I have been running linux for two years now and have only been running "noob" distros so far like: Ubuntu, Fedora and now Sabayon.

However I have heard some pretty cool things about distros that you install from scratch like they are faster and some other stuff (I forgot what the other stuff was but it sounded pretty cool- something like more secure or something else that sounded nice).

So far I have looked at Gentoo and LFS (Linux From Scratch). I tried installing Gentoo but had no luck as my network card which came in the laptop would not connect to the internet. It is a Ralink RT3090.

I had trouble with the network card on Ubuntu and Sabayon as well but the good people in the respective forums and a wired connection helped me get it up and running at least to some extent i.e. it will only connect to the internet while my laptop is plugged in to the charger.

Recently I have downloaded the LFS handbook but was not able to find the iso file of LFS 7.1 anywhere so that idea has come to a standstill too.

I remain indecisive about whether I should try one of these to or whether I should try something else like Slackware or PLD.

In conclusion, I do not know which distribution I should be trying to install but I know for a fact that documentation or a handbook is not enough as I still have unanswered questions and so I would much appreciate it if someone would help me decide which distro to install and how.

Thanks and sorry for the long post.

I've installed LFS into a virtual machine using knoppix. As long as you have some memory for it, you can do everything you need with that.

I've also used the gentoo DVD and the Ubuntu livecd. You may have some quirks early on, but solving those problems will help you learn.

So I should go with LFS then?

Also where did you find the LFS iso?

I may be corrected but as far as I know there aren't any "from scratch" distributions out there which will work with your wireless card out of the box. That means you'll need a plan to have the drivers available if you need wireless network.
The suggestion above was, I think, to install LFS in a virtual machine within your existing OS -- that way you get to learn the steps whilst still having your primary OS to use for asking for help here .

LFS is a book, sort of a cookbook. It is not an easy task. http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/

http://www.ralinktech.com/en/04_supp...ort.php?sn=501

It might have been possible to get windows driver to work with ndiswapper. Simple enough to get a usb that is supported too for a small amount usually. Some of the least expensive cards are supported

Using mainstream disto's is OK for newbies and well trained linux users. A lot of business owners use Red Hat and Suse out of the box.

Regarding your original question, I would suggest Arch if you want a DIY distro. It's not as "from scratch" as LFS, but it is a good learning experience and extremely usable install.

I've been thinking of working with LFS myself, but, if I do, it will be in a VM as a learning experience. I've looked at the docs and it looks like a long-term project to make it a functional install.

LFS is a distro that is rather difficult to use as everyday distro. There are no automatic updates and GUI configurators, you are your own distro developer, which means:
1. To keep your system secure you have to subscribe to the security mailing list of every program you install, so that you can re-compile it when bugfixes/security patches arrive. If you want a package management system you have to implement it yourself.
2. You need good knowledge of the commandline. LFS is a project for learning the inner workings of a Linux system. You can install it with just copy/paste the commands from the book, but if you don't understand exactly what you are doing there and why you are doing it you will have a hard time to maintain it. Also, following the LFS book will give you only a very basic system, which has to be extended, for example with using BLFS, to get a system that is usable for desktop tasks. By the way, there is no ISO for LFS 7.1, you have to use a system that fulfills the requirements in the book to start building LFS 7.1.

Although few members here use LFS as everyday distro I personally wouldn't recommend it.

Gentoo is more a framework to make your custom distro, but with automatic dependency resolving and automatic updates it is more suitable for the upcoming "non-newbie". Keep in mind that source-based distros like Gentoo are not really suitable for older computers or badly designed notebooks, since programs are compiled from source, which can take some time on older systems and may overheat systems with a bad cooling system.

Arch is a distro that does not compile from source (at least the packages in their official repositories), but comes only as a minimal system which has to be customized by you to get a usable system (same as on Gentoo, but with binary packages).

Slackware is a distro that comes with almost everything what you may need, but forces and encourages you to learn how the system works.

If you want to have a fast distro totally customized to your needs I would recommend Arch or Gentoo. Also, both distros documentation is really outstanding, but you will need a wired network connection to get them working with your wireless adapter.
I personally prefer Slackware, because it does not have automatic dependency resolving and has a very easy package management system.

In any case I would recommend to use a virtual machine to try those distros before you decide for one and make a native install.

3 members found this post helpful.

Thanks jefro for the drivers page.

Also thank you TobiSGD for explaining the difference between the various "from scratch" (to whatever extent) distros.
Basically what I am looking for is a new primary OS. However, I will take your suggestion and start with installing it in a VM.

My computer isn't old and I think that it has a pretty decent cooling system so I will go with Gentoo as school is starting soon and I do not think that I will have enough time to maintain LFS. However I might do it someday as a hobby. If Gentoo does not work for whatever reason, I will try slackware.

Also what exactly is the benefit of souce based distros?

Also, in addition to Gentoo I think that I should also consider Funtoo after reading its description on:

http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=funtoo

You are pretty much only using unpatched upstream software. This is useful when you use general instructions for that software.
You compile the software for your computer. This may bring speed advantages in some types of software (you won't really see a difference when using a browser or office software, but may be for software that is "number crunching", like video encoders).
For Gentoo: USE flags.

1 members found this post helpful.

I would say, more than looking for a from-scratch distribution, you could read, learn, practice on everyday tasks and gain knowledge about Linux in general. If you follow any "from scratch" instructions without understanding, you are no better off than before, except to the extent that you've probably memorized a few steps.

I would say that "unpatched" is not necessarily guaranteed in the case of automated build systems. Sources can be patched before compiling by automated build systems whether on the users' machine or on a developers' machine. In most cases, so-called patches are applied to make life easier for the package maintainer and make no difference or little difference to the end user experience.

I can say this about building a from scratch linux install. One is that you will get a vast amount of training in things you didn't know existed. A full from scratch install is more than enough for one person to do ONCE.

Gentoo is a good choice for maybe a well trained person to use daily. It does have the features of a distribution. One can use Gentoo to more fully tune a single server or workstation to perform at it's best under expected use.


We use the term disto (distribution) sort of poorly. It is normally considered to be a way for some target audience of users to install and maintain and easily install applications. Once you do some fully from scratch installs you will see why distro's are so popular. They take 40 hours of work down to maybe an hour.

I'd suggest you start on one or the other choices above and see how far you get. Best to use a fully scrap system.

My two cents on this is install Slackware stable (at this moment 13.37) first, play with it for a while. That will help you getting use to files hierarchy, daemon, init, command line and other useful knowledge. Then upgrade to Slackware current, that is still stable but a with a little more "opportunities" to brake. After that switch to Arch Linux and do the same process... get familiar with it, brake, fix it ,and start all over. Then as a final step install LFS. There you will have total control of what goes in.

I am repeting the same advice that I had months ago and I can tell you that while I am still in Slackware I have learned a lot, but also I have realized that at this moment installing Arch or LFS will be too much of a pain for me. However, I recognized that not everybody is the same so read about it and take an informed decision.

arodlinux:

Hmmmm... interesting suggestion, but at the present moment I am just looking for one operating system so going with the theme of your idea of learning about one operating system at a time I think that I will go with Funtoo as I am already curious about source compiling and what is so special about the Portage package system.

The reason why I want to go with Funtoo instead of Gentoo is because of the recommendation of someone who has tried both and had a lot of experience with both but prefers Funtoo. Also the guy who built Gentoo (Daniel Robbins) is now making Funtoo as an improved version of Gentoo. I feel that Funtoo will provide a few different learning opportunities than Slackware that I know more about.

Also, I am already comfortable with the Gentoo community on the IRC as I currently run Sabayon which is a version of Gentoo.