Currently Fedora 20 64-bit on my desktop PC (4GB memory
1 TB disk) dual-boot with Windows Vista.

I started out with Red Hat 5, then moved to Fedora 10,
Fedora 12, Fedora 14 and lastly Fedora 20. I will
move to Fedora 23 (or 24) later. Fedora 20 was a bit of a
disappointment for me in so far that a lot was missing
that was included in the previous releases, not only
server utilities like Apache/PHP and MySQL/MariaDB
but also workstation utilities like GIMP and vim; I had
to download and install those myself. Should I rather get
the Server version for my next Fedora to avoid this?
But maybe that won't work well on a dual-boot desktop?

BTW, how/where do I change my status from "Linux Newbie" to something
more appropriate? I've been using Linux for years now.

Note 1. Most of my stuff (docs, audio and video clips,
pictures and what have you) are stored on FAT32 and NTFS
file systems, to have them available from either OS;
although I use Windows very seldom.

Note 2. I never upgrade Linux. I back up what I want to
keep, then do a full re-install (which doesn't touch the
FAT32 and NTFS file systems), and then restore what I
backed up (which of course includes my Evolution e-mail data).

Note 3. Using "fedy" did not work well with getting Skype;
rather use the notes in
http://www.if-not-true-then-false.co...omment-page-3/

The difference between the server and desktop version is merely which packages are installed by default, you won't have any problems with a dual boot setup with the server version that you wouldn't also have with the desktop version. I doubt that the server version comes with Gimp by default, so I would just go with the desktop version and then install what you need.Your status isn't "Linux Newbie", it is "LQ Newbie". This status is dependent on the number of posts you have made on LQ. Your status will be upgraded automatically once you reach the threshold (I don't have the numbers right now, but IIRC, it is 100 posts).

Apologies for late reply, and thanks for your feedback.

I have one concern still. I downloaded Fedora 23 64-bit desktop
and burned to DVD. It is only ~2GB, quite a lot smaller than
previous Fedora DVDs, so I want to make sure I get all/most
of what I'm used to. I plan to wait until Fedora 24 desktop
comes out, and I'd like to know whether that will give me at
least: Firefox, Evolution, Gnome-terminal with all the "standard"
Unix commands including vi, gcc, yum and all the man pages.

I'm resigned to the fact that I'll have to get hold of vim, Apache/Php,
Gimp and Mariabd myself, as I did with Fedora 20.

Is there a specific reason you don't want to simply install the packages you want (as in "DNF install gimp" for example) after you've installed Fedora? If you're running Fedora then, surely, you're updating pretty much every day anyhow so I don't understand how installing a few packages makes all that much difference?

Huh ???.
I update when I feel like it, similar to any other distro.

It is now pretty safe to simply upgrade to the next release using the tools, and not lose any local install/tweaking. However release specific third-party repos will be an issue. The jump from F20 is a bit much though.
If you upgrade so rarely, and don't want to re-install packages not shipped, why use Fedora ?. F20 has been end-of-life (and unsupported, so no fixes) for almost a year. Plenty of other options - even Fedora spins that include most of what you want.

I use the workstation spin. I am currently tinkering with mariadb in a Virtual Machine (VM). Is there any value in setting up a VM (running something more long term like Centos) where you can set up your mariadb instance? When you upgrade Fedora simply backup the VM image and copy it onto the new Fedora?

Cheers

OK, perhaps I exaggerated a little but you sum up my point anyhow -- if you're not going to be upgrading fairly regularly (i.e. if you've not the bandwidth to do so) then why use Fedora? My further point being that if you're going to be updating fairly regularly and updating to a new version now and again then using DNF to install a few packages after installation is no big deal.

I think some background is needed. Apologies that it's a bit long.

1) I started out on Linux far back with RH5, on dual boot with
Windows 2000 (now Vista). I progressed to F10, F12, F14, currently F20,
soon F24. I'd rather not move to a different distro or spin,
to avoid a learning curve and compatibility issues.

2) Most of "stuff" (docs, audio, video, photos...) are on
FAT32 and NTFS partitions, so these are unaffected by moving
to a new Linux version. I aim to move to a new Fedora release
at most once a year, since it is a time consuming task. (Yes,
I know that I'm behind!) I back up what little I want to keep of
the Linux stuff (mostly e-mail). I prefer to do a fresh Fedora install,
and then I restore back from my back-up, and do what little "tweaking"
is needed: /etc/fstab (for Windows partitions and swap),
.bashrc, /etc/profile.d/local.sh ...
I have clear step-by-step documentation for what to do.

After installing 3rd party stuff (VLC, Skype...) I regularly
do "yum update", say twice a week. (I just found that "yum" -> "dnf"
as from F22; it's not on my F20). Since that normally needs to be
followed by a reboot, it is somewhat disruptive, esp. since I
do scheduled (using "cron") recordings from internet radio stations;
thus leaving my PC on 24/7.

3) But I've been "burnt" in the past; I did a "standard" install
of F14 and got very little, not even a C compiler. I had to redo
the install to install "everything". And, up to F14 vim, gimp,
Apache/PHP, MySQL was always included, but not with F20. Hence my
original question: Should I rather install F24 Server than F24 desktop?
- The advice was "no", but not much explanation why.

4) But now to the real issue (which I repeat):
I downloaded Fedora 23 64-bit desktop and burned to DVD.
It is only ~2GB, quite a bit smaller than previous Fedora DVDs,
so I'm worried that I won't get all/most of what I'm used to.

So: Will F24 give me at least what I got with F20, namely Firefox,
Evolution, Nautilus, Totem, Gnome-terminal with all the "standard"
Unix commands including (say) vi, gcc, yum/dnf and all man pages?

yes --- make the "maybe". When I've had to re-install rather than upgrade (often in the past), I've just installed what I needed as needed.
Certainly man pages, vi, dnf will be there - gcc and co-horts might not ...
vim, nano, f/f - erk, dunno, but easy to get.

The desktop version, in my experience, seems to come with those packages but, again, why do you care? Why is "dnf install firefox" such a big deal? You'll be updating packages regularly due to security and bug fixes and new features so why are you worried about having to type "dnf install ..."?

Feedback, and marking as "SOLVED".

I have successfully installed F24 desktop on my home PC, and then
downloaded/installed vim, vlc, gimp, Apache/PHP, MariaDB, Skype and more,
as well as the Firefox plugins Adobe Flash Player and downloadhelper.
I found the following articles particularly helpful:
http://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/...g_SELinux.html
http://www.tecmint.com/things-to-do-...n-installation
http://www.tecmint.com/things-to-do-...installation/2
http://www.2daygeek.com/top-things-t...24-workstation
http://www.tecmint.com/install-lamp-...er-workstation
http://www.if-not-true-then-false.co...tific-linux-sl

Some "bugs" which I had with F20, which seem fixed in F24:
- System Monitor: could not change update interval
- I got a GNOME hangcheck about twice a week, and was forced to reboot
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=879823 (reported by someone else)

Doing "dnf update" once a week should be sufficient, I guess.
I plan to move to a new Fedora release once I year, so I'll always stay on a supported release.

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