unix/linux

[purevil]

Ok i'm wanting to break in to unix/linux I have redhat 9. I hear that support for redhat will soon dry up. So i was wondering what distro should i go to? And what about Free BSD? is it as stable as the bsd that os x is built on or does anyone know or not?

[slave]

Use Fedora Linux.  It's a community-supported and redhat-sponsored linux distribution.  It is pretty much the contiunation of the red hat linux distribution, just under a new brand.

Why they renamed "Red Hat Linux" to "Fedora Core" is beyond me, really.  It just seems to have caused confusion, and a bunch of stupid comments by ignorant people.

[Laukev7]

quote: And what about Free BSD? is it as stable as the bsd that os x is built on or does anyone know or not?

Yes, FreeBSD is very stable. It's one of the most stable OSes out there, as shown by netcraft. It's also much easier to install applications on FreeBSD than on Linux, especially Apt/RPM based distributions like Redhat and SuSE. It is also very well organised and consistent.

FreeBSD even has Linux compatibility offered by the installation, in case you want to use a Linux-specific application.

[purevil]

Does free BSD have good support and does it have a good number of apps like mp3 players and usual apps i.e. mail, web browser, office apps, the usual shit?
and i will be able to install linux apps like mozilla? If so then i believe i might have found a great os for me. but im not sure yet, is it easy to run for a noob unix nobody like myself? if not then how are the other distros for noobs? I know i want to get into something other than winderz on this box. I know unix is a stable beast "I have os x"

[Laukev7]

FreeBSD has almost the same software support as Linux. And Mozilla is not a Linux app; it's a browser evolved from Netscape, and available for virtually every platform.

Since you already have Red Hat 9, I assume you already know about KDE / GNOME. FreeBSD is not designed with beginners in mind, but it is certainly manageable if you already used Linux and Mac OS X. Once FreeBSD is installed, day to day use on the desktop should be comparable to what you're used to on Red Hat, as it uses the same desktop managers.

The not-so-easy part of FreeBSD is the installation, which is menu-based and not graphical. Despite the looks of the Sysinstall interface, the installation is pretty straightforward, and you will get all the necessary instructions as you go on. Also, you get generic KDE / GNOME interfaces instead of the customised Red Hat versions. On the other hand, applications are much less a hassle to install on FreeBSD, because every application available for FreeBSD can be installed from the Sysinstall utility, and you won't get problems like package or repository dependencies that can become growing pains on Linux.

By all means, give it a try. It's not a noob OS, but you can learn a lot about UNIX through FreeBSD (although you don't really need to). If it's really too taxing for you, then you could always try Mandrake Linux. Heck, you can always dual boot between the two.

[ November 04, 2003: Message edited by: Laukev7 ]

[Master of Reality]

if you really love redhat, have you tried mandrake?

[Calum]

or slackware

[preacher]

quote:Originally posted by purevil:
Does free BSD have good support and does it have a good number of apps like mp3 players and usual apps i.e. mail, web browser, office apps, the usual shit?
and i will be able to install linux apps like mozilla? If so then i believe i might have found a great os for me. but im not sure yet, is it easy to run for a noob unix nobody like myself? if not then how are the other distros for noobs? I know i want to get into something other than winderz on this box. I know unix is a stable beast "I have os x"

Here is a warning with concern to FreeBSD, its not really a complaint but more of a gripe. I last used FreeBSD 4.7 so some of this may have changed. I was told that the FreeBSD installer was as easy to use as Slackware's, this is a bunch of shit. FreeBSD is an enormous bit harder to install than any distro of linux ive tried. As an example, I found no where in the install where I could set up dhcp. Im going through every little configuration option 10 times over trying and can never find it. Also the configuration of X windows is overly complicated in the FreeBSD install. I didnt install KDE because I installed it on a real old machine, but nowhere in the install could I set the default window manager. So here I am stuck in twm which might I add is probably the least user friendly window manager. I would not suggest installing FreeBSD without help if you are a first time *nix user, unless you want to go crazy. After the install it ran smooth as silk, but it is missing some of the user friendliness that current commercial linux distros offer. Basically, if you are a complete noob avoid this unless you are an adventurer and like spending long amounts of time figuring out how to do things(most of us *nix users are like this).


 Also I dont see how the freeBSD installer is superior to Apt.

[Refalm]

Mandrake or Fedora. FreeBSD is for super-humans.

[M51DPS]

FreeBSD was considered stable enough to be a subsystem in Mac OS X, that should give you a clue. But it all depends on if you can actually use it. Like they said, something else might be easier

[Laukev7]

quote: I was told that the FreeBSD installer was as easy to use as Slackware's, this is a bunch of shit.

You're right, the FreeBSD installer is not as easy as Slackware's. It is easier. I've found it easier than both Slackware or Debian. And I've been using FreeBSD since version 4.5. Did you select the 'standard installation' option?

 

quote: As an example, I found no where in the install where I could set up dhcp.

If you performed a net install, this option should have appeared right before the installer started downloading the packages. you can also find this in configure/options menu.

 

quote: Also the configuration of X windows is overly complicated in the FreeBSD install.

I didn't find it any harder than in Debian.

 

quote: I didnt install KDE because I installed it on a real old machine, but nowhere in the install could I set the default window manager.

That option should have appeared right after you setup your X environment.

 

quote:  Also I dont see how the freeBSD installer is superior to Apt.

No need to hunt for repositories, no repository / package conflicts, better organised menus, no need to hunt for distribution specific packages, no outdated packages like in Debian stable (you get the latest packages both in 4.9 Production release and 5.1 New Technology release).

[purevil]

Ok one more thing how well does these distros "play" with a NTFS format? I ask because I have tired to get a dual boot with Redhat 9 and XP and it would make windows unbootable " I used partition magic ". I also need to keep windows for school " papers are all MS shitty docs unless open office will be able to create a word format. I can't get rid of itunes!!!!!!!!!!!! I waited to long for a good music file player. I use AAC does the distros support that format? I dont know WINE or anything about how linux emulates winderz so i will need winderz for gaming also. And the distro will have to support winmodem I hear that Mandrake will support that. Are there any others that will support winmodem? I don't want to buy a new modem I hate to use this one let alone buy a new one that will get just as shitty up and down speeds. DSL is not avail. here to me cause either god hates me or the teleco does "my guess it's both"
Thx for the help still I know I'm getting annoying but I want to learn more than Mac OS X and fuckin' XP. I like to know as much as I can about as many OSes as possible. Just something i want to know.

[Laukev7]

NTFS is read-only for either FreeBSD or Linux. I also had problems with booting in Windows after I installed Red Hat (and most other distros), which installs the GRUB bootloader by default. However, FreeBSD installs another bootloader which does not overwrite the NTLDR, and allows you to boot in Windows.

 

quote: I use AAC does the distros support that format?

Unfortunately, AAC is not supported in either Linux or FreeBSD at this time.

 

quote: I dont know WINE or anything about how linux emulates winderz so i will need winderz for gaming also.

You will need WineX for games. It costs money, though. For the rest, just type 'wine' (without the commas), then the name of the application.

http://www.transgaming.com/

 

quote: Are there any others that will support winmodem?

Most distros should support the winmodems, as the drivers are open source.

[Great_Satan]

http://www.redcoat.net/pics/tubgirl.jpg

edit: please link to pictures, do not post inline pictures.
also, this one violates the TOS of this site, should anyone wish to take more definite action, such as the webmaster. feel free to PM him about this, folks.

[ November 10, 2003: Message edited by: Calum ]

[slave]

Tubgirl!  That's just vile, GS.  Worse than goatse IMO.  Fortunately i've seen it so much that I'm not phased by it.