Operating Systems > Linux and UNIX
Debian
shuiend:
Thansk for all the Fast replys. I am going with downloading only the first cd now. I will be burniong it on a CD-RW so i aint wasting the cd.
Doctor V: Gentoo Lunatic i am trying debian because supposably it supports my wireless card out of the box or around that. I also would just like to be able to say i have tried it.
Copperhead:
quote:I've been using Debian for a while know and I love it. A few caveats though - you probably want to get a newer version of XFree86, the version used by default is a bit old.
--- End quote ---
On the www.apt-get.org page, there are numerous sources availible for all of the XFree86 packages, including reliable Woody builds that will be in Sarge (the next stable distribution of Debian), and backports of stuff in Sid (unstable). There are also CVS builds availible that come out a day/hour or so after the guys/girls at X program their latest build. However, if you like to use WMs, like Calum, and you have your sources up to date, when you install KDE3.1, or Gnome 2.2; your X server is automatically updated, no matter what. For example, I decide to try out Gnome 2.2, and instead of compiling, or *.rpm/ing anything, I just added the sources (deb ftp://ftp.acc.umu.se/mirror/mirrors.evilgeniuses.org.uk/debian/backports/woody/ gnome2.2/) to the backport to /etc/apt/sources.list. Then:
$ apt-get update (the upgrade doesn't work on this particular package)
$ apt-get remove gdm
$ apt-get remove gnome
$ apt-get install gnome
Voila! Gnome 2.2 is installed, as well as the necessary files for X version 4.2.1.
The cardinal rule in Debian is that you use packages for the version you are running. To make light of them, at present moment (`date`)
Woody = stable
Sarge = testing
Sid = unstable
Back in 1999, before this all took place:
Potato = stable
Woody = testing
Sid = unstable
Sid is always Sid. Today, Sarge will be the next stable version of Debian (with Qt libraries with a very cool installer...along with the option for a preliminary 2.6 kernel) You can mix and match, but don't. Just wait. Debian, if anything else, requires patience. Everyone wants Apache 2.0.46, but until it meets the prerequisites, figure out the game with 1.3.27. Save yourself the headache.
For the desktop environment, Debian couldn't be easier. Your synaptic abilities will make M$ users gawk at your power, and make Mac users feel like fools for spending the money that they did. APT is powerful, but only as pwerful as the sources you give it. Do the work, do the research, and load it up with everything that you require. If Red Hat has something (Red Hat and Debian are second cousins), you always have 'alien'. man alien will tell you everything you need to know. I had a bunch of SuSE packages (StarOffice, Terminator X, etc.) that I payed for when I bought SuSE. Sine I am on Debian, I just used alien to convert them all to *.deb. With dpkg, installation worked as a charm. Since dpkg and APT are integrated with each other, you will have no problem purging anything if you no longer want it.
quote: Please don't take this the wrong way, but why Debian? I'm not trying to rat on Debian or anything, but have you thought at all about trying Gentoo?
--- End quote ---
I am just wondering why you would say that? I know that Gentoo is Debian based (a Japanese Distro if I am/am not mistaken), but I don't think that it has the security updates that Debian has. If you are a entreprenurial SysAdmin, and you want to run with a version of Linux that is stable, can give daily security updates, and you have the tools to get the gearbox rolling, you couldn't be happier with Debian. Distros like Red Hat, SuSE and the BSDs require, what I like to call "ladder-lowering." Moving the M$ drones (at least here in America) to real systems requires training, money, and time. With something as stable as Debian, I can designate priveliges, run operations, save money, and let certain people (only one person now) use APT to do certain tasks, without having to really do anything.
What do you like about Gentoo? I am just curious..
Doctor V:
Yeah, Gentoo's aim isn't stability, while its not unstable, it does require maintenance from time to time. I really like Gentoo because of A.) Poratge, and B.) the optimization. I might go for Debian in a corporate environment where stability and security are of utmost importance, unless speed is what is most required for the task. Debian is still optimized for a i386, while Gentoo gives you alot of control over what type of system it is optimized for, resulting in a faster Linux probably than any other distro. You can set the flags to optimize it for i386, i686, alpha, athlon, athlon-mp, whatever. Why not get the most out of your box? Portage is about the best package management system available, giving you full control of what is installed on your system, and taking care of dependancies automatically. Honestly speaking portage is kind of slow, however, as it complies everything, and really requires somthing better than a dial up connection. Its recently broke into stable and unstable (using arch), and its stable packages are well stable enough for everyday use, I have yet to have any problems with any of then (that I didn't cause myself). Most home users want a fast moving box with up to date packages. I guess it all boils down to what your going to do with your computer.
V
Doctor V:
And just for the record Gentoo is not a Japanese distrobution, its based in the USA. It does support Japanese though. The name Gentoo? Gentoo is a species of penguin.
V
Copperhead:
Thanks...
Some idiot at my school told me that Debian/Gentoo was strictly an 'Asian' thing.
The clarification was immaculate. Nice work...
I am gooing to try out Gentoo. Downloading as I type via wget...
[ June 15, 2003: Message edited by: Copperhead ]
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