Changing from Red Hat to ???

[andycrofts]

Hi
Due to the slight confusion with Red Hat's new direction, I consider now is a good opportunity to change distributions to fit my needs more closely. Based on a lot of reading, I'm considering either Deb or Gentoo on my server, neither of which I have any familiarity with..-OK, I gave up on Gentoo once - had hardware problems.
Main reason is to get a more efficient/faster/tightly controlled installation, as this server will be destined primarily as a city web-portal (oululife.com), running Apache/PHP/MySQL/postfix and all the trimmings that come with this. Running runlevel 3, no X loaded. I'm expecting this machine to see some severe load, based on the feedback I have so far.

Couple of quick questions:
I'm used to the RH directory structure (esp. /etc, and the config. style structure), and really don't wanna change this knowledge (which rules SUSE out, unfortunately - why do the Germans have to try to be different? :p).
I like RH, and intend to keep it on my other machines (with Ximian's Desktop), and will need to 'mimic' the server on at least one of these for "sandbox" testing. So, which of these two is closest to Red Hat's way of working?

Secondly, I'm used to apt-get for RH.
So, for example, if I compile Apache to my needs, what happens to my compilation efforts when apt-get decides to update it? Does it just wipe it and install a 'default' (non-optimised-for-me) version? Or does it patch?

I really don't want an 'esoteric' disti, nor do I need sound/video/dvd/coffee-machine support. I'll need SCSI tape support, but mt is pretty standard
Just basic, efficient dynamic webpage serving.

I'd appreciate comments, pref. qualified with reasons to help me finalise. Oh, yes. Installation begins this weekend!

-Thanks in advance
-Andy

PS forgot the machine spec. Compaq Deskpro 600, 350 MHz Pentium-II, 96 megs RAM, SCSI interface for HP tape streamers (2), 6G IDE HDD, onboard 100MHz LAN plus one extra LAN card. Memory and disk to be upgraded later (256megs and 60+60 gig respectively). Another disk to be added when the first is upgraded to give RAID.

[Brownstixzz]

Just be patient. The official Redhat a.k.a Fedora will be released on November 3rd. The Fedora project just to let you know has been released to the public.
Redhat still has some say so as to what will be the final Fedora but we now can do a whole lot more to it.
I've been testing the beta additions on my dual processor AMD 2800 with software raid and the list can go on and on about my particular setup.
It has been holding ground really well. I've reported bugs to the proper authors and what not. It is setup sweet now.
You will love the Yum installer and the apt get.

Now I'm not saying to not try any of the other well known versions. Because they all work just as well. It's just a matter of support and how you want to retrieve that kind of support; plus how much money you are willing to pay.

Just my wet foodstamp sense.

JD

[andycrofts]

Thanks for that, JD, just needed to clarify that the RH/Fedora thing isn't my driver for this change, it just seems as if I've gotta make some changes (Yum, etc) now might be an opportunity to switch, if I can see any clear advantages in so doing. Gathering opinions/experiences. I'm not griping RH's change*, I'm happy at RH's moves to a great extent. Wish there was a way I could get my hands on the new Enterprise stuff for self-study, without shelling out thousands of euro's. Don't mind shelling out a couple of hundred for 'educational' purposes.

Sorry to digress.

-Andy

* (I'm honestly putting in an order for a (wearable) Fedora, as soon as I can work out my head size! - if I talk like a prat, I may as well look like one :D)

[hard candy]

Also, look into Slackware 9. I have Fedora and Slackware, alternating between them . Both are good.
By the way, in your sig it say to check out your blog, but there is no link or address. And if it was available, is it written in Finnish or Swedish?
And have you looked at SOT linux? I tried it, it seems very good. And it is from your neck of the woods.

[andycrofts]

Hi
Think Slack might be too much like hard work (read: I've a weekend - my first free for a month - to install-and-forget-it) Did consider it, tho'

It's the following I need: Speed, yes - with that HW setup, pretty darn vital - but also familiarity. I haven't really the time to learn about redoing all modules. Getting postfix to work, for instance, was a major time exercise (except for fredg's help)

-Thanks
-Andy

PS
Blog's on the button at the bottom of the post, (press the {www} button) in thelinuxpc.com (I know it's crap. Like I said, no free time recently...;-) Then use "The linux blog" menu button).
Yep, English! My Finnish is crap (Mun suomea on paska!) Swedish is spoken by a few. We don't like to be seen associating with them :D
(Just kidding!)

[Gaxus]

Go with Debian. Great distro.

[hard candy]

Slackware will take you 30 minutes tops to install everything. When you first boot up, you'll get to a root prompt. log in and do "xf86config" and you are ready to go.

[carbon-12]

Id give

Knoppix (amazing h/w detection) and Slackware 9.1 is try.