I'm going to install Linux, But which one????

BOB_LORDOFEVIL · 16th January 2002, 9:54 PM

Ok i'm kinda getting sick of ms winblowz now, i'm ultra new to Linux so i need the easist Disto to start with.

So which one should i get??

I got Mandrake 8.1 and Debian on CD's but i dont mind downloading other Distro's.

Thanks in Advance.

BOB_LORDOFEVIL · 16th January 2002, 9:56 PM

Oh dam soz.

Just though you guys might help me

FyreBlade · 16th January 2002, 10:01 PM

Mandrake is a piece of piss to setup.

Dunno about Debian though but if it's anything like Slackware, then you're in for a few headaches if you're a newbie.

BC% · 16th January 2002, 10:01 PM

Probably the wrong forum for it, but the answer is... How new/experienced are you to Linux?

If a newbie, wack Mandrake on. Plenty of freebie/wonderful tools, easy to use. Does have a few down points but the good points far outweigh them.

If you're an expert then wack Debian on.

Otherwise have a think about RedHat 7.2 or Slackware.

BOB_LORDOFEVIL · 16th January 2002, 10:02 PM

Mandrake then?

BC% · 16th January 2002, 10:03 PM

Yup, suggest Mandrake.

(thanks to the admin who promptly moved this topic while I was in the middle of my last post

)

nbk · 16th January 2002, 10:05 PM

Probably belongs in the software section...

But what is it 'exactly' that you want to use linux for? Just a general replacement for Windows? Or you want to take on doing some serious networking/server stuff? Do you program much?

Many things can decide a distro for you.

But Mandrake is good for beginners. Though you will find yourself moving away from it once you become familar with Linux

BOB_LORDOFEVIL · 16th January 2002, 10:07 PM

Well i want to go into Networking when i'm older
so i need it for Networking, Internet and General use.

I'm getting another PC soon aswell which will run Linux as my Firewall Router.

BOB_LORDOFEVIL · 16th January 2002, 10:21 PM

Thanks for the info Reaper

nbk · 16th January 2002, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Reaper
Install KDE as the GUI.

Ugh... You better hope you're running at least 256Mb ram and a 1Ghz processor

I'd happily settle for Window Manager/BlackBox/IceWM on a not so powerful box. They can run most KDE/Gnome apps anyway.

But for networking, Slackware/xBSD/Debian are sweet.

I myself use SuSE as a workhorse. And Simply GNUStep for a workstation.

Simon · 16th January 2002, 11:47 PM

Definately Go Mandrake if you are new

. I am running it on a server here ( 3D enabled

) , it's specs are Athlon 550 Slot A , TNT2 and 128mb Ram , runs sweet

. I would suggest that you only make 2 partitions at the start ( since you are a self confessed NooB ) , make the root partition ( / is the symbol for the root partition ) and make a swap file partition ( called swap file

). I would recommend a swap file of around 250 -500mb , depending on the size of your Hdd and amount of Ram. If you install most items on a 3 CD Mandrake install you will install around 2.6 GIG !!!. Just be aware that you may need some different hardware to run Linux successfully , do you have a LAN card ?? , what video card do you have ??.

What windows operating system are you running now ?? , if you are running Win2k than I would STRONGLY suggest that you look at VMWare , this will let you install on your main PC without destroying the windows install ( just in case you dont like it'and want to go back ). VMWare does not run on Win98/ME

.

Don't be scared of Linux , Mandrake 8.1 is especially easy to use , if you have learned basic Windoze then you will be ok in Mandrake , Hell my Mother (67) prefers Mandrake to Windows

.

oi, MUM get off my PC !!!!!!!!! LOL

LabMan · 17th January 2002, 12:43 AM

KDE/Gnome are good for beginners but there are better windows mannagers out there, its just a matter of looking for them

Oh and i use slackware, mandrake is good tho, and easy to install

BOB_LORDOFEVIL · 17th January 2002, 6:32 AM

Hmmmm i think my pc

might

just be fast enough

Athlon 1.2gHZ with 1GB Ram

othy · 17th January 2002, 11:29 AM

If you are going to use linux, I suggest waiting for your other box and setting it up as your router first. Its a good introduction to the command line and once you can do most stuff here you will feel more confident using it as a desktop. Be warned though, using linux as a desktop takes a bit of sacrafice (it is getting better).

My recommendations
o Desktop: Redhat 7.2 - easy install, comes with a heap of apps, detects almost all hardware.

o Server: Debian 2.2r5 - By far my favourite linux distribution for servers. Easy to maintain, well organised file system (unlike redhats mess), they take a long time to make a new release so its usually done right. Simple to configure for networking. Don't let people convince you its harder.

If you have the bandwidth I'd download any distribution you want, get familiar with linux in general, and then try them all until you find one that fits you the best.

Be prepared to read HEAPS, you'll have to read how to do almost everything when you are starting out (well you should, its the best way to learn, for me anyway). Make sure before you start asking questions that you have already searched through all your resources (man, google, groups.google, distributions website, applications website). Chances are if you are having the problem someone else has had it as well.

Good Luck and don't turn into a zealot.

--

othy

Quadbox · 17th January 2002, 6:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nbk

Ugh... You better hope you're running at least 256Mb ram and a 1Ghz processor

I'd happily settle for Window Manager/BlackBox/IceWM on a not so powerful box. They can run most KDE/Gnome apps anyway.

But for networking, Slackware/xBSD/Debian are sweet.

I myself use SuSE as a workhorse. And Simply GNUStep for a workstation.

Not at all. I've got KDE running quite nicely on a celeron 333.

The ram parts true, I guess, but then if you're running win2k you've probably got that much anyway.

16th January 2002, 9:54 PM	#1
BOB_LORDOFEVIL Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,278	I'm going to install Linux, But which one???? Ok i'm kinda getting sick of ms winblowz now, i'm ultra new to Linux so i need the easist Disto to start with. So which one should i get?? I got Mandrake 8.1 and Debian on CD's but i dont mind downloading other Distro's. Thanks in Advance. __________________ And the man in the rain picked up his bag of secrets, and journeyed up the mountainside, far above the clouds, and nothing was ever heard from him again, except for the sound of Tubular Bells.

16th January 2002, 9:56 PM	#2
BOB_LORDOFEVIL Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,278	Oh dam soz. Just though you guys might help me __________________ And the man in the rain picked up his bag of secrets, and journeyed up the mountainside, far above the clouds, and nothing was ever heard from him again, except for the sound of Tubular Bells.

16th January 2002, 10:01 PM	#4
BC% Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 287	Probably the wrong forum for it, but the answer is... How new/experienced are you to Linux? If a newbie, wack Mandrake on. Plenty of freebie/wonderful tools, easy to use. Does have a few down points but the good points far outweigh them. If you're an expert then wack Debian on. Otherwise have a think about RedHat 7.2 or Slackware. __________________ Motorola V-Club Member - V3 (Razr)

16th January 2002, 10:02 PM	#5
BOB_LORDOFEVIL Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,278	Mandrake then? __________________ And the man in the rain picked up his bag of secrets, and journeyed up the mountainside, far above the clouds, and nothing was ever heard from him again, except for the sound of Tubular Bells.

16th January 2002, 10:03 PM	#6
BC% Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 287	Yup, suggest Mandrake. (thanks to the admin who promptly moved this topic while I was in the middle of my last post ) __________________ Motorola V-Club Member - V3 (Razr)

16th January 2002, 10:01 PM	#3
FyreBlade Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,077	Mandrake is a piece of piss to setup. Dunno about Debian though but if it's anything like Slackware, then you're in for a few headaches if you're a newbie.

16th January 2002, 10:05 PM	#7
nbk Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Nambour Posts: 2,178	Probably belongs in the software section... But what is it 'exactly' that you want to use linux for? Just a general replacement for Windows? Or you want to take on doing some serious networking/server stuff? Do you program much? Many things can decide a distro for you. But Mandrake is good for beginners. Though you will find yourself moving away from it once you become familar with Linux

16th January 2002, 10:07 PM	#8
BOB_LORDOFEVIL Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,278	Well i want to go into Networking when i'm older so i need it for Networking, Internet and General use. I'm getting another PC soon aswell which will run Linux as my Firewall Router. __________________ And the man in the rain picked up his bag of secrets, and journeyed up the mountainside, far above the clouds, and nothing was ever heard from him again, except for the sound of Tubular Bells.

16th January 2002, 10:21 PM	#9
BOB_LORDOFEVIL Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,278	Thanks for the info Reaper __________________ And the man in the rain picked up his bag of secrets, and journeyed up the mountainside, far above the clouds, and nothing was ever heard from him again, except for the sound of Tubular Bells.

16th January 2002, 11:47 PM	#11
Simon Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Townsville Posts: 564	Definately Go Mandrake if you are new . I am running it on a server here ( 3D enabled ) , it's specs are Athlon 550 Slot A , TNT2 and 128mb Ram , runs sweet . I would suggest that you only make 2 partitions at the start ( since you are a self confessed NooB ) , make the root partition ( / is the symbol for the root partition ) and make a swap file partition ( called swap file ). I would recommend a swap file of around 250 -500mb , depending on the size of your Hdd and amount of Ram. If you install most items on a 3 CD Mandrake install you will install around 2.6 GIG !!!. Just be aware that you may need some different hardware to run Linux successfully , do you have a LAN card ?? , what video card do you have ??. What windows operating system are you running now ?? , if you are running Win2k than I would STRONGLY suggest that you look at VMWare , this will let you install on your main PC without destroying the windows install ( just in case you dont like it'and want to go back ). VMWare does not run on Win98/ME . Don't be scared of Linux , Mandrake 8.1 is especially easy to use , if you have learned basic Windoze then you will be ok in Mandrake , Hell my Mother (67) prefers Mandrake to Windows . oi, MUM get off my PC !!!!!!!!! LOL __________________ Cheers for now

17th January 2002, 12:43 AM	#12
LabMan Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 715	KDE/Gnome are good for beginners but there are better windows mannagers out there, its just a matter of looking for them Oh and i use slackware, mandrake is good tho, and easy to install

17th January 2002, 6:32 AM	#13
BOB_LORDOFEVIL Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,278	Hmmmm i think my pc might just be fast enough Athlon 1.2gHZ with 1GB Ram __________________ And the man in the rain picked up his bag of secrets, and journeyed up the mountainside, far above the clouds, and nothing was ever heard from him again, except for the sound of Tubular Bells.

17th January 2002, 11:29 AM	#14
othy Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: syd.nsw.au Posts: 4,112	If you are going to use linux, I suggest waiting for your other box and setting it up as your router first. Its a good introduction to the command line and once you can do most stuff here you will feel more confident using it as a desktop. Be warned though, using linux as a desktop takes a bit of sacrafice (it is getting better). My recommendations o Desktop: Redhat 7.2 - easy install, comes with a heap of apps, detects almost all hardware. o Server: Debian 2.2r5 - By far my favourite linux distribution for servers. Easy to maintain, well organised file system (unlike redhats mess), they take a long time to make a new release so its usually done right. Simple to configure for networking. Don't let people convince you its harder. If you have the bandwidth I'd download any distribution you want, get familiar with linux in general, and then try them all until you find one that fits you the best. Be prepared to read HEAPS, you'll have to read how to do almost everything when you are starting out (well you should, its the best way to learn, for me anyway). Make sure before you start asking questions that you have already searched through all your resources (man, google, groups.google, distributions website, applications website). Chances are if you are having the problem someone else has had it as well. Good Luck and don't turn into a zealot. -- othy