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Trash Talk - Please help me choose a Linux distro

Smong - Thu Dec 04, 2003 2:08 pm
Post subject: Please help me choose a Linux distro

I'm thinking about installing linux on my old computer, maybe as dual boot with windows but that isn't critical. I want something that doesn't take up too much space and doesn't have a heavy GUI. If I do have to leave windows behind then the distro should be a suitable alternative, not some hardcore CLI.

Machine specs:
PII 233MHz
2x 64mb sticks of RAM (mixed/unbranded)
2.95GB hard disk (currently 1.5GB already used for win98se)
2mb S3 virge GFX card
PS/2 mouse/keyboard (although there are 2 USB ports)
Floppy, CD-ROM, 10/100 ethernet card
I think the sound is onboard (including the speaker, lol)

My main reason for installing linux is so I can develop for Asss without the windows bugs (so the distro must be able to handle gcc, python and mysql). Two other reasons is that I want to have a go at LFS and get wireless internet via bluetooth on my Palm (my windows drivers are useless).

I will probably try this http://www.vectorlinux.com but I wanted some other options from more experienced linux users (so I guess that's just about everyone).

BTW it's a Compaq Deskpro so it has an un-named 20mb partition with the BIOS setup program in it or something (this prevented me from installing win95).

1stStrike - Thu Dec 04, 2003 3:53 pm
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Mandrake, Redhat or Slackware are your best bet.

Dr Brain - Thu Dec 04, 2003 3:56 pm
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www.linuxfromscratch.org (and http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/blfs/) all the way. Especially seeing as you will know exactly how to do ASSS when you are done with it.

Unless you are lazy, and www.gentoo.org is your best bet.

Mandrake is ok, but I find it hard to get to work 100%. Same goes for RedHat. Never used slackware.

Cyan~Fire - Thu Dec 04, 2003 4:19 pm
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Dr Brain wrote:

Especially seeing as you will know exactly how to do ASSS when you are done with it.

Well it's not hard to learn ASSS in a year.

Helicon - Thu Dec 04, 2003 4:29 pm
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i'd recommend a Debian(GNU System). The installation will walk you through installing modules/apps for your particular hardware and needs. I wouldn't recommend mandrake in your case, as it is heavier on the GUI side and doesn't always give the option of ditching it packaged tools (it is based on Debian). Ultimately, which ever distro people around you know, or that you can get disks and help for will be your best selection...

Anonymous - Thu Dec 04, 2003 5:43 pm
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LFS is a chicked/egg problem, I have never done linux before (no gcc). Same goes for Gentoo as I heard you have to compile it yourself under the impression it will give better performance.

What is wrong with Slackware? The link to vector linux that I posted is based on it.

What about FreeBSD? Is that too heavy for a 2mb graphics card?

I'll probably go with Debian or something based off it.

Anonymous - Thu Dec 04, 2003 5:45 pm
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Quote:

Never used slackware.

Oops, I thought it read: "never use slackware"

Dr Brain - Thu Dec 04, 2003 7:29 pm
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Helicon wrote:

I wouldn't recommend mandrake in your case, as it is heavier on the GUI side and doesn't always give the option of ditching it packaged tools (it is based on Debian).

Mandrake is based on RedHat, not Debian (another I haven't tried).

I've always used a simple mandrake install (make sure you install gcc) to start LFS. I usually have to manually install some development lib from the second CD, but other than that, it always goes smoothly.

You don't need a linux install for Gentoo. It gives you one with it's liveCD. You may or may not be able to use that for LFS

Helicon - Thu Dec 04, 2003 10:25 pm
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...red hat based, doh. i guess i get my distros mixed up

btw, there's always debian junior: http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-jr/

Dr Brain - Thu Dec 04, 2003 10:57 pm
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Helicon wrote:

...red hat based, doh. i guess i get my distros mixed up

btw, there's always debian junior: http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-jr/

You were probably thinking lindows, which is based on debian.

Fuzzjdc - Fri Dec 05, 2003 7:32 am
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i liked redhat, its was the only one i got to work out of the ones i have (except turbolinux)
quick note: in redhat 6.2, i stuffed around with the settings for a dial-up modem and ended up getting a static ip in the isp's address pool. im not sure if it worked tho

DBeckham - Mon Dec 08, 2003 9:56 am
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This link might help
What Linux do you use?
There forum can be slow at times cuz of how many users they have

I have used
slackware (this is a good base to start on, if you want to realy learn linux)

corel linux (was a easy linux to run, its not made anymore, MS payed them off not to make it anymore)

debian (its a good soldied linux & is one of the more stable linux disto's about, they are behind a lot on the latest versions of software tho)

stormlinux ( i used this for testing, not made anymore)

SuSe (i went out and bought this, its a good allround system, but sucks on upgrdes, you have to buy the next version if you want the latest version)

redhat ( i used this for testing)

lfs ( i used this for testing)

mandrake ( this is the disto i setled on, has what i need. with what i learned from slackware, i hacked it to my liking, the resion i picked mandrake was cuz of its GUI's for admin stuff like mandrake control center and its msec securty system, as we all know just having a firewall is only the first step in stopping hackers into your system, msec provides a second layer, you can read up on msec here Introduction to msec)

hope it helps

Smong - Wed Dec 10, 2003 2:36 pm
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There's been a change in plan. The computer I mentioned earlier packed up the other day. It restarted by itself shortly after downloading Flash 7 so I could watch Perfect Kirby 3.1. It stopped at the virus scan in the autoexec.bat, so I suspect a common virus (AV not updated since 2002). Rebooting again and it couldn't detect the HD. Replacing the HD and still no luck (maybe something on the motherboard broke or Compaq really did put the BIOS on the HD).

I have another older computer but the mouse is serial (I don't have any serial mice), and the keyboard is DIN5 (and some keys are broken on my only compatible keyboard). I think it's a P90 with a 600mb HD.

Tomorrow I'm getting a new computer (aargh, my life savings...), but then I guess I can install something heavy like Gnome now that I will have a better machine. Thanks all for helping.

Mine GO BOOM - Wed Dec 10, 2003 4:03 pm
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Smong wrote:

I have another older computer but the mouse is serial (I don't have any serial mice), and the keyboard is DIN5 (and some keys are broken on my only compatible keyboard). I think it's a P90 with a 600mb HD.

Some distros support headless booting, in which you don't need a mouse/keyboard/monitor to use or install. Of course, your BIOS needs to support that to. Might want to give that a try.

Smong - Wed Dec 10, 2003 4:23 pm
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Mine GO BOOM wrote:

you don't need a mouse/keyboard/monitor to use or install

So I'm supposed to use a joystick and mic to control it?[/sarcasm]
If I get enough time I might stick a nic in and see what I can do, although does that mean I need a linux system to control it with?

Dr Brain - Wed Dec 10, 2003 4:43 pm
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SSH/Telnet work great.

Cyan~Fire - Wed Dec 10, 2003 5:17 pm
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Lol!
Running ASSS over telnet, that's an awesome-sounding idea.

Mine GO BOOM - Wed Dec 10, 2003 10:01 pm
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Might I recommend Putty? Read the documentation a great deal on how to do it. It shouldn't be too hard if you have a monitor atleast, as then you can see if its booting to CD correctly or not.

If you would run ASSS, I recommend doing so under screen. Once you figure out how to use screen, you'll love SSH'ing into *nix machines.

Dr Brain - Wed Dec 10, 2003 10:52 pm
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I just installed the 2.6 kernel on my Gentoo install, and WOO!

It seems to multitask a whole lot better than 2.4. After that, I installed DRM (donno if that actually made a difference), and now GDM can go from console to login screen in about 3 seconds. It's toally awesome.

I had some issues with my sound card, but they only took a google search and a reboot.

Helicon - Thu Dec 11, 2003 9:30 pm
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are there currently any stable distro releases touting 2.6...?

Dr Brain - Thu Dec 11, 2003 10:04 pm
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I don't think 2.6 itself is considered stable. However, that being said, I have heard several people say that it's more stable than 2.4.

Installing it isn't really that hard if your system is already set for compiling 2.4.

Helicon - Thu Dec 11, 2003 10:44 pm
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2.6 = stable kernel release (even number)

Dr Brain - Thu Dec 11, 2003 11:54 pm
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Yes, but they are still appened by -test##. Mine is 2.6-test11