Distributions : Advice Gentoo, Redhat or Slack [Archive]

Streamer

07-10-2003, 06:45 AM

Hi

First off no flame wars just some simple comparison from people who have used them. This is my situation "I have a dream" I have a desktop pc that runs on linux preferably without proprietry software(Mr Redhat - i think its kinda of two faced putting forward opensource with proprietry stuff), my aim is that i can run the latest(stable) software on my desktop without having to download numerous CD's and do an upgrade ala Redhat 8 or 9. Plus I want a package management system along the lines of apt-get.

I hear you call "TRY DEBIAN - its great", well I have tried debian and frankly we fell out. After running woody and finding out that I couldnt run the latest j2sdk(1.4) without running sid. which apparently is pretty unstable, and then eventually led to me screwed over my latest debian install because of dependency issues.

I've also ran redhat 8 but I wanted to run something with less corporate branding everywhere. I maybe convinced to install 9 if its my only choice.

The only reason I'm asking is because I am a really busy at the moment and havent got time to go around installing them all.

Thanks in advance

Andy

oubipaws

07-10-2003, 07:39 AM

something with a install like apt-get... (portage)
something with no proprietry software...

Try Dux Linux :p (all open source and includes portage... newest software and updates all ready included.)
http://mooktaking.homeip.net/DuxLinux-0.1-Beta.iso

Just download...burn...reboot with disc in and follow instructions...

Streamer

07-10-2003, 07:43 AM

Thanks, I've never heard of that one I'll do some reading on it. I have to say that I am heading towards gentoo at the moment. From what I've read it seems to be exactly what I'm looking for.

Andy

oubipaws

07-10-2003, 07:48 AM

Dux is my distro and its based off of gentoo... main difference right now is that our live cd includes kde, openbox, and all of the system updates right off the disc.

Chadduss

07-10-2003, 08:00 AM

If you are going to install Gentoo I recommend using the Gentoo 1.4rc3 live CD. rc4 setup my network and worked until I took out the live CD and rebooted. :p And I still have problems getting X up(mainly has to do with my video card, I'm think of buying an Nvidia now.) Just be ready to work at it!

oubipaws

07-10-2003, 08:05 AM

1.5 should be coming out soon... resource four has been around for a while

JusKickNit

07-10-2003, 08:06 AM

Gentoo took for ever to compile plus I got dial-up so it took for ever to emerge. But all in all Gentoo's pretty good. Someone on the gentoo forums said don't plan on using you computer for a week if your installing Gentoo. So keep that in mind. Debian (Woody) is aging. I never cared to much for RedHat (Don't know why) I just installed Slack 9 last week. I think i'm going to keep it awhile.

mdwatts

07-10-2003, 08:13 AM

I would say that decision is entirely up to you.

Do the research and see which distro/version is well suited to your hardware and needs.

What color car should I get? :D

BTW... My distro is the best.

oubipaws

07-10-2003, 08:17 AM

mdwatts... what distro are you using anyway?

<edited by mdwatts>

SCO Linux Server 4.0 based on UnitedLinux 1.0 which is mostly based on SuSE.

AlexPlank

07-10-2003, 08:42 AM

I have been using red hat since version 7.2. recently however, I tried Mandrake. It is amazing. I am never switching back to Red Hat.

oubipaws

07-10-2003, 09:12 AM

if thats what he's running,its a tad bit expensive too..

mdwatts

07-10-2003, 09:13 AM

Originally posted by tanna
I don't think mdwatts has a decent distro . . .

So what problems did you have when you used SCO Linux?

Why do you think I have so much time to spend here instead of constantly fixing problems like I've seen about Redhat, Mandrake etc.?

oubipaws

07-10-2003, 09:17 AM

thats the way to go about it... how do you like SCO?

mdwatts

07-10-2003, 09:20 AM

Originally posted by oubipaws
thats the way to go about it... how do you like SCO?

Read the last few posts of this current thread (http://justlinux.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=106116&perpage=20&pagenumber=2).

oubipaws

07-10-2003, 09:24 AM

i got a developer copy, i think im going to give it a wirl, since my suse is down, reiser's journal has gone haywire

Is the developer copy free? I am curious to try this out... I just like playing around with all the distros.
Is the cheapest version the 500$ copy?

[Thanks for the info md]

mdwatts

07-10-2003, 09:42 AM

Originally posted by oubipaws
Is the developer copy free? I am curious to try this out... I just like playing around with all the distros.
Is the cheapest version the 500$ copy?

[Thanks for the info md]

You need to register as a developer and be accepted (it is free) though they may not accept anymore for SCO Linux since they have dropped their Linux line and are now concentrating on Unix. All due to the damn lawsuit.

oubipaws

07-10-2003, 09:57 AM

thanks for the info MD, I'll look into the developer program.
Currently I have tru64 unix (compaq) running at home on a alpha box just to play around with Unix once in a while plus it is a application server.

mdwatts

07-10-2003, 10:26 AM

No problem.

SCO/Caldera also sent me last year a free copy of OpenUnix 8 (13 cd's with manuals) to try out. It will be on the new server I plan to build at home. :)

I've got to admit, SCO/Caldera has treated me well over the years. SCO Linux Server 4 I received for contributing and participating in the beta testing. I didn't even know I would be receiving a full retail copy. Nice surprise.

oubipaws

07-10-2003, 10:29 AM

Yeah I'd say thats pretty nice... 500$ value :p

Yeah I got version 5 of tur64 free for beta testing at hood college last year... Groups/Companies really do care about their customer base and if your willing to help them, they'll help you :D

hard candy

07-10-2003, 12:19 PM

For something a little different, try "EVIL ENTITY' distro. I mainly use Gentoo but I like to play around with evil entity a lot. It uses slackware as a base so the package management may not be what you're looking for.
It is fast and configured for graphics and games if that is what you're interested in.
Although, DUX is sort of homegrown here on JustLinux.....
"It was concieved on a dark night in a deserted forum by several geeks, and months later out came the DUX- just hope it doesn't quack up and, who gets the bill?".
It should be good since it is growing up in the proper environment. :p

serz

07-10-2003, 12:50 PM

They're just different distros.. and like mdwatts said, it's up to you.

After you make a decision, take a look to distrowatch.com and make use the search function to see more opinions about these distros.

David Speight

07-10-2003, 01:04 PM

I have tried various version of Red Hat, SuSE, Slackware & Mandrake.
They all have been pretty good, but my favorites are Red Hat, then SuSE.

It all boils down to personal taste.
One other guy at work is a Mandrake fan.

It's like cars, what looks best to you.

Darkbolt

07-10-2003, 02:09 PM

What distro? Depends what you want. I personally use Slackware. Its a distro where if something doesnt work, I know its my own fault. Its complely manual, and doesnt spoil you the least bit like RH, or MDK do. Most will probably agree that its frustrating at first, but if you can take the first bit of it, then it's a really great distro, and an excellent learning environment.

Piix4

07-10-2003, 02:15 PM

[Advice Gentoo, Redhat or Slack]

Slack, then Gentoo... then Red Hat...

I just like Slack... <so sue me>

oubipaws

07-10-2003, 03:54 PM

slackware would be pretty good for newbies... Really when picking a distro you might want to pick one that has the largest user base in case you need help...

Streamer

07-10-2003, 04:02 PM

Thanks thats exactly the kind of advice I was looking for, I have made a decision to give gentoo a try it looks fascinating plus I have found a nice friendly irc channel that will probably help me a lot.

But if I dont like that then Slack is next on my list.

Andy

oubipaws

07-10-2003, 04:07 PM

I use gentoo almost all of the time so if you need some help drop me an email at oubipaws@myrealbox.com

saturn-vk

07-10-2003, 04:09 PM

well, I can advice you to try out slack.

it's very easy to install, although some people think otherwise.
it's very stable and secure, and it's config files are well ordered and documented.

and it's extremely easy to upgrade to a new slack or slack-current, using swaret (it's something like apt-get, from what i hear, never used debian), like this: swaret --update; swaret --up-all

it's your choice really, and since i don't know any other distros apart from slack (i started on slack, and still using it)

3eyes

07-10-2003, 09:08 PM

Originally posted by hard candy
For something a little different, try "EVIL ENTITY' distro. I mainly use Gentoo but I like to play around with evil entity a lot. It uses slackware as a base so the package management may not be what you're looking for.
It is fast and configured for graphics and games if that is what you're interested in.
Although, DUX is sort of homegrown here on JustLinux.....
"It was concieved on a dark night in a deserted forum by several geeks, and months later out came the DUX- just hope it doesn't quack up and, who gets the bill?".
It should be good since it is growing up in the proper environment. :p

My friend tells me it's pretty cool and more user-friendly than Slack, but you need a pretty powerful computer to run it properly. (The homepage for Evil E recommends a 256 meg video card, IIRC.) It's also greatly multimedia-oriented as a desktop distro. Since it's open source too, hopefully someone will make a version that works good on less powerful computers.

JusKickNit

07-10-2003, 10:49 PM

I know this isn't the right topic to post in but, what all have you guy's (oubipaws) changed in DUX (from Gentoo), besides not having to D/L while installing. Also is the installer graphic or text.

JusKickNit

07-10-2003, 11:01 PM

Nevermind just found the other post on DUX beta.

Artimus

07-10-2003, 11:59 PM

JusKickNit

07-11-2003, 02:47 AM

Originally posted by Artimus
I'm sure you Dux people will hate me for this, but whatever...

I would recommend AGAINST using Dux if you don't know what you are doing and are not yet fully comfortable with Linux yet. First of all, it is based off a distro considered to be one of the hardest out there (Gentoo). I've used Gentoo before, if you can read directions, you can at least make it through the install. But I still wouldn't recommend it.

Also, Dux is just now getting released as a Beta.

His Question was what Distro Is good, but with out having to D/L alot of Cd's. Not whats a good distro for a newbie. The only reason I would try DUX rather than Gentoo is because of dial-up not because of the diffculting installing. Which I tried untill I was hour ten of KDE compiling.

CMonster

07-11-2003, 04:13 AM

well, you are in the right forum at least.

Streamer

07-11-2003, 04:30 AM

Hi

Yeah I'm actually more of a Linux Novice, I have now 7 months experience of Linux and have just installed debian twice with help, but these where more todo with changing X config files and apt-get dependencies problems. Either way I'm in for the learning curve, and to help me create MY personal ultimate desktop.

I was only asking as I dont want to waste an more time or cd's downloading dists that I simply dont like *cough* Debian(outdated software) *cough*. Well my first attempt at gentoo failed miserably due to a stupid usb modem, but I've now found the solution to that problem and I'm going to progress forwards now. What do you Gentoo users recommend stage 1,2 or 3 and how big are the performance differences.

Andy

2ndsign

07-11-2003, 07:15 AM

let it be said you must base your decision on these criteria

1)what you like.
2)your user level at the time a distro is used in your development

3)much depends on your learning about linux

for instance a year ago i was a complete noob so i started with mandrake 9.mandrake at the time i liked very much id tried redhat and didnt like it.as i became more proficcent at linux mandrake wasnt enough anymore i chose slackware and love it because i assumed it appeals to my geeky configure nature lol.:D

but dont get me wrong i have some issues with mandrake now of course that i didnt know about until i became better at linux but that doesnt mean not to try it. id recommend first off trying mandrake, become better in linux and if who knows you may become better and still like mandrake good for you!!it may also be you try a distro and dont like it maybe because your a total noob.you become a guru and then pick up the distro later.its about choice

good luck!:D :p

oubipaws

07-11-2003, 07:54 AM

I'm sure you Dux people will hate me for this, but whatever...

I would recommend AGAINST using Dux if you don't know what you are doing and are not yet fully comfortable with Linux yet. First of all, it is based off a distro considered to be one of the hardest out there (Gentoo). I've used Gentoo before, if you can read directions, you can at least make it through the install. But I still wouldn't recommend it.

Also, Dux is just now getting released as a Beta.

I agree with you... Dux Beta is not a _stable_ release, so that means there are going to be bugs right now that a n00b doesn't need to be bothered by.

Mandrake is probably your best choice for a starting distro, once you learn a little, then switch over to slack or gentoo

MMA

07-11-2003, 03:40 PM

Originally posted by Artimus
I'm sure you Dux people will hate me for this, but whatever...

I would recommend AGAINST using Dux if you don't know what you are doing and are not yet fully comfortable with Linux yet. First of all, it is based off a distro considered to be one of the hardest out there (Gentoo). I've used Gentoo before, if you can read directions, you can at least make it through the install. But I still wouldn't recommend it.

Also, Dux is just now getting released as a Beta.

OK, i do agree that its beta. But thats EXACTLY why people should (especially n00b's) try it.

Basicly, if they find something is wrong and not good, they can tell us about it and we will try our best to fix this in the next release.

If you do plan to download it i recommend using bittorrent, i've put some details in:

http://mooktaking.homeip.net