Want to try Linux, What version should iI get??

[Breezu]

Im currently Running Windows98SE, and I would like to try Linux as a possible Alternative OS. Im running a p3 500mhz on my one CPU, and im also Running a p4 1300 system. I need a version of Linux that will let me serve Counterstrike games over a cable modem. Its gonna be a hard road learning all the new tricks about Linux.
Im up for the challenge, any and all post are greatly appreciated....Thanks

Peace out.....Breezu

[eXtremist]

I made a smooth transition into linux via RedHat. I wouldn't advise using the latest version, 7.0, though, because it's a little buggy.

I hear mandrake is the best for newbies, although I've never used it.

[hungarian]

Buy Suse 7.1 Professional. It comes with excellent documentation on how to set up cable modems and scanners, cd writers.. etc.

You WILL need the documentation since you are new to Linux, this will make your transition into Linux much more fun and with a lot less problems.

Note, the personal version does not have 1 book that will teach you more about Linux then tinkering on your own for a year.
I recommend get the Pro version.

I have tryed mandrake 7.1 and 7.2, and I recommend Suse.
Currently Suse is

Numero Uno

for beginners.

I hope it helps !

[Breezu]

yes, I seen that Newbie Download at RedHat.com. said something about not being able to run a server on it.
I want to partion my hard drive and run win98SE on one partion and linux on another.
Transition might be a little easier on me.
if linux is all what they say...well goodbye windows!!!!

Thanks......peace out

Breezu

[Breezu]

Hungarian:

Do u have a link that u can post to get that Download.
Much thanks for the post!!!!!

Peace out......Breezu

[X_console]

You may as well go with one of the stable distributions like Slackware or Debian. Yeah, people say it's not for newbies, but so what. Once you get it up and running it's a breeze to maintain and you don't have to keep patching it everyday.

Any distribution is capable of doing what the other distribution claims to do. Start of with one of the stable ones and you'll have less headaches when it comes to patching.

[jjjj]

I started with Mandrake 7.2 easy to install, except for a couple of problems here and there. It worked good for a little while now it seems to be messing up. So I am going to try Debian. But Mandrake was a good way to start off for me. I dont know if this helped. :confused:

[ 10 April 2001: Message edited by: jjjj ]

[Lend273]

I have tried several distros:
Redhat
Storm
SuSE
Libranet

SuSE 7.1 is the easiest for a newbie, but
I prefer Libranet. Debian is the way to go, but you might want to get your feet wet with SuSE first. Good hardware detection, good documentation. Get the Professional version.
Then when you are comfortable with Linux in general, move on to Debian.

Just my opinion.

Len

[ph34r]

Have you read the distro choice nhf?
http://www.linuxnewbie.org/nhf/intel/distros/distronhf.html

[jbstew32]

:cool: Slackware :cool:

[Daedra]

i agree with X_Console, i started with slackware and im glad i did. Slackware really is not that hard AS LONG AS YOU READ. Just remember not matter what your trying to do there is almost always a howto our there to help you

[scott_R]

Ok, more useless opinion. :) After using Redhat(5.2, 6.1), caldera (2.2), Mandrake (7.1), and now Suse (7.1), I've pretty much tapped all the major vendors, so here are my thoughts.

redhat-Originally a good choice, something of a linux standard. Unfortunately, that's gone to their heads, and they seem to TRY and break things with each new version.

caldera-this isn't exactly a fair opinion for several reasons (i was extremely new to linux, and caldera was my attempt at trying out kde, because redhat was a pain to use it with). Anyway, after emailing, phoning, damn near driving over and kicking in the front door, I got no help. Not even a reply, or a person on the phone. Ugh! :(

Mandrake-my favorite so far. Lots of programs to try (always a bonus), 7.1 installed and worked smoothly. I've heard lots of problems with 7.2, but hopefully they'll be more careful with the next version. This will be my next attempt at a commercial distro, barring a release by SuSE around the same time (a few weeks).

SuSE-Nice distro, lots of progs. One major problem. Their update site/ftp is flakier than my last girlfriend. :) Random disconnects, files not found, etc. My best guess? They've pretty much shut down their US operations, and their autoupdate doesn't want to cooperate. Other than that, I can't immagine why none of their update ftp sites work, as I get the same problems doing it by hand. Also, KDE2 was overhyped, and doesn't have many of the features from kde1 available with the 2.0.1 version that ships with suse7.1. As a result (combined with their update problems), you have to dig up a newer release of kde2 and install it yourself to really enjoy this release. (I'm not knocking KDE itself, but kde2.0 was a really annoying bugfest.) Not something for a beginner.

So, what's next for me? Debian, I hope. (I'm interested in the test versions, not the out-of-date, stale, "stable" stuff.) Gotta find a decent place to buy it though, I don't use credit cards (religous thing, sorta), and buying a cd (to install a base version quickly) online is kind of a pain without one. No broadband either. Any ideas would be appreciated, though.

Hope this helps a little though. Keep in mind these are just my opinions (and some people actually prefer windows, so we all know how worthless opinions can be :) ) After all, I've spent a couple hundred bucks on distros just to see what they were like, so I at least earned the right to spout a little. :)

[Breezu]

scott:

Seems you have had your go around with the Linux thing. I seem to be having a slight problem with finding the correct version, What i mean is, I have been to numberous sites trying to Download a free version Of linux, and all im getting are index pages with files listed.
I did download two files from mandrake that looked like a CD file. the one is called mandrake 72-exe which is 552mbs, The other is Mandrake 72-inst which is 648 mbs, are these the correct files i need to Install Linux...I tried clicking on one and it started my easy CD creator program. now if you have a better download site in mind, Im all ears. Like i said im new to the Linux thing, Im really not sure what to download and if i am downloading the proper files, Any help!!!!

Thanks.....Peace out

Breezu

[bobtcowboy]

Well... I've tried:

Debian Potato
Mandrake 6.5 and the latest (not the 8.0 pre stuff.. the one before that... 7.5?)
Red Hat 5.2 and 6
Redmond Linux (still in beta)
Progeny (just hit version 1.0 yesterday)

And I have to say.... I used to reccomend Mandrake to newbies (mainly based on the easy install) but now... I've tried Progeny, and seen the error of my ways.

Progeny adds a graphical install to Debian (arguably one of the most stable simple to maintain of the distributions)... the end result is an easy to set up 100% compatible to debian.... the two are *completely* interchangeable.... you can upgrade back and forth between them... its got a lot of the newest stable releases... Kernel 2.4, XF86 4.0.2, and crap... one other big one...

anyways... its a great distro, you should consider it.... but other than that, if you know someone around you who uses linux, try getting the same version they have, it'll be helpful to both of you. Or if you plan on buying a book, look for something that has a specific book about it (O'Reilly books are great)

there's my advice,
Bill

PS: about that NHF... you might look into adding Progeny now...

[eXtremist]

Originally posted by Breezu:
<STRONG>Seems you have had your go around with the Linux thing. I seem to be having a slight problem with finding the correct version, What i mean is, I have been to numberous sites trying to Download a free version Of linux, and all im getting are index pages with files listed.
I did download two files from mandrake that looked like a CD file. the one is called mandrake 72-exe which is 552mbs, The other is Mandrake 72-inst which is 648 mbs, are these the correct files i need to Install Linux...I tried clicking on one and it started my easy CD creator program. now if you have a better download site in mind, Im all ears. Like i said im new to the Linux thing, Im really not sure what to download and if i am downloading the proper files, Any help!!!!
Thanks.....Peace out
</STRONG>

Breezu.. What you have there are CD IMAGE files. They actually contain many files, bundled into a single container for easy transport (kinda like a zip without any compression....kinda).

You can easily burn them, but you have to make sure you do it right. First thing, you say you have Easy CD Creator, so I will tell you how to do it with that.
Open Easy CD and pop a blank coaster in the drive, then under "file" click "Create CD from image". Then browse to the ISO you downloaded, and select it. This will start the burn process. You won't see any list of files, or really anything that would make you think that there ARE multiple files going on the CD, but they are there.
After it is burned, have a look at the CD in windows. Instead of there being a single file with the .ISO extension, you will have many files! :)

Then do the same for the other CD, pop the install CD into your drive and boot off of it. The installation will start automatically.

If, by chance, you are burning in linux, you should also check the checksum of the files before you burn. When you downloaded the ISO files you may have noticed a file called 'md5sums'. This is used to check to make sure there is no data corruption within the ISO images. To use this file (within linux) simply type ms5sum -c md5sums at the unix prompt. If all is well you will get an OK. Otherwise it will tell you there is something wrong with the file and you will have to download it again.

You can check the checksums in windows, but it requires a program. Unfortunately, I do not know the name of this.

[Space-Cadet]

If its mainly for a server, I'd say RedHat 6.2...
Yeah, Slackware isn't as hard as its made out to be; if you have ANY knowledge of computers whatsoever you can handle it. I got everything set up in it fine, except for my video card, (same card seems to give everyone problems) so I just said screw it and went back to RedHat. No way am I gonna use Lynx and *****X for my internet needs ;)

Speaking of game servers... I'm gonna be setting up a TFC server fairly soon on an old machine &gt; :)