beth777
01-23-2001, 04:36 PM
In the research lab I work at, we have just upgraded computers, and find ourselves with a PowerMac 7200 that is too slow to be very useful running the Mac OS. We also have possible uses for Linux, (which I have experimented with on my home PC), since there are Perl scripts written for the phylogenetic studies that we do.
So here is my dilemma: I can possibly convince my boss to let us install Linux on the PowerMac, but if I make a mistake and get the wrong distribution, and it crashes or is too hard to configure, or is too slow, etc... people will remember my failure forever (!) and I'll likely not get another chance to experiment. I am used to RPM-based distributions and would like to start there. I have researched Yellow Dog Linux and MK Linux. Does anyone have an opinion on what will be most stable on such an old computer, and easy to install and configure? Also, which one is more likely to offer good tech support if we run into problems? How difficult will it be to try to connect the computer to our ethernet network (given that our IT Dept. will run screaming, hands over their ears, if I even say the word 'Linux').
So here is my dilemma: I can possibly convince my boss to let us install Linux on the PowerMac, but if I make a mistake and get the wrong distribution, and it crashes or is too hard to configure, or is too slow, etc... people will remember my failure forever (!) and I'll likely not get another chance to experiment. I am used to RPM-based distributions and would like to start there. I have researched Yellow Dog Linux and MK Linux. Does anyone have an opinion on what will be most stable on such an old computer, and easy to install and configure? Also, which one is more likely to offer good tech support if we run into problems? How difficult will it be to try to connect the computer to our ethernet network (given that our IT Dept. will run screaming, hands over their ears, if I even say the word 'Linux').