Hi,

I'm currently running redhat on my home server, but I'm thinking about changing to Debian linux (or maybe slackware?).

Why I'm gonna do it is because I'm expecting Debian to be more organized, less dependencies problems, easier source upgrades. I like compiling the packages I use myself, especially that I like having the latest and greatest of everything.

Besides, I already know a lot about RedHat and want something different to try and learn.

So what do you think?

Try Slackware :)

http://www.slackware-advocacy.org/

Mandrake always seems to have the latest stuff. Seems like it might be a good devel machine. I'll personally only give up RedHat when you pry it from my cold dead fingers, or when I'm using TurboLinux or my own custom Linux box. :)

Originally posted by secludo
Try Slackware :)

http://www.slackware-advocacy.org/

oh no
It took me 3 days to get all 7 debian CD iso images :bawling:

I was thinking Slackware, Debian or FreeBSD. I ruled out FreeBSD because I'm still learning Linux networking.

I don't mind getting Slackware. I just need a good reason. :)

Originally posted by bitserve
Mandrake always seems to have the latest stuff. Seems like it might be a good devel machine. I'll personally only give up RedHat when you pry it from my cold dead fingers, or when I'm using TurboLinux or my own custom Linux box. :)

Yeah. I've used Mandrake myself for a while. It was nice, but same problems with readhat. Lots of dependency troubles and it's hard to replace a package with your own installation from source.

Another problem with redhat is that it's not clean. They change lots of things in the config files. They have lots of shell scripts and aliases that interfere with the default behaviours of commands.

For example, I got used to the way rm works on redhat. I use rm * when I want to delete all files in the current directory, except one or two. RedHat's default is to prompt you for confirmation about each file.

One day I got on a FreeBSD server deleted all my files. I discover later that the FreeBSD behaviour is the default and that I've got a very harmful redhat specific habbit.

Anyway, I'm still open for comments about why I should not consider slackware or debian, because otherwise I'm going with one of them.

Slackware uses a BSD-style initialization system, which is much simpler and convenient than System V inits.


Now, I'm not sure how easy it is to adapt to that. :erm:

Im not sure why you downloaded 7 ISOs.. you only really need one.

.. debian is great.. try it and see how it fits your personal tastes

to each his own.. except for most openbsd ninjas I know.. they are worse than Mormons.. YOU MUST CONVERT, CONVERT, CONVERT, YOU MUST CONVERT!@#$

Originally posted by brian-WHT
Im not sure why you downloaded 7 ISOs.. you only really need one.

.. debian is great.. try it and see how it fits your personal tastes

to each his own.. except for most openbsd ninjas I know.. they are worse than Mormons.. YOU MUST CONVERT, CONVERT, CONVERT, YOU MUST CONVERT!@#$

Well, I don't see it used as much as redhat, so I don't want to install and find out there is a BIG problem in it. Then have to install redhat again.

About 7 CD's, I planned to get first two only. Then I find it working, so I get the next CD, and it goes until I get all 7. I also got knoppix (live distro based on debian).

I'd use Debian instead of RH. Or slackware. Currently I'm running suse 8.0 and FreeBSD 4.2 on my home pc.

We have some debians 3.0 woodys running in addition to RH for some managed clients.

I find its definately more organized than RH and quite easy to install too. (just need the first cd, unless you opt for its Vanilla CD.

You should definately give it a go.

If you already have prior Linux knowledge then I would recommend Debian. Once you figure out apt-get you'll never go back. Its the easiest way to install packages on any Linux system. Some of the packages may be a little bit dated, but there is usually not a very long delay to getting it on the apt-get servers (if you run testing). I started out with Mandrake, and to me Mandrake is a very good distribution, for those that are new to Linux. Unless it has changed, it never did strike me as being a hardcore Linux, more of a cross between Windows and Linux. Redhat seems to be a popular distribution, but I've been running Debian for close to 2 years now and I can't see myself ever switching to anything else.

Hope this helps.

Debian is starting to become more widley requeted in dedicated servers.... A few of my techs are commonly pointing its advantages over redhat to me(I dont defend redhat, im a FreeBSD person), but asfar as dependancies emerge works wonders compared to up2date, and apt-get aswell is much more effecient...... I've never had much luck with up2date and rhn_register on most of my RH boxes..... Never had a problem with anything on a freebsd or debian....

-Dan

Yeah Ive had soo much problems with up2date for RH. Could never connect to it withut getting the server busy and available for paying customers only during peak times.

What is wierd is that 3am EST in the morning is considered peak time?