I've been a linux user for about 4 months now having installed Redhat 9. I know I want to switch distros after Redhat EOL's its free versions and I don't want to go the Fedora route. I've been considering several other distros like Mandrake and Slack, but the distro I would really like to be able to have installed is a Debian version. I've tried installing woody before, but that ended up being quite a failure which ended up messing up my hard drive and data, so I'd rather no go by the standard installation method. Some friends have recommended I try Libranet, or a Knoppix hard drive install or several other things to try to get a working debian system, but I'd really rather have a straight debian system (or as close to it). Last night another friend pointed me at the Progeny project to release Debian with Anaconda, the redhat installer (http://platform.progeny.com/anaconda/index.html) and it intrigued me, they've already released an Anaconda equipped version of Sarge based on the 11-25 build. Does anyone have any experience trying out their anaconda build? any input would be helpful. Redhat installation is really the only experience I've had installing a linux system. Also, I was wondering about the saying that Debian users only ever have to install once because everything else can be upgraded/updated with apt. Does this mean that the entire distro version itself can be updated through apt? or just that every individual tool in the distro can be updated in this way? Thanks for your help!

This is the current errata list. Read through it and decide whether it's currently worth the risk.

Ah, thanks for directing me to that, the only problems I really have with the errata is the lack of KDE (which I'm sure could be installed by APT) and having to configure my system host name and internet/ethernet connection, neither of which I've ever had to do manually. I suppose I'll just have to look into those areas and learn a bit...or hopefully progeny will have a more advanced release come April.

It's possible - or you could give it a go and ask here or at Progeny if you get stuck. I'm pretty sure they'd appreciate the feedback.

I'll address your question about APT and upgrades.

Yes. You can update every single package, remove packages, and do entire upgrades with apt-get. All dependencies are handled.

Debian has 3 releases at all times: Stable (code named Woody), Testing (code named Sarge), and Unstable (code named Sid). They represent differing stages/versions of software. Many desktop users choose to run Unstable (Sid) in order to have more recent KDE or GNOME packages, among other things.

This is done by editing ONE file and issuing

apt-get update

apt-get dist-upgrade

And its done. The only other reason to even reboot is kernel upgrades. Any initial issues you have with installing Debian will quickly fade from your memory as you become more and more familiar with APT.

I wish I would have started with Debian, suffered through the install (which to be honest only required I read and follow instructions), and NEVER touched Redhat. I don't care if they do have Apt and Yum now. Debian supports eleven architectures. I run it on 3 of them and love it.

There are many debian based distros:

- Knoppix
- Damn Small Linux
- Mepis
- Morphix
- Gnoppix
- Bonzai
-Libranet 2.7 free download

You can check out short descriptions of each distro, plus a list of what software versions they currently have, in
http://www.distrowatch.com/

Someone recently install Libranet 2.7 and upgraded it to unstable and it worked. But, YMMV.

Also, there is a debian beta 1 installer:

http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-i...er/News/2003/2

Which i haven't used, but its something that is much better than the original one.

You can download it here:

http://freedesktop.org/~daniel/d-i/

Review is here:

http://articles.linmagau.org/modules...tid=455&page=1

Good luck!

i've just installed debian using knoppix 3.3 which u can get for $5. from cheapbytes, etc..its very easy to get debian that way. i tried installing woody from the 7cds and its a pain and when u get through configuring X11 is even a bigger pain if u don't know what ur doing. knoppix is a debian os, i recommend partitioning ur disk with pm first, knoppix will let u do it but if ur not familiar with cfdisk u are in for a treat.
after u install deb get synaptic-a graphical front end for apt-get and updating, upgrading, etc is a breeze not that apt-get is difficult to use, but with synaptic u can do do from a gui. good luck.

there r 2 files at this site

http://freedesktop.org/~daniel/d-i/

which one do we have to download ?

the one that says net install iso?

and do we also have to download the the other CDs?

The business card iso is a smaller install script for business card cds - useful to carry around with you. The netinst iso is the one you want, it will be slightly fuller, but you will need an active net connection to complete the install as the completion will be to download files and modules from the net - kind of Debian Disk 1.

so do i have to download other CDs too ?

or just that one?

No, that one cd will put a very basic installation on your pc, you will then be prompted to select a site to continue the install. This has the benefit that you will be installed the latest install files. Basically, you select your files from a (very long) list and it downloads and installs your system.

i thought that they were both netinstalls (businees and the other one too), and that only the business one lets you do Sid?? Dunno.

The business card one is for burning to a business card sized cd. The netinst one is for normal sized cds. I would say that they are both net installations, but the netinst cd has more which runs from the cd. Poss. slightly quicker install.