Which Linux should I use?
 

I use UNIX all the time at work. But I never loaded linux on my computer. Which version of Linux should I use?

I need to have 2.6.13 kernel or above for my netcell SR3100 raid card



Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

hi.

This question is a little lacking in info.... a bit like asking what car you should buy! You obviously know your stuff, being a UNIX guy, but you need to say what you want from your distribution - ease of use, simpleness, speed, support, etc.

That would help the experts on this forum (of which I am NOT one!) give you some help.

I've used Red Hat 9, Mandrake 9 and 10, Fedora core 3 AND Suse 10. I've liked Mandrake (now Mandriva) and Suse best. The YaST program in SUSE is great for novices like myself.

Thats the problem I'm not sure which linux is for what. I'm installing it on my computer so I can teach myself more about networking and web servers

hello envision5000

Use them all (if you have the space). Ive heard that Slackware is the most unixlike, though i wouldn't know if thats true or not, but its (imo) the best i've used, very fast and stable. Debian and Suse are also good, and i to think yast is great for newbies like me to get to grips with configuring a linux system without knowing how it works. www.linuxmafia.com say

NetCell SyncRAID SR3000, SR3100 (3-port) and SR5000, SR5103 (5-port) SATA-I RAID PCI cards — real hardware RAID. All units cited are based on the NetCell SyncRAID TD6405 64-bit controller ASIC. NetCell provides a GPLed driver in the form of a patch to the Linux kernel source tree's drivers/ide code.

about your card.

If i was you i'd find out if other users have problems with your card on any distro before installing it.

edit: then i'd install slackware

According to netcell forum I can use these versions of linux

• 64 Studio: 0.6.0
• Arabian Linux: 0.6-rc1
• Archie Live CD: 0.6rc2
• Aurora SPARC Linux: 2.0-beta2
• B2D Linux
• Càtix: 1.2
• Finnix
• Frugalware Linux
• grml: 0.5
• Hakin9 Live: 2.8
• How-Tux
• JoLinux
• Kate OS: 2.2
• KnoppMyth
• Komodo Linux: 2.0-test1
• Linux+ Live: 2006-01-beta
• Nonux
• Hedinux GNU/Linux
• Parsix GNU/Linux: 0.70
• PCLinuxOS: apt
• pQui Linux: 1.2
• RR4/RR64 Linux: 2.65.1
• Slackintosh
• SLAMPP Live CD
• Sorcerer
• STX Linux
• SUSE LINUX: 10.0
• Tilix Linux: 1.0.1
• tinysofa classic / enterprise server: 2.0-classic
• Troppix
• Turbolinux: 11
• VLOS: 1.3-alpha0, 1.2.1


• aLinux: 12.6
• ALT Linux: Sisyphus
• ASPLinux: 11-beta
• Berry Linux: 0.66
• AGNULA GNU/Linux Audio Distribution: 1.3.0-rc1
• dyne:bolic: 2.0-beta5
• Foresight Linux
• FoX Desktop: 1
• Frugalware Linux: 0.4pre1
• Haansoft Linux: 2006-BETA3
• Helix: 1.7
• ISlack
• KANOTIX
• Kate OS
• K-DEMar
• Kororaa: Beta2-r1
• Kurumin Linux: 6.0-alpha4
• Mutagenix
• Linux Netwosix
• Nonux
• Pardus
• Parsix GNU/Linux: 0.75
• rPath Linux
• RR4/RR64 Linux: 3.0-beta0
• Topologilinux
• Trinity Rescue Kit
• Troppix
• Truva Linux
• Underground Desktop: 021
• Xarnoppix: 3.2
• Zenwalk Linux

• Arch Linux: 0.7.1
• Ark Linux
• Arudius: 0.4
• Debian GNU/Linux: unstable
• Fedora Core: devel, 5
• grml: 0.6
• Magic Linux
• MEPIS Linux: 3.4-3-rc3
• Rubix Linux
• SUSE LINUX: 10.1-beta1
• Ubuntu Linux: snapshot

or you could get the source and make your own, though you'd need something to work in i guess. Gentoo or linux from scratch if your more adventurous

I suggest Gentoo. It is easy but tedious to install it. I am finishing up my first draft on installing Gentoo. Documentation that I writting is more thorough than what there is on Gentoo's site.

IMHO, Slackware is incomplete.

SUSE is the worst distribution to use. A lot drivers needs special care to compile in SUSE.

Try taking one of the following quizes to point you to the "right" linux:

Start with any of the free distros--at random. You will very likely try several before settling down.

<random plug for arch> Arch is IMHO the best distrobution. Some don't like it, say it's incomplete, but it gives you the wonders of using Gentoo (although gentoo is a smidge faster), without the long complile times. It's a simple distro that is what you make it. I love it. </random plug for Arch>

Hey ,same problem here but I am using xp sp2.
I wanna learn Linux,so as a newbies which Linux will be appropriate(from installation as well as learning point of view ) for me.So I will download it .
I have no experience before,of Linux.
Thank u oldbies in advance.
Nach p

HERE we go again. My father is better than yours. :tisk:

aah.. Suse is for different purposes than Slack/gentoo. You don't really need compile anything. Its working out of the box, if it isn't download some rpms, if it still isn't working change distro. Well you can compile everything, but usually it isn't needed.

IMHO, Slackware is incomplete.

Hmm. what do you mean by that? It has been available since 1992 and it isn't complete ?

Im not saying that gentoo suck and that another one would be better. It all depends about what you are looking for. Gentoo is a great distro (after you get it installed) .

Back to the topic.
With the experience you have gained from unix, I would recommend those a bit complex distros.
Debian, gentoo or Slackware.
If you want easyer installer and newer programs from start I would choose Ubuntu.

As always. There is one person that disagrees or does not understand my postings.

Gentoo gives you the choice using what is on the installation disc or the portage mirrors. Also you can select binary mirrors, so your computer does not have to compile every program. Gentoo is more updated than other distributions. Gentoo goes for reliablity instead for speed, so not every system can use the latest program. The reason why I said "installing Gentoo is easy, but tedious." It is easy because the Gentoo install documentation gives you the steps even though some are left out that are required. It is tedious from the amount of steps you have to go through. Can a novice user install Gentoo. Yes they can, but only a few users will do it.

If you have used Slackware, you will understand what I mean.

The reason why I do not recommend SUSE to anybody is because it uses special utilities that is only and only for SUSE. For example, installing nVidia modules (drivers) takes special steps to get it ready to install. Also it is impossible for me or others to help a SUSE user because it uses these special utilities that the user has no control what the results will be. There is a high possiblity that Envision5000 will have trouble getting the Netcell SR3100 working in SUSE.

Thanks for the info. I'll try Gentoo. I'll post back to tell you all how it went.

Brave soul!!!...;)

Seriously, that is a good attitude going in---willingness to stretch and learn