i am going to take course in linux, there are using debian, right now i am using slackware 10. could u gave me idea what makes debain differents from other dis (a good reason). what debian version all about such like serge woody ......and what is boot favors? i went to debian website there 7 cd wow that too much of software do i really need all of it, if no then what cd is do i have to install, i have dell c800 laptop ati rage modlity chip intel 3


thanks in advance

The best way to install is via the netinstall. Then you only have to install using 1 cd. The problem witht his though, is that unless you have a nice internet connection (adsl or better) it takes a long time. The cd installs the minimal for debian to work and for your internet to work. Then you download everything you need from the internet. This saves you the trouble of downloading 6 CD images that have alot of programs you won't use.
There are three basic version now. Woddy which is the stable one and uses the 2.4 kernel. Sarge which is the testing one, but is pretty stable (i use it), and Sid which is the unstable one and if you depend on your computer alot, it might not be worth it, because you get bugs and all that shit.
Then there is alot more about debian, but i'll leave it to the guru's to tell you that. I don't know much about why debian is or isn't better then other distros because it's the only one i've used (i heard alot about how good it is and started off with it).

EDIT: Check out http://www.linuxquestions.org/review...hp/cat/5/page/ for reviews of Debian and such. Those might help you.

Debian is one of the main GNU/Linux distributions and possibly the largest one. See the following pages for brief introduction: http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major
http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Debian

For installing Debian you should try the new easy Sarge installer (RC2). You can download the netinst CD image here: http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/

this is my email letter that i sent to them
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> I have went to the workshop of linux vs unix, the instructor was
> saying he
is going to use debian. so my questions is which debian version is he
using, such as serge, woody or somethink else. please email me back with the
flowing information
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
and here is what that guy reply me back
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Thank you for your email. Our instructor will use Debian 3.0 Sarge which he can get with the new installer (which is RC3) in the Linux Class.
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I think somethink is wrong, as you see he is refering to Debian 3.0 sarge.
and the installer is (RC3)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
but Dead Parrot he posted is (RC2) werid
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please can some one clear that for me

That can either be taken as a bad sign, or confusion as to which release will be used. I had a "Linux" course in my 4-months-lasting schedule of some net-admin courses I took at a local college. Problem was that the instructor was an accountant, he knew spreadsheets and a bit about data-bases, other wise yours truely was teaching the majority of the curriculum because no one else, including the instructor had any real linux experience at home, work or otherwise. But that is worst case.
Otherwise just nab the latest Debian Net install .iso. It's a bit more up to date than woody and a heck of a lot easier to install. Woody realy wasnt that bad, but its more easy going now. I too just migrated from Slackware and I like what I've seen for far. I do miss the slack bsd-like layout though.

The current stable Debian release 3.0 is called Woody. The next stable Debian release 3.1 will come out some time soon and it will be called Sarge. Release Candidates for the Sarge installer have been published and the latest is RC2, as you can see from the Debian installer page: http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/

In addition to stable releases Debian has also two development branches, Testing and Unstable, where packages are tested for the next Stable release. The current Testing branch is called Sarge and it will soon become the stable Debian release 3.1. After Sarge has been released a new Testing branch will be established (called Etch, I think) and in time it will too become a stable Debian release. The Unstable branch will always be called Sid.

The newest software packages always go to Unstable development branch first. Then people have a chance to test these packages and report bugs they find. After most bugs have been ironed out, the packages will next go to Testing branch. Stable Debian releases are made from Testing branch. Software package versions don't change in stable Debian releases but they are constantly changing in Testing and Unstable development branches.

So, you see, your instructor has probably meant that your class will be using Debian Sarge, which is currently the Testing development branch and will soon become the stable Debian release 3.1. You can get Sarge using the latest Sarge installer (currently Release Candidate 2). The terminology can be a bit confusing -- just try to get the big picture and you'll be OK.

thanks guys for your help