Which Linux Distro to get?

[Rip the Jacker]

I'm looking into trying out Linux. The main purpose would be to learn how Linux works, learn the commands, and maybe even try networking and/or webhosting using Linux.

I've seen that RedHat is almost always used by Webhosts...but which version of this should I go?

And, how will dual-booting with XP/Linux work? Which one will be booted up first? Can I change the default booting sequence?

 

[daniel49]

Originally posted by: Rip the Jacker
I'm looking into trying out Linux. The main purpose would be to learn how Linux works, learn the commands, and maybe even try networking and/or webhosting using Linux.

I've seen that RedHat is almost always used by Webhosts...but which version of this should I go?
the latest

And, how will dual-booting with XP/Linux work (works fine)? Which one will be booted up first? Can I change the default booting sequence?

(yes)

 

[Robor]

Which of the Linux distros all depends on what you want to do. If you want a very simple install I'd say try Ubuntu. It's very easy to get up and running and there's a good deal of community support.

Yes, you can dual boot Linux/Windows. Install Windows first then install Linux. I think which boots first depends on the distro. I know when you install Ubuntu as a dual boot with Windows Ubuntu will set itself first. When I did Fedora Core 4 and Windows in dual boot it set Windows to boot first.

You can change the boot order if you want by editing a file (can't remember which one at the moment though).

 

[n0cmonkey]

If you go redhat, get enterprise server 4.

Don't bother dualbooting. If you want to learn linux, you've gotta use it. So use it.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Robor
You can change the boot order if you want by editing a file (can't remember which one at the moment though).

Depends on the boot loader:
LILO: /etc/lilo.conf
grub: /etc/grub.conf
Windows: c:/boot.ini

 

[Basie]

Mostly any Distro will be provide you with a Shell ( Bash, etc ) to learn the Commands. Like n0cmonkey
said you have to use it to learn it. But in my opinion a dual boot with WinXP helped me. If I screwed up
bad enough I could always retreat to XP and go here and other linux sites and pick up some answers or
info that I needed. At least in the beginning anyway. Distrowatch has a distro Openwall which might be
a good place to start out since it's server oriented.
http://distrowatch.com/

 

[Slowlearner]

Here are two links to free online courses on Linux, both use Fedore Core 2 or 4

http://h30187.www3.hp.com/all_courses.jsp - watch for Linux 101
http://linux.unimelb.edu.au/

I have tried out Fedora/Ubuntu/Simply Mepis/Xandros/Suse and Opensuse and they all look pretty much alike to me, and dont take all that much time to install - so try diff distros and pick the one that suits you best

 

[R3MF]

SUSE 10.1 will be a good start.

tonnes of linux apps
good KDE and Gnome DE's
easy to use/maintain
easy to install
very up to date

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: R3MF
SUSE 10.1 will be a good start.

tonnes of linux apps
good KDE and Gnome DE's
easy to use/maintain
easy to install
very up to date

Isn't 10.1 still beta though?

 

[The Linuxator]

Best 2 I can recommend are Fedora Core and Ubuntu.

Personally I prefer Fedora Core, though Ubuntu has some advantages to it, but I didn't like it / the advantages weren't tempting enough for me to use Ubuntu over Fedora Core.

From personal experience you learn more with Fedora than with Ubuntu so give those a shot.

 

[ForumMaster]

Mandrake is OK, but i'd get Fedora if i was u...

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Originally posted by: coolred

Originally posted by: R3MF
SUSE 10.1 will be a good start.

tonnes of linux apps
good KDE and Gnome DE's
easy to use/maintain
easy to install
very up to date

Isn't 10.1 still beta though?

Yeah, I'd recommend getting the latest beta right now. The 10.0 release has way too much older software.

 

[pkme2]

I use Ubuntu and Fedora Core 4; and for the beginner, Ubuntu is the easist to use. I installed it on my PS2 and it was a easy install.
You can use Ubuntu first, and then try out other distros as your needs increase. or just stay where you are, your choice.

 

[BriGy86]

im looking at using Kubuntu (Ubuntu with KDE GUI) or Suse
(i like KDE over Gnome, it's more like windows)

it seems a lot of distro's say that their goal is to appeal to beginning users (ubuntu, madriva(mandrake), and to some extend Suse)

but i've often wondered what exactly are all the differences between all these

also another good question would be- what package management system would be good for beginners (tarballs im assuming are a cluster f*ck if you don't know what you're doing)

but there's are also RPM and some others aren't there?

 

[Br0k3nman]

Easy is nice, but I learned the most from doing Gentoo. Either printing the guide or having a second computer on hand is really good. You learn commands, some scripting, and how the system is put together a lot better. Basically, you're forced to learn, just to install it.

 

[sourceninja]

Originally posted by: br0k3nman
Easy is nice, but I learned the most from doing Gentoo. Either printing the guide or having a second computer on hand is really good. You learn commands, some scripting, and how the system is put together a lot better. Basically, you're forced to learn, just to install it.

No need to do either. Just use links on another console. Then when you get xorg setup recompile links with X support and use it in the gui until you get gnome/kde/whatever installed.

For a newbie I'd say go with debian, fedora, or suse.

 

[jvnn]

The learning curve is pretty steep.
Here's a distro selector that's somewhat useful.
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/index.php?firsttime=true
I've been trying to wean myself off windows for over a year.
I've installed mandrake a few times, slackware once and just finished putting in kubuntu yesterday.
I had a couple problems with kubuntu and I am going to ubuntu. The only reason I chose kubuntu first was i thought I wanted kde.
But it looks like documentation and forum support is a bit better with ubuntu so ther i go.

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Originally posted by: SleepWalkerX

Originally posted by: coolred

Originally posted by: R3MF
SUSE 10.1 will be a good start.

tonnes of linux apps
good KDE and Gnome DE's
easy to use/maintain
easy to install
very up to date

Isn't 10.1 still beta though?

Yeah, I'd recommend getting the latest beta right now. The 10.0 release has way too much older software.

Actually nm. Apparently its not in a good shape at all. Just stick with the latest stable and upgrade all the software.

 

[pkme2]

If you want a GUI interface, I recommend FC4 for its Graphical User's Interface.
As a Intermediate/Advanced Windows User, Fedora Core 4 will most likely be one's best transition to Linux. I like it very much. Your choice.