A new guide on choosing Linux v2009.05.10

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linux_0

linux_0

Splendid
Dec 18, 2005
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Popular desktop distributions

0. Ubuntu

1. openSUSE

2. Mint

3. Fedora

4. Debian

5. Mandriva

6. PCLinuxOS



Popular server distributions

0. Debian

1. CentOS

2. RHEL

3. Ubuntu

4. Fedora



Popular live CD distributions

0. KNOPPIX

1. Damn Small Linux

2. Ubuntu

3. Fedora



Brief description - desktop distributions

0. Ubuntu is a user friendly distribution which releases new versions every 6 months. It is based on Debian, uses apt-get for package management and has thousands of software packages.

1. openSUSE is Novell's version of Linux. It is uses RPMs. Users can choose KDE, GNOME or XFCE.

2. Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, has a simplified interface and comes with support for proprietary media codecs, wireless drivers and flash.

3. Fedora is is Redhat's community distribution it uses RPMs, yum for package management and releases new versions every 6 months. Fedora is updated very frequently and usually supports the latest and greatest hardware. Proprietary drivers and media codecs are available from rpm-fusion.

4. Debian is a well respected distribution, uses apt-get for package management and has thousands of software packages. Many other distributions are based on Debian, which could be seen as a vote of confidence. Debian is a very good distribution although it may be a little hard for the uninitiated.

5. Mandriva is a popular distribution, particularly in Europe. It uses RPMs and the urpmi package manager. Users can choose KDE, GNOME, XFCE or TWM.

6. PCLinuxOS is an easy to use distribution using apt and the synaptic package manager. It is primarily designed for desktop use.



Brief description - server distributions

0. Debian is considered a hardcore server distribution. It is pretty lean and mean. Probably not recommended for inexperienced users.

1. CentOS is a free version of the flagship server distribution from a major North American Linux vendor built from source. It uses RPMs and the yum package manager. It is quite stable and has long term support. It uses older versions of most packages. It can be used with a GUI although it does not offer the latest and greatest GUI software and features.

2. RHEL a major non-free server distribution primarily intended for business use. It has long term support and uses older versions of most software packages. While it has a GUI it is primarily a server and workstation distribution which is not cutting edge.

3. Ubuntu-server is the server version of the Ubuntu desktop distribution. It releases new versions every 6 months and is more user friendly than Debian but still not for the uninitiated. It has a text-mode install and no GUI by default, although one can be installed later. It uses apt-get.

4. Fedora is an all around general purpose distribution, it works quite well as a desktop, server, workstation or software development platform. It releases new versions every 6 months, is very cutting edge and usually supports new hardware quite well. It has a GUI but the GUI is not necessary when used as a server.



Brief description - live CD distributions

0. KNOPPIX is arguably one of the best live CD distributions, it uses KDE and works quite well. It makes a great rescue environment if you have a broken PC. It includes a lot of useful packages on a single CD. A Live DVD version is also available with even more goodies.

1. Damn Small Linux is a very small Live CD distribution. It is 50MB and will fit on a business card size CD. It is a minimal distribution which makes it particularly useful as a rescue disk.

2. Ubuntu-desktop packs Live CD functionality and the installer on a single disk and can be used for rescue purposes as well as for installing on a new system.

3. Fedora Live is the Live CD version of Fedora works well for rescuing broken systems, trying out Linux before installing on a hard drive and impressing your friends. The Live CD does not pack as much data as the 4GB installable DVD. Fedora also offers various customized spins for other purposes.




Recommendations

If you're a desktop user I recommend Fedora and Ubuntu. It's possible to dual boot Fedora and Ubuntu on the same computer. You can also run one or more distributions under a Virtual Machine such as VirtualBox, Xen, KVM, VMWare, QEMU, etc.

Ubuntu and Fedora usually support newer hardware and are ideal for desktop use, audio, video and some games. Both can use WINE to run some windows apps. It is also possible to run windows under Fedora or Ubuntu inside a Virtual Machine, although that kind of setup requires high end hardware and in most cases offers degraded performance and very poor virtual 3D hardware not suitable for games or 3D apps.

I plan to expand on WINE and Virtualization in a future post, this is meant to be a fairly brief intro, the forums are not very well suited to a giant post.

Comments, suggestions and corrections are always welcome.

This was written at 2am so please be kind :)
 
Great suggestions geeky :)

Windows users should dual boot initially and keep an open mind.

The other important distinction is the use of package managers for software installation. To install software from your distribution all you have to do is run the software package manager either using various GUIs or a CLI interface and you essentially tell the package manager to go fetch whatever it is you want to install.

The package manager then goes out finds a software mirror, downloads the software, verifies the download and then installs the software for you.

e.g.

apt-get install openarena

yum install glest

yum install warzone2100

yum remove warzone2100
Click to expand...

apt-get is used mostly on Debian based distributions.

yum is used on redhat based distributions.

On a yum based distro yum update will update all software on your system to the latest available version, there is no need to download 200 patches from microsoft and you don't have to reboot 20 times in the process either 😀

On most Linux distributions, except Ubuntu, you can install, uninstall, re-install and update the software packages from your distribution's software repositories without having to reboot a single time, with the exception of kernel upgrades.
 
For me, on advice from a friend, I tried Kubuntu. I actually hated the KDE environment but liked the install process and the general help available in the ubuntu forums, so I gave Ubuntu (GNome) a try and have been hooked ever since. I want experience with other distros but I haven't gotten around to messing with any yet.
 
Recommendations for the most commercially used?? I've had a break from Linux and whilst buntu appeals I'd like to sink my teeth into something with commercial (work related) possibilities. Fedora? It seems to be edging ahead and as I understood was a good way to gain exposure to what Red Hat will be running in the medium term.
 
Yea I have Fedora 11 and I'm interested to give it a run when I get a chance. It was odd being asked for a root password upon installation since *buntu derivatives don't and that's what I'm used to. Can't remember about Mandriva, but I've got the DVD for that as well.
 
IIRC RedHat has done that for 15 years ( root password ). As of Fedora 11 I think they force you to create a user account during the first boot, in previous versions it was recommended but optional.
 
If you do decide to add a virtualization section, I'd be happy to contribute.

I have Macintosh and Windows computers. (Don't condemn me, I'm a gamer that likes Pages)

Anything to help Linux users.
 
IIRC RedHat has done that for 15 years ( root password ). As of Fedora 11 I think they force you to create a user account during the first boot, in previous versions it was recommended but optional.
Click to expand...

So this is one of the features that I really liked about Fedora. When I started out, it lets you configure quite a bit up front including root user, regular users, which packages to install, etc. etc. The first time I used ubuntu, it seemed very limited by comparison as there is very little choice in what is installed. Then again, the ubuntu disk is also merely one CD whereas Fedora is typically a DVD that has everything you could possibly want.

Don't get me wrong, Ubuntu is a great distribution, and it worked fine for the year that I used it, but I am very glad that Fedora was my first distro. It gave me enough choice to become more familiar with the system without being overwhelming.

Audiovoodoo mentioned something about commercially deployed Linux distros, to which I would respond that Fedora would be similar to any Red Hat offerings seeing as how they are the distro sponsored by Red Hat. Something much more in line with RedHat would be CentOS, and then finally, if I remember correctly, I believe Oracle may have its own RedHat derived Linux, so those could all be worth taking a peek at.

Question: Should I even bother mentioning Arch and Gentoo here? Or is it just going to be assumed that if somebody is advanced enough to use them, they probably don't need this guide?
 
Most companies that sell servers offer Debian, CentOS, RHEL, Ubuntu, Fedora and some SuSE.

Anyone that knows Arch or Gentoo is more qualified to write a guide like this than I am 😉 :lol:

:)
 
Hah! You give your self WAY too little credit! I think there are very few around here who don't know who the REAL forum guru is around here, and for those who don't know, his name starts with an "L" and ends with a "0"...

Besides, that was a trick statement you made seeing as how you told me you've used Gentoo in the past 😉

-Zorak
 
My god! A Gentoo user that's not trying to convince me it's so easy to install my granny could do it... 😛

Honestly, iv'e tried a few times and never got much further than the chroot of a stage 1 install... 🙁

 
Stage 1! Wow! Stage 1 is really only recommended for Gentoo developers, or the incredibly hard core. When I did my installation, it was a Stage 3 install starting from their LiveCD. Honestly, it wasn't so incredibly difficult like I thought it would be, but then again I'd already had 2 years of Linux training under my belt by then. It was easier than I thought it would be, but installing Fedora or Ubuntu or OpenSUSE was several orders of magnitude easier/faster. In Gentoo's defence, I will say that when I messed things up, it was not a catastrophe. In fact, one of the features I really like is how easy it is to fix things (as well as how helpful the documentation is and the kind people over at #gentoo on FreeNode).

Anyways, sorry to hijack the thread. My recommendation for newbies who want to learn Linux and aren't afraid of a little configuration (but don't want to dive into the deep end immediately) is to use Fedora Linux!

-Zorak
 
Stage1? :-| I tried a Stage 0 install once, it didn't go well.

Just kidding 😉

I second Zorak's suggestion Fedora is sweet :) Great distro to get started with.

I still recommend both Fedora and Ubuntu, if one annoys you, you can just reboot :)
 
Yep. It's educational but, to be honest, it's too much like hard work for your main install. Gentoo is your thing if you want full control but with a tested distro. But if you really want to learn a lot about Linux have a go at LFS on the side.

(BTW, with reference to an earlier post, I'm no-one's Grannie, but I am a Grandpa!)
 
I used this link for choosing my distro, Ubuntu was a complete no no from the get go for me

Code: 
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

Finally settled with Fedora 11 KDE :)
 
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