Tap-tap-tap.....Hello....Is this thing on?

[slars]

I'm considering getting FreeBSD. I've loaded Linux a few times on my personal machine (RedHat 5.2 and SuSE 6.2), and really haven't been able to make it functional. How does FreeBSD compare with Linux? I figure there will be biases towards FreeBSD, so please try to be objective when you tell me how much better FreeBSD is than Linux. ;-)<br>
<br>
slars

 

[rycamor]

I've messed around with both, and my basic feeling is: use FreeBSD for a server, but use Linux as a workstation. <br>
FreeBSD is a little more cryptic in it's setup and install options. I never did manage to get X-windows working, but I was more interested in it as a server. It does have a great tool (/stand/sysinstall) that lets you manage software packages, install from FTP, etc... but you generally have to do a lot more text configuration editing than in Linux. Apparently, FreeBSD does beat Linux in some network benchmarking tests, and is a VERY stable web server. The default console behaviors are in my opinion not as easy to work with also.<br>
<br>
Linux, on the other hand, IS a lot more user-friendly; (I know you have trouble believing this) if your hardware is right, the install is a breeze, and you'll have everything including X-windows up in an hour. I had the easiest time with RedHat 5.2, (more stable than RedHat6.0). <br>
For RedHat I will mention that choosing the 'Everything' install method and then checking 'choose individual packages' and simply removing the other language documentation (Japanese, German, etc...) will give you a 1 GB install of everything you might need. This tends to make X-windows easier to install because you have all the different videocard servers to choose from when setting up.

 

[robherc]

The best *nix I've used so far is Caldera OpenLinux 2.2 fully GUI install & GUI boot make it a better-than Win32 class install & interface.....just make sure to shoot a little low when you chose your display settings.....if you get a blinky screen with a lot of vertical lines after making your selection, it is _not_ going to switch back properly in 10 seconds....just reboot 'cuz you're gonna have to start over.<br>
<br>
<br>
-Robherc

 

[rsowders]

Don't let them kid you, the installation for Freebsd is dirt simple, xwindows and all. I've taken complete novices, who knew nothing about pcs at all, and with minimal help (Mainly network setup) the were able to complete the installation of Freebsd 3.3 with Xwindows and KDE desktop and full blown apache 1.3.9 webservers in under and hour. It couldn't get much easier than this, barring someone else doing it for you.<br>
<br>
The xwindows setup is a part of the initial installation under the /stand/sysinstall which you are automatically presented with when you boot the machine. The only gotcha that I can see is that the drivers for xfree86 require mostly common graphics cards. High end, cutting edge graphics adaptors are commonly not supported very well. You should check the <A HREF="

http://www.xfree86.org"

TARGET="_new">

http://www.xfree86.org</A>

list of supported cards first before attempting your unix project no matter what OS you select, that is, if you want that cute little gui interface.

 

[robherc]

rsowders-<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I don't have any experience with FreeBSD 3.3....just with 2.2.8 & 3.2 (the ones that were out when this thread was started). While FreeBSD <i>DOES</i> have a somewhat cryptic install; so does every other version of linux or unix except for Caldera (slightly underdeveloped) and Corel (haven't tested it yet). it really boils down to: RedHat is more popular for expert's workstations, Corel/Caldera is more popular for novice's workstations and FreeBSD is more popular for servers. This all is, of course, subjective as popular is NOT always perfect <p>-Robherc<br><a href=mailto:robherc@netzero.net>robherc@netzero.net</a><br><a href= > </a><br>*nix installation & program collector/reseller. Contact me if you think you've got one that I don't

 

[rsowders]

I agree with you in principle. You will have to know the basics of what you are doing to use Freebsd successfully. In that regard, some of the Linux versions have easier to understand install interfaces. <br>
As a simple user desktop, with basic apps installed, Linux is ok for a starter. The Corel version is simplicity itself. I prefer the Redhat though. <br>
My problems with Linux are entirely about it's stablility. But new users are discouraged by failure, and I believe their failure to install an OS will out weigh their failure to keep an OS running. <br>
So the easiest answer to the original question should be IMHO, that if you have someone to help you with the install, then FBSD would be a good choice for it's stability, but if your on your own, choose Linux, (pick your version here) to just get it up and running.<br>
If you intend to offer any internet services, then you should take your time and learn the basics about more stable and robust Operating Systems, no matter what your choice is.<br>
BTW FBSD is up to 3.4 now.<br>

 

[robherc]

Ouch...and I haven't even gotten 3.3 downloaded yet......when am I going to find a d@** ISP that'll provide ******* DSL services to me in Muncie, IN?!?!?!?! (sorry about the griping there)<br>
<br>
As far as the (far more serious) question of how stable/unstable Linux vs FreeBSD is: <i><b><span style=color:red>ANY</i></b></span> of them <i><b><span style=color:red>FAR</i></b></span> outdo Winblows (credit Alt255) Bugware (credit Mr. Addison) when it comes to stability; so I think a newbie, Microsoftened (credit to someone else...I think it was Alt255), recent convert should be impressed with just about <i>any</i> choice they make (unless they find one of the distribs that Micros~1 seems to have been comparing to their then-not-yet-released Win2K when they made up their page-of-lies to try to trash Linux/FreeBSD as an inferior OS. <p>-Robherc<br><a href=mailto:robherc@netzero.net>robherc@netzero.net</a><br><a href= > </a><br>*nix installation & program collector/reseller. Contact me if you think you've got one that I don't