Best Linux Distribution

xbuilder

Hello,

I have been using RedHat Linux for years. I thought it is a good
server. But now I think it's slow when using its GUI and it does
not work well in sound etc. I currently use RedHat 9.0. Need suggestions on which Linux distribution to switch to, if any.

I post this question here because PHP/MySQL have to work well,
and I looked online and did not seem to get a conclusive
finding.

I used Linux and UNIX
Installation is not a concern
I am looking at SuSE, Mandrake, and RedHat
PHP/MySql/httpd must work well.
good GUI speed, good sound compability
I may twant to try install vmware on top of Linux

Tell me your golden experience.

Thanks in advance
XB

LordShryku

Take a look at this thread

Personally I use Debian. But I don't spend a whole lot of time in X, so th whole need for GUI thing doesn't concern me so much...

Sxooter

Originally posted by xbuilder
Hello,

I have been using RedHat Linux for years. I thought it is a good
server. But now I think it's slow when using its GUI and it does
not work well in sound etc. I currently use RedHat 9.0. Need suggestions on which Linux distribution to switch to, if any.

Actually, the reason RedHat is slow in GUI mode is BECAUSE it's a pretty good server. Basically, you can either configure a machine to feel responsive with one user sitting at the console, or to handle hundreds of simultaneous connections.

In RedHat the X server runs at a lower priority than it does in something like mandrake. This means that users waiting for a web page to load will get more priority when you're sitting in front of the machine running an X based application than they would on a Mandrake box, which is setup, priority wise, to feel fast to the local user at the expense of running fast for remote, server based stuff.

That said, Suse, RedHat, Debian, and many others all make pretty good server versions of Linux. FreeBSD will usually best them in high load situations, but not by the kind of margins it once did (i.e. they've both gotten better, but linux had further to go to catch up, and it mostly has with the late model 2.4.x kernels.)

But, you'll likely need to tweak the settings for things like bdflush / shared memory / max files / raid rebuild speed limit and a few others on any linux server if you want it to run fast.

xbuilder

So, Mandrake is indeed faster that RedHat!
What server function is lacks compared to RedHat? If not a lot diff, maybe Mandrake is my choice.

csn

I know people who like slackware...

ultraslacker

GUI responsiveness has been improved in the development kernel and will bring a noticeable snappiness to X. No matter what distro you choose, I recommend trying 2.6 if you haven't yet.

xbuilder

I have just (only a rew hours) installed Mandrake 9.2RC2, it's first impression is pretty good in terms of GUI design (KDE). It is more pressional look than RedHat. The differences that I noticed is that
by default it only install 1.7GB stuff. This even did not install GVIM. There is no "Select All Packages" selection like in RedHat. To install most packages, I had to select them manually, which is really a pain in the neck. Even with all installed, only 3.0 GB disk space is used. RedHat 9.0 used much more. Do not know why.

superwormy

This is really a pretty vague question and pointless thread...

For one thing, any Linux Distro can be configured appropriately to meet a number of needs. BUT it needs to be configured that way. And if you're serious about using Linux, you should be looking at configuring things, not at pre-packaged selections of software that Redhat or Mandrake things you shoudl install.

Further, you shouldn't be running a GUI on a fricking server... so if you are... stop it. You're hindering the machines perfomance and wasting disk space.

Also, if GUI speed is an issue, then the GUI is most probably the issue, NOT the LINUX DISTRO. There are MANY GUIs available for Linux Distros, however the default GUIs which install with many distros are seriously bloated and try to be too Windows XP super-friendly-ish ( IMHO ) Go look for another GUI ( other than Gnome / KDE ) and try that before you switch Distros.

Mandrake is not faster than Redhat, IF PROPERLY CONFIGURED.
Redhat is not faster than Mandrake, IF PROPERLY CONFIGURED.

Mandrake more than likely installs less stuff, so it takes up less disk space.

Oh, and if you're looking for a real workstation or server... take a look at FreeBSD :-)

Just my humble opinions of course...

LordShryku

There was nothing "humble" about that opinion :p

xbuilder

This is really a pretty vague question and pointless thread...

I only agree with the first part of the statement. The question was not asking for a scientific number, rather, it askeded what you think.

I did learn a few things from this thread, which will help me in selecting a Linux distribution (may be Mandrake) for home use. I only try to have fun in playing with Linux a little bit. I am not alone.

I appreciated your comments.
XB

ultraslacker

Originally posted by superwormy

Also, if GUI speed is an issue, then the GUI is most probably the issue, NOT the LINUX DISTRO.

Don't discount prelinking and heavily patched kernels.

Oh, and if you're looking for a real workstation or server... take a look at FreeBSD :-)

Just my humble opinions of course...

Sure, take a look, but carefully. With a multi-threaded app like mysql there are some gotchas

Sxooter

Originally posted by ultraslacker
Don't discount prelinking and heavily patched kernels.

Sure, take a look, but carefully. With a multi-threaded app like mysql there are some gotchas

I'd definitely say that if you're thinking of FreeBSD just hop on board at 5.0 and wait for it to go stable. It's pretty good right now and even though it's not considered production strength just yet, it's still light years ahead of any flavor of Windows for stability under load and is a good performer.

johnnyv

Well i use Mandrake mainly and it's a fine general purpose dist. But any linux dist can be made into an efficient server with a little configuring. So really use what ever you like or are most comfortable with it doesn't make much difference.