as, say, RedHat.

jstarkey

I've met Sean, but not Kevin. Spoke to him many times on the phone, though. Very cool guy.

jimson

install the BSD without the x86
and just start learning all those commands
when competance, then install x86

dalecosp

Originally posted by Sxooter
FreeBSD is pretty good, but if you're a windows user it'll feel awfully primitive at first. I don't mean that in a bad way, I like BSD, but it's no where near as simple to install and administer as, say, RedHat.

It's actually a snap, as long as you want some UNIX CLI server sitting around. Otherwise, (if you want a workstation with GUI) I guess I'd have to agree. Of course, the reason is that FBSD is "highly configurable". The project has determined NOT to make any decisions for you, including what programs to install other than traditional BSD unix tools, what WM or DE, what monitors/adapters you have to buy (as long as code exists) etc., etc...

It's just very good UNIX stuff....

goldbug

Originally posted by jimson
install the BSD without the x86
and just start learning all those commands
when competance, then install x86

What are you talking about? Did you mean XFree86, instead of 'x86'?

jimson

What are you talking about? Did you mean XFree86, instead of 'x86'?

ok, next time i type full text...

xf86... ok ok..

i thought all will understand... 🙁

goldbug

Just pointing out that there could be some confusion....

"without the x86" could mean other things, like, install on a PPC or Alpha platform, or heck, even Dreamcast (NetBSD) 🙂

Sxooter

Originally posted by goldbug
Just pointing out that there could be some confusion....

"without the x86" could mean other things, like, install on a PPC or Alpha platform, or heck, even Dreamcast (NetBSD) 🙂

Reminds me of that article I read a while back about a University that's created a Beowolf (sp?) cluster out of PS2s. Talk about plug and play.

goldbug

Originally posted by Sxooter
Reminds me of that article I read a while back about a University that's created a Beowolf (sp?) cluster out of PS2s. Talk about plug and play.

Thats almost as "cute" as the Space Simulator:
http://space-simulator.lanl.gov/
🙂

Weedpacket

Originally posted by goldbug
Thats almost as "cute" as the Space Simulator:
http://space-simulator.lanl.gov/
🙂

Yaah, not a patch on the Earth Simulator

wmcneely

After lurking for quite a while, bleary eyed and watching infomercials, I've finally found a thread to I can reply to.

IMHO SuSE is one of the best. YAST is a great config tool, but of course you have the opportunity to learn the command line as well.

As I recall, you were wanting to install it on a laptop...word of caution, make sure you know what hardware is installed. I know that sounds silly, but some of the bigger companies such as Compaq do not think that it is necessary to pass on simple things such as the NIC controller information to the customer. If you do run into problems here, just do searches on the web for your model number and usually someone will have gone through the pains to figure it out.

HTH and enjoy the *NIX experience!!!

"The box said Windows 98 or better, so I installed Linux"