Favorite Linux ?

[AA7BQ]

I've been using UNIX and its derivatives for more than 20 years. Here's my take on the various Linux Distros (distributions):

At their core, most of them are nearly identical. Some notable differences exist in system administration however the applications all pretty much work the same. When I recently opened a new commercial IT center, we had to choose from the available Linuxes.

We downloaded versions from most of the major players including Gentoo, Fedora, and Ubuntu. We weighted the various factors and finally decided on Fedora Core 5, or FC5 as it's known. Here's why:

- Very large user community
- Great availability of RPM's
- Very good installation experience
- Derived by a very successful commercial version

This isn't to say that any of the others weren't worthy or as good. It's just that after weighing all the suport factors, risks, etc., as they apply to a revenue generating application, FC5 seemed like the best bet.

My favorite, however, isn't Linux but Solaris. Those of you that know me will probably call foul since I worked at Sun for 18 years as a systems engineer. True. Solaris isn't Linux but an actual UNIX. It has a lineage in the big back-end datacenters of the world, and is the core OS behind such websites as eBay. It is a true industrial strength OS. It's also open-source and free to download. Virtually all Linux applications run on Solaris.

Solaris is a big loser, however, when it comes to the installation experience. Installing Solaris is often frustrating, time consuming, and generally over-the-top. Many first time users will simply give up on it. It also has some device driver shortcomings as it does not recognize as many drivers as your typical Linux distro. Some systems administration commands can be frustrating as well, and you'll soon memorize the URL to Sun's documentation site ( http://docs.sun.com ). The good news is that you can get a good hit on Google for just about any question, and, Sun's BigAdmin website is 'da bomb' when it comes to technical advice.

All of QRZ has been running on Solaris since 1995.

Installing Fedora, or just about any of the big Linuxes, is by comparision, a dream. Fast, friendly, and "johnny-on-the-spot" with support for most standard devices.

So in conclusion, if you want the most advanced OS, get Solaris. If you want something that is probably 90% as advanced (more in some areas like installation and device support), choose Linux.

Which Linux Then? I recommend surfing around until you find the one that has the largest user community, the most blogs, and the largest repository of ready-made software packages (i.e. RPM's).

-fred AA7BQ


Fred Lloyd worked at Sun from January 1988 until August 2006 when he was caught in a layoff that affected 5000 employees. In retrospect, he firmly believes that this was a good thing.

[KC0VWU]

I'm pretty new at it but I am impressed with the fact that there is seemingly a version for whatever needs you have. I needed an easy way to start and Freespire is pretty good so far. My kids use a crappy old Pentium II so they needed a smaller version and PuppyLinux works perfectly for them. I'm also happy with being able to run them off a CD so you can test them before you install them.

[KC9ECI]

I got my intro to Linux via one of the live ditros, Harv's Hamshack Hack. I tried to install it on an old box I have and never was able to get that to work for me, but that led me to Freespire, which I have on two systems now. I'm planning to replace the one with Ubuntu to give that a try in the near future, and I'd like to take a look at the PuppyLinux and see if there would be any value to setting that up for my 5 year old.

[AC0H]

Check the Avatar.

Arch Linux is bascially Slackware on steroids with a great package management system called pacman. It IS NOT a newby distro. I'm dual booting Arch with Mepis Linux. Great installer, .deb package managemnent, HUGE software repository available and no PITA when it comes to Java, Flash, etc....

I have run just about every mainline Linux distro at one time or the other since 1995 and RH 5.0 and even did Linux from Scratch. You really want to learn Linux and are comfortable with the CLI give LFS a try.

I have tried Solaris on the desktop. It didn't last long. GREAT server, terrible desktop. My server runs FreeBSD.

[n0iu]

I wish I could say that I had a favorite version of Linux, but I am too spoiled by SCO UNIX to use anything else.

Scott NØIU

[WA7KKP]

I've been using SuSE for years, starting with 6.4, then 8.2, and now 10.2. Only bad thing is that they've dropped a lot of the ham software in the latest distros, so you have to go hunting for that on the Web.

Gary WA7KKP

[KI4LZK]

I use Fedora 6 right now. I love it. Everything works that I need to and I pretty much stick with it because I started with Redhat 7.3. I have used Solaris but didn't really care for it. FreeBSD worked alright. My webserver is running FC 5 and Cpanel, works fine.

[AE6IP]

which linux? FreeBSD, of course.

(Unix system developer since 1975.)

[AD5UT]

I run FC4 on my server, but I dual boot Ubuntu and Windows (games) on my main box. I have not tried the latest FC, but I got a DVD image, so I may throw it on an old 40GB hard drive I have laying around.

Edit: As for my favorite, it all has to do with what I'm using it for. I've been around linux since RH 5.0, and I love distros that make it easy to switch to a console.

[n6hcm]

linux is great because you can choose the right tool for the right job. at home and at my current daytime gig fedora core is the answer. fedora/redhat have become the microsoft of the linux world--so many third party software providers support this platform that it's hard to ignore ... ease of use (from the professional point of view) is a big win.

years ago i was a bsdi customer ... haven't looked at freebsd in a while.

but for my desktop? macos x. it's lovely how it just works.

[kf6rdn]

I like Solaris on Sparc hardware, THAT'S a workhorse we have boxes that had been up for years, and just got reboot due to needing to be moved or somethin.

I'm kind of stuck with RHEL, when we were deciding on a distro, it ended up being decided for us given that seems the most supported with some infrastructure software such as Veritas volume mgr & Netbackup.

I actually like 2003 for LDAP authentication, MS actually did that right, when you add the free MS Services for Unix.

For PC/Home/Lab/Screwing around, it's hard to go wrong with Fedora.

[W4ETE]

I went the FC route too... I just 'upgraded' from FC3 to FC6 at home (FC3 is on a 20GB drive and FC6 is on a new 160GB drive). I'm sticking with Fedora, but for the moment, I have to figure out how to get the gnome to work again... The box went from fast to sluggish so I uninstalled a bunch of packages and now all I get is a clock and a command shell. At least I can still use the FC3 install while I figure it out.

[kd4wuo]

Fedora has gotten so bloated that I switched to Kubuntu for my desktop PCs. I still use FC on my servers. FC6 is what 6 CD's now, thats a little much for a desktop install (I know about the DVD!)

[kf6rdn]

Quote[/b] (kd4wuo @ Mar. 12 2007,06:55)]Fedora has gotten so bloated that I switched to Kubuntu for my desktop PCs. I still use FC on my servers. FC6 is what 6 CD's now, thats a little much for a desktop install (I know about the DVD!)
If you do a custom install it can still be pretty "trim". The software is available, doesnt mean it all has to be installed!

[AC0H]

Quote[/b] ]If you do a custom install it can still be pretty "trim". #The software is available, doesnt mean it all has to be installed!
Yep. That's why I like the Ubuntu derivatives and Arch. One CD install which gets you the base system and your choice of Window Managers, and a few dozen or so apps that everybody uses like Firefox, Thunderbird, Open Office, etc....

One sniggeling little complaint about the *buntu's is they don't come with the dev packages. You have to do apt-get install build-essential if you want to compile from source.

[K1LNX]

Oooh a linux thread! Well I just couldn't resist from posting, especially after I just changed my call to K1LNX, ten guesses as to what the LNX stands for!!!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

I've been running linux off and on since '97 and we use Solaris at work. My distro of choice right now is Ubuntu hands down. I've used many of them over the years, with Ubuntu and Gentoo topping my list. I dropped Gentoo in favor of Ubuntu 2 years ago and don't regret it one bit, and just went full time with a linux desktop last year.

I have a Debian box handling all of my packet/aprs chores, an Ubuntu 6.06 install for my desktop (soon to be Feisty, I'm testing it and very impressed so far), and an Ubuntu 6.06 server serving up a couple of websites.

[k5phw]

Ubuntu works for me. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[k0ews]

I've had Ubuntu on this machine for a couple of week now, and I can honestly say, I've enjoyed it a bunch. I dual boot Ubuntu and Windows XP, and I think I've run Windows maybe 30 minutes total in the last 5 days. I think the Linux bug has bit!

[KC0YEF]

Red hat &
Mandrake


Sorry to hear you were laid off PM me for a funny story about bill joy and harvey at the skunk works

[w3mv]

My experience with Unix dates back to Version 6 PWB on PDP-11/34s and PDP-11/70s. My favorite Unix variant is not Linux. I will work with Linux if forced to do so, but I prefer to work with Mac OS X. The Darwin kernel coupled with Aqua and Quartz is hard to beat. NeXT’s technology was way ahead of its time.

[ka5piu]

Hello.

I love Solaris, hay, if Kevin Mitnick likes it. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
I am a died in the wool Phone Phreak, so anything that the local CO runs and I am on it.
But, for most people I recommend something like Knoppix or other live distro on an older machine and/or having a spare hard drive one can easily swap.
For the one stop solution for the "average" user, I think Linspire is where it is at.
Than, once somebody starts to feel comfortable, go up a notch, install LiLo and something a bit more advanced.
And, find a LUG, Linux Users Group.
Do not expect them to solve every little trouble you run into, this is not tech support, but do try as much on your own as you can.
You will most likely come across something that you simply can not crack, at that point you will find that people will be quite willing to help you.
It is just like in Amateur Radio, 99.9% of all troubles can be solved by just reading the manuals.
It is that .1% that people have to think about that is where people will help, as that means you have tried, are the exception, willing to put forth the effort to learn.
Like it or not, that is the way it is.
I run around with my Clique, my peers.

[KE5FIX]

DSL
Backtrack http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[kf6snj]

I started with TurboLinux and Red Hat 6.0 in 2002. Since then I have been through Fedora Core 6 and have even worked with PuppyLinux and FreeBSD. Presently I am working with PCLinuxOS and am preparing to test AFU-Knoppix, which I hear is designed especially for amateur radio. If it works, I may give my son my hard drive and use AFU-Knoppix.

Other versions of Linux I have tried include:

FloppyFW
PocketLinux (a floppy distro)
Grey Cat Linux (discontinued umdos)
BasicLinux 3.25 (on a laptop with a 500MB hard drive)

I did download Solaris 10.0 once, but never had a chance to burn the iso to disc due to a sudden, and permanent, hard drive failure.

Linux is great. I even wrote the handbook for my department using koffice.

[n7zsd]

Here's a thought to add to the mix...I have an old laptop and I'm too tight to buy more RAM for it. #Only 128 megs of ram won't run anything but Win98 or lower with #much efficiency. #The live distros wouldn't install until I discovered Xubuntu. #Installed nicely and works amazingly well. #Got it networked to the other PC, (a dual boot Ubuntu/XP box) and I am very happy with it. #I have Fldigi and Pskmail running on both now. #Not too bad for a computer illiterate like me! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[n0zld]

OpenBSD here...

[kl7aj]

Slackware 10

[KC9ECI]

According to Novell ads, Linux is a cute girl who needs a haircut (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9700099-1.html)

[N5KRC]

I've been playing with Linux since Slackware was introduced. Man how it sucked having to install the OS from what, 38 floppies? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Now, I'm a die hard Gentoo fan. Three Gentoo boxes at home, and seven in production at work.

[kf6snj]

Could never get Gentoo to install. Did get FreeBSD to install from a single floppy with my computer hooked up to a DSL connection. Presently I am quite happy with PClinuxOS on my main machine and I am playing with Harv's Hamshack Hack 0.6a on the computer I want to use in my shack.

[KC2QYD]

Ubuntu and Fedora are the best i think. They are the most sought after and alot of developers like to use them because of the flexibility and the kernels are pretty simple

[ve3sre]

Debian-based distros are usually the most "ham friendly". Most of the Linux ham radio software is in the Debian repositories.

For complete Linux newbies making a move from Windows, Linspire/Freespire are good and I'll also put in a plug for Xandros. Linspire and Xandros aren't "free as in beer" but they are much cheaper than Windows.

Once you've got a bit of experience using Linux though you'll find Linspire/Freespire and Xandros a bit "limited" and will want to move on to something else.

I've played with many distros although not the "geekier" ones like Slackware and Gentoo...the geekiest I've gotten is Debian Sarge http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Haven't yet got a favourite. The machine I'm using to type this post is running Kubuntu.

If you're running an older machine (Pentium II or earlier) you might want to avoid distros that use either the KDE or Gnome desktops as they tend to be rather resource hungry. The XFCE desktop is pretty good though for older slower machines.

[k3wrv]

Have used Fedora since day 1. FC1 on one machine, 3 on another, and 4 on this one (faster booting each time). Tried FC5 and didn't like it (Slow booting on a 2.8 gig P-4).

Fedora is not great if you want multimedia (Lots of config stuff) but for productivity, it's pretty dependable. But!! I hear good things about Ubuntu (Tho haven't tried it)

[KF4MJN]

I am not nearly as experienced with UNIX and variants as is AA7BQ. In 1996, I started using Solaris 2.4 at my workplace on a SPARC10, eventually upgrading thru Solaris 2.8 before I received the order to convert over to Linux on PCs. I have to agree that Solaris is a solid OS, very stable/reliable, but on a SPARC. I don't have any first-hand knowledge of how well it runs on a PC. Although, after reading his post, I am tempted to try it out on my AMD-64.

As far as Linux goes, I can tell you that I've spent a substantial amount of time using Slackware, RedHat since version 4.x, Suse, Debian, Ubuntu, Scientific Linux (really redhat), and all the Fedoras. My pick of the group is Debian or Ubuntu. I say Ubuntu because it is a Debian derived OS.

The reason that I like Debian so much is mainly due to their approach to separating and releasing their updates for their OS based on stability. They declare releases of their "stable" version every two years or so, not every 6 months like some of the other distros do.....with all the latest bells and whistles that turn out to be buggy and only half of the programs actually work. I could go on...

[w8gtf]

I tend to stick to Debian based distro's. I've played around with Ubuntu at home, and I'm in the process of using a copy of ubuntu server to create some 'canned web apps' for my company's customers (we do web hosting). I've also been put in charge of upgrading several of our old debian boxes to newer versions of the OS. (lemme tell ya, breaking apache & mysql isn't fun).

I've want to get into slackware, but have never really had the time.

[kc2orw]

Fedora FC 6 it has just what I need. I switched from Debian because the packages can be so bad especially if it they are somewhat bleeding edge. The packages are just enough on the edge to keep me happy. Check out the recent package manager Smart that is very quick. I might have jumped ship if I had been forced to use Yum. Now If I am compiling something new to try out I can very quickly find and install the missing dependency and resume the work without missing a step.

I used to be an old Slackware user started with that one somewheres around the 1.01 kernel. I thought it was pretty good and wouldn't mind using it again but the Industry prefers RedHat or SUSE right now so that is what I use. I think SUSE is pretty bloated they should not try and clone M$ feature for feature it just turns Linux into a pig...