Preferred distribution? 3

[dkdude]

Heh! You must have heard this question meny times, I'm sure.

However, I want to get started on Linux ASAP (can't blame me for that one, right).

Here's what I've got:

One olde Pentium 200MHz with MMX and 32 MB.

Here's where I want to start:

-File Server
-FTP server
-Apache (PHP & MySQL)

Am I only dreaming that it should be possible on that hardware configuration... or?

No X-Win / graphic GUI required -Nothing makes me more happy, and free, than a command prompt §;O)

Any good advice on my Linux Debut?

Many Thanks §;O)


Jakob

 

[RhythmAce]

If you just want to setup a server, then it doesn't really matter what distro you choose. Most of the differences in distros are the directory structure and where they place certain apps. They also let you choose what type of installtion you want, such as workstation, server or custom. The problem is that you still have to download all 3 or 4 iso files which are about 650 MB each just to install a few files that could fit on a floppy. I'm sure with a little searching you could find a project out there which just has the bare bones server packages. I'll do a little snooping around myself and see what I can find.

 

[mrunix]

this may not answer your question directly, but if it helps ...

you may want to start with a better machine. for example, RedHat has recommended minimums of processor and memory. we started down the road with a pentium 200, and 64MB, and all SCSI. unlike what people say, you can pull your 486 out of the closet, the p200 was so slow, it was retired. but, we did quite a bit of work before the switch.

best of luck,

 

[sleipnir214]

I will preface my advice by saying that I have been a dyed-in-the-wool RedHat user for years.

RedHat, SuSE, Debian, and Mandrake have been the front-runners for a while now. I have personally had very good success for quite some time with RedHat in the server arena.

But if you want to get started immediately, I recommend against installing the free RedHat distributions. RedHat will cease maintaining the latest version of the distribution (9.0)product some time next year, which means you'd have to switch to something else later on. Not necessarily a bad thing overall (getting accustomed to multiple distributions), but not a comfortable thing when you're trying to learn.

RedHat has turned development their for-free product over a group called Fedora (also the name of the new distribution), which is managed by a bunch of people on the RedHat payroll. I currently have no opinion on Fedora. I have heard nothing bad about it, but I'm conservative enough to not want to use a new distribution. I figure I'll let others be the guinea pigs.

Mandrake has had some financial problems lately. Early this year, MandrakeSoft went into France's equivalent of the U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They are supposed to leave bankruptcy protection later this year, but I have no information on how sound the company will be. Perhaps others have better information on Mandrake?

Of SuSE and Debian, I might lean more toward SuSE. Debian is no slouch, but SuSE is doing some really interesting things like developing Openexchange Server and other products.


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TANSTAAFL!!

 

[RhythmAce]

Sleips, y'all forgot to give slackware an honorable mention.

 

[sleipnir214]

Yeah, if you want command-line-only, Slackware is definately one way to go.

Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

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TANSTAAFL!!

 

[dkdude]

Guys!

Thanks a million for your advice. Sounds to me like I feel most confident in starting my Linux career with SlackWare.

-If you can't work it from a command prompt then you don't really know how it's working, right §;O)

In some 20 hrs I have the four SlackWare ISOs on my drive. Then I think I'll print some of the help files and read them before launching it in my Christmas break. Wow! Looking sooo much forward...

-You'll probably see my alias popping up in this forum with a bunch of real Linux-newbie questions again soon §;O)

Thanks again to all!


Jakob