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Linux/Which One?¿

M

MainFramed

Diamond Member
Which Linux OS is best for just regualr OS use, like if you wanted Linux just for anything which one is best? Mandrake,Rehat, L33t, (etc)
Like which one is basicly the best one?
 
OK people, lets turn this one into part of the FAQ project.

Might as well get some answers for this.

Can we get pros and cons for each of the big ones like RedHat, Debian, Mandrake, BSD, Gentoo, etc?
 
Well everyone seems to think that Red Hat is the 'generic' Linux. It seems to be everyones first port of call, and definately has a large user-base. It was my first experience of Linux 🙂

As to what Linux is the 'best'? Well that is down to you and your requirements. Red Hat is very good in the troubleshooing dept due to the large user-base (and therefore tech community). Id say it is the one you are most likely to get working first time around, good install program 🙂
 
Redhat is the most common, and Mandrake seems to be the beginner's version, and (i think) debian is the expert's version? just going by what is being read about it on the forums.
 
RedHat: Large user base, some support from companies

Mandrake: slow but good for the "not so bright"

Debian: fast, easy with apt (and related packages), lets you do some work, but behind the times.

Slackware: Fast, no packaging system, lets you do some setup work, also behind the bleeding edge.

Gentoo: Fast, takes a while to get it setup, lets you build packages instead of just using binary packages, you must have a lot of time on your hands.

The BSDs arent Linuxes but here they are:

FreeBSD: Fast, plenty of ports, installs on a whopping 2 whole platforms.

NetBSD: Installs on everything but toasters (thats in the works), mostly an educational project. Highly portable, fairly speedy, should let you do plenty of the fun stuff setting it up.

OpenBSD: Fast, small, portable (9? platforms). No SMP, exists in a world where bleeding edge is pretty damn stable (ie behind the times a bit). Focuses on security.
 
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

The BSDs arent Linuxes but here they are:

FreeBSD: Fast, plenty of ports, installs on a whopping 2 whole platforms.

NetBSD: Installs on everything but toasters (thats in the works), mostly an educational project. Highly portable, fairly speedy, should let you do plenty of the fun stuff setting it up.

OpenBSD: Fast, small, portable (9? platforms). No SMP, exists in a world where bleeding edge is pretty damn stable (ie behind the times a bit). Focuses on security.
Click to expand...

Let's paraphrase, shall we?

FreeBSD: Fast, plenty of ports, installs flawlessly on i386 and alpha machines.

NetBSD: Toast anyone?

OpenBSD: Fast, small, portable. Installs on a whopping 1 processor, exists in a world where bleeding edge is pretty damn stable (ie behind the times a bit). Focuses on security.

I don't have a bias...

here4amission, there is no best linux. There are only preferences. Think of Operating systems as cars, not all cars suit everyones needs, and not all cars are for everyone.
 
Originally posted by: TheOmegaCode
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

The BSDs arent Linuxes but here they are:

FreeBSD: Fast, plenty of ports, installs on a whopping 2 whole platforms.

NetBSD: Installs on everything but toasters (thats in the works), mostly an educational project. Highly portable, fairly speedy, should let you do plenty of the fun stuff setting it up.

OpenBSD: Fast, small, portable (9? platforms). No SMP, exists in a world where bleeding edge is pretty damn stable (ie behind the times a bit). Focuses on security.
Click to expand...

Let's paraphrase, shall we?

FreeBSD: Fast, plenty of ports, installs flawlessly on i386 and alpha machines.
Click to expand...

Dont get me started.
 
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Dont get me started.
Click to expand...
Heh, I'm just trying to get your goat. I love the BSD's. I just recently got an oportunity to use BSDi, interesting Operate. Besides, I'm going to have to learn either OpenBSD or NetBSD (probably OBSD) for when I buy an iBook...
 
Originally posted by: TheOmegaCode
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Dont get me started.
Click to expand...
Heh, I'm just trying to get your goat. I love the BSD's. I just recently got an oportunity to use BSDi, interesting Operate. Besides, I'm going to have to learn either OpenBSD or NetBSD (probably OBSD) for when I buy an iBook...
Click to expand...

I know you were, thats why I didnt comment on what you said about OpenBSD 😉
 
Wird... anyway. I don't know why you guys think Mandrake is for the "not so bright". Its still linux at heart, and its learn as u want. I found that RH was a pain to get things to work, as even Open Office wouldn't even load :/.. Solvin deps is a pain too doh. I love Mandrake, but hey its everyones personal choice. Well heres my list:

Red Hat = Huge base. Lots of company support. Most people seem to use RH cause of the support when their servers burn.

Mandrake = Suppossidley the best Desktop OS by most people who aren't hardcore. Solves a lot of problems for you, and a great way to get into linux. Plus you can disable it all, and ldo it all manually. Love URPMI which solves dependencies, great for n00bs, and saves headaches.

Suse = German version of the RPM based Distro's. Don't know but from what i hear pretty good.

Debian == Uber l33t, yet still lovable. Apt-get seems to be why people love it. It solves all dependencies.

Slack == the "true linux". Nothin done for you, your pretty much on your own for a lot cept for community help. Common Slogan: "For hackers by hackers".

Gentoo: Seems to be replacing Slack as the uber l33t. Super fast, "emerge packagename" seems to be really popular, but I still hear some complaints once in a while that it breaks. Emerge is like apt-get too.

It all depends on choice. Linux.com has a nice intro too
 
RedHat: RedHat is where many of us got our start with Linux. The installation is fairly easy, although you can choose a graphical install instead. Most Linux software out there will run on it without problems, and finding RPMs is fairly easy. Their documentation is worth looking at, and most linux documentation I have seen is based on RedHat. Support from companies is usually better with RedHat than some of the "smaller distros."

Mandrake: Mandrake has a reputation for being newbie-friendly. I used it for a short time and did not like it. It felt slower than the other distros I have used. I believe it uses KDE as the default desktop environment which is one of the reasons it feels slow. There are plenty of built in tools to help comfigure the machine. The installation is graphical, but fairly easy.

Debian: Debian is considered scary by many users. The installation is fairly easy, the documentation is good, and the package management system is great. You should have no problems with installation if you read the install procedures. The package management system will download binaries of both the program you want to install and its dependancies. Keeping the system up to date is a snap involving a command line or two. The stable releases are a bit behind bleeding edge, but the unstable releases are typically good enough to be used in production.

Slackware: Slackware is the UNIX hacker's dream. Its a fast system. Like Debian, its not bleeding edge, but very stable. There is no real package management system so you will be downloading and building programs yourself. I personally learned the most on this distribution because I had to do everything by hand. I recommend this for all newbies that actually want to learn linux.

Gentoo: I have not used this distribution. The emerge system is very similar to BSD ports. It downloads source and builds it on your system. This is great if you have time. This distro also lets you do a lot of work so it should be great for learning how Linux works.

SuSE: SuSE is a German based distro. It also uses RPMs. The quality is supposed to be top notch. Professional support is another bonus to this distro. I havent used this one either, so my comments are limited.
 
Originally posted by: Kai4Linux
Wird... anyway. I don't know why you guys think Mandrake is for the "not so bright". Its still linux at heart, and its learn as u want.
Click to expand...

I say that mostly as a joke, but Ill explain it. Mandrake is very gui based. There are little tools to do a lot of the things you normally do at the command line. While this is fine for some people, they will not be able to learn the command line ways of doing things as easily. When the stuff hits the fan, these users will be at a disadvantage.
 
Debian == Uber l33t, yet still lovable. Apt-get seems to be why people love it. It solves all dependencies.
Click to expand...

apt-get was the thing that pulled people in the most, but they stayed because it's a very well put together system with strict guidelines and 99% of the time "it just plain works" even in the unstable/testing trees.
 
say that mostly as a joke, but Ill explain it. Mandrake is very gui based. There are little tools to do a lot of the things you normally do at the command line. While this is fine for some people, they will not be able to learn the command line ways of doing things as easily. When the stuff hits the fan, these users will be at a disadvantage.
Click to expand...

True While there are GUIS for it, ther eis nothign stopping you from using the command line. I use it over the GUIs if I can, but if i need it ASAP, i just use it to get it up and running fast. Problem is many won't take the initiate to learn, but at least they got into Linux somehow.



apt-get was the thing that pulled people in the most, but they stayed because it's a very well put together system with strict guidelines and 99% of the time "it just plain works" even in the unstable/testing trees.
Click to expand...

Yea I tried Debian, but my nic couldn't configure so 🙁. From what I hear Debian is good, but I have no exp myself.
 
Originally posted by: Kai4Linux
say that mostly as a joke, but Ill explain it. Mandrake is very gui based. There are little tools to do a lot of the things you normally do at the command line. While this is fine for some people, they will not be able to learn the command line ways of doing things as easily. When the stuff hits the fan, these users will be at a disadvantage.
Click to expand...

True While there are GUIS for it, ther eis nothign stopping you from using the command line. I use it over the GUIs if I can, but if i need it ASAP, i just use it to get it up and running fast. Problem is many won't take the initiate to learn, but at least they got into Linux somehow.
Click to expand...

That is why I recommend other distros, because they make you learn how to use it. Just my opinion, and I wont give you crap for using Mandrake 🙂



apt-get was the thing that pulled people in the most, but they stayed because it's a very well put together system with strict guidelines and 99% of the time "it just plain works" even in the unstable/testing trees.
Click to expand...

Yea I tried Debian, but my nic couldn't configure so 🙁. From what I hear Debian is good, but I have no exp myself.
Click to expand...

I had to setup my nic in Debian, it was wonderful 🙂
 
LOL I'm not an uber linux guy yet, still feelin my way around. Only been usin for 2 months. I didn't use RH long cause Open Office didn't work and i HAD to have it for the .doc support. Didn't really want to buy Staroffice either :/.

That is why I recommend other distros, because they make you learn how to use it. Just my opinion, and I wont give you crap for using Mandrake
Click to expand...

Hehe so cruel, oh welll #mandrake on openprojects.net has been the most helpful channel I've seen. #Debian kicks me for asking stupid questions heheh. and #redhat is dead usually. The #linux is usually dead too.
 
Originally posted by: Kai4Linux
LOL I'm not an uber linux guy yet, still feelin my way around. Only been usin for 2 months. I didn't use RH long cause Open Office didn't work and i HAD to have it for the .doc support. Didn't really want to buy Staroffice either :/.

That is why I recommend other distros, because they make you learn how to use it. Just my opinion, and I wont give you crap for using Mandrake
Click to expand...

Hehe so cruel, oh welll #mandrake on openprojects.net has been the most helpful channel I've seen. #Debian kicks me for asking stupid questions heheh. and #redhat is dead usually. The #linux is usually dead too.
Click to expand...

Its not cruel really, its how I learned. I learned the most with slack than I did any others.

Dont ask stupid questions.

linuxdoc.org
google.com/linux
 
errr n00b questions then :/. Came from a Windoze world, didn't ever have to read docs too ez lol. Now i am learning the ways hehe.
Maybe one day ill move to slack when i have time to learn more
 
Ah, but the point is we want an up-to-date distro guide right here on AT instead.

n0cmonkey has got it started nicely, but we really need someone to flesh it out fully as a FAQ write-up.
 
Originally posted by: AndyHui
Ah, but the point is we want an up-to-date distro guide right here on AT instead.

n0cmonkey has got it started nicely, but we really need someone to flesh it out fully as a FAQ write-up.
Click to expand...

The best people to do this are the people that use each distro. ie. Nothinman could easily write up a little something about Debian that would blow any description I could come up with away.
 
Red Hat fixed rpm installs on the fly in 7.3 via ftp/http (ie rpm -iv ftp://server/file.rpm) which is a pretty efficient way of moving along quickly with installs.

Red Hat is always my recommendation. I don't use much else. No need to really, it will get just about any job done you are faced with.
 
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