Which distro?

[ee99ee2]

I'm setting up a router/NAT/DHCP server, and will eventually be a PPTP VPN server. It's currently running OpenBSD, but I can't get my PPTP server (PoPToP) to work in it. It just will not, but that's another post. Plus, I'm not exactly familar with the OpenBSD OS, and don't have time right now to learn it. Right now, all it is is a NAT and DHCP server for my network.

I want to move to Linux, but need to find a good distro to put on it. I want something that's very trim (like gentoo) and stable/secure (like debian). I don't want something that's got a bizillion services running out of the box (which yes, I know, I can turn those off... but I'm too lazy to do that).

What do you all reccomend? This is not going to be used as a desktop box of any kind.. just a headless system that sits in my floor under my table and provides network services for me (with a smile).

Right now, I'm thinkin' Debian. That's what is on my web/DNS/Unreal Tournament/mail/file server. I love Gentoo, use it on the desktop as a matter of fact, but it's not there for servers yet. Slackware any good? It uses RPM right? Eww.... I can't stand RPM. hmm.... suggestions?

-ee99ee2

[Infrastructure]

I'm using:

SmoothWall (http://www.smoothwall.org)

as a firewall/router/DHCP server for my lan and it works great. BTW SmoothWall GPL 2.0 is just about to be released. Be sure to check it out, it's really a great linuxbased piece of software. You might also want to check out a fork of the SmoothWall project named:

IPCop (http://www.ipcop.org)

And while I'm at it here's a good overvire page for different linuxbased and BSD based router software:

Router Design Project (http://www.routerdesign.com/links.shtml)

[mrBen]

Originally posted by ee99ee2
I'm setting up a router/NAT/DHCP server, and will eventually be a PPTP VPN server. It's currently running OpenBSD, but I can't get my PPTP server (PoPToP) to work in it. It just will not, but that's another post. Plus, I'm not exactly familar with the OpenBSD OS, and don't have time right now to learn it. Right now, all it is is a NAT and DHCP server for my network.

I want to move to Linux, but need to find a good distro to put on it. I want something that's very trim (like gentoo) and stable/secure (like debian). I don't want something that's got a bizillion services running out of the box (which yes, I know, I can turn those off... but I'm too lazy to do that).

What do you all reccomend? This is not going to be used as a desktop box of any kind.. just a headless system that sits in my floor under my table and provides network services for me (with a smile).

Right now, I'm thinkin' Debian. That's what is on my web/DNS/Unreal Tournament/mail/file server. I love Gentoo, use it on the desktop as a matter of fact, but it's not there for servers yet. Slackware any good? It uses RPM right? Eww.... I can't stand RPM. hmm.... suggestions?

-ee99ee2

Firstly, Slackware does NOT use RPMs. Yeuch.

Secondly, nice picture :p

Thirdly, if you want people to look at your thread, this is probably not the best title.

[ee99ee2]

Sorry about the slack thing, I thought it did. What package managment system does it use? A friend used it, I never have...

Second, thanks about the nice pic. I know I'm just so DEAD SEXY (not).... I do look high in that picture... I don't think I was.... but I don't remember :D


-ee99ee2

[SunOfTux]

Slack uses a package system similar to BSD systems. It is all explained on their website.

"Kudos" for being a BSD'er. After much playing around with OpenBSD and (cursing at) FreeBSD, I still choose Linux as my flavor. Slack is my favorite, as it is much more like BSD than other flavors (e.g., RedHat, Mandrake, SuSE, etc.)

Regards,
SunOfTux

[CaptainPinko]

you might wanna check out devil linux.