Migrating to Linux for web site development
 

Howdy! I'm currently a mid-life student(yea I'm old). I'm setting up a new environment to design and develop web site UI and applications related to my studies and I need some advice regarding what distribution of Linux that would best serve my needs.

I will be installing a Linux distribution on an empty partition of a laptop currently running Windows Vista. I need a distribution that will allow MySQL, Apache Server and PHP installations. I'm currently working with a WAMP installation and need to learn how to install and configure a server independent of Windows. I'll also be using Gimp, Bender and multiple browsers for testing. I'd like the entire setup (including development software) to be open source so that I can learn as much as possible about this framework. I'm not versed in Linux so I'm not sure if it is a server or if there is a server software that runs behind the scenes. I do need to have access to the server to learn the basic configurations for hosting.
I have 8 gigs on my partition to run this software and 200+ on an external if that serves better although I'm assuming running the installation externally will slow production. I know there are a lot of parameters here but I want to make sure I make the right move and have the best plan available.

Thanks in advance
Tsalagi

Your needs are fairly very standard, and as such I think that any of the big distributions should be fine for you.
For example, apache, mysql, php, gimp and blender all packaged with Debian.

Evo2.

I can't find a single ISO package for Debian like Ubuntu. I don't want to spend two days installing the Linux OS. I'm more interested in configuring a server on a Linux OS. I found a single ISO on the Ubuntu site. Is there an ISO that I am missing for Debian or do I have to download all of the directories and tie them together with some code in the cmd prompt?

Thanks for your time and response
Tsalagi

Hello,

Like evo2 said, I'd go for Debian too. If you're going to run it as a dedicated server, without GUI, configuring on the commandline, then download the NETINST CD, it's all you need to get Debian up and running in notime, only has a size of 150Mb and the rest you need, you download once the install is finished.

Here's a direct download link to the NETINST CD, for your convenience:
NETINST ISO DEBIAN.

Kind regards,

Eric

I appreciate the replies. Looks like Debian is the call for now. So if this is Linuxed based then when I learn to configure Debian will I be able to configure any Linux server? That is the primary goal. I see so many employment classifieds looking for those who know and have experience with Linux that I want to become proficient at it. Even if it means setting it up over and over again on my machine.

Thanks again
Tsalagi

Hi,

When you are able to setup a Debian server, you will not be able to setup any Linux server. You will however have gained a lot of knowledge in general Linux usage and configuration. This general knowledge is something that's worth a lot if you need to install, configure and administer a variety of Linux servers. There are a lot of distros based on Debian, so if you limit yourself only to them you could use what you have learned. What you have learned setting up a Debian server will surely help you very much if you want to set up an Ubuntu server for example since the basis of Ubuntu is Debian. If for example you change to a RedHat based system, then some of your configurations are handled different, the package manager is different, etc....

If you want to learn Linux you'll have to try out more then just Debian alone. Have a look at this Wikipedia, it shows what distros are Debian based, which one are Gentoo based, RPM based, and so on.

Kind regards,

Eric

One other thing, don't confuse setting up the base server with a full application server.

What I said in my previous post only concerns the basis, the operating system, nothing more or less.

If you learn how to setup Apache webserver, MySQL database server, or others on Debian then there will be very little differences, if any, setting those applications up on a different Linux OS.

Kind regards,

Eric

I could give you the exact URL, but maybe it's better to show you how to navigate there yourself.

Got http://www.debian.org/

There are a bunch of links on the left hand side of the page. Follow the one called

"CD ISO images"

In the body of this page there is an itemised list. Follow the link in the first dot point called:

"Download a minimal bootable CD image." (these are about 150 MB)

On this page you can choose to either download directly or use bit torrent. As this point you will also need to choose the iso that matches your hardware. For you this will be i386 if your hardward is 32 bit or amd64 if you have 64 bit hardware. Download your choice from the "Official netinst images" links. Using this iso image you will need an internet connection during the install, because the installer will need to download additional packages.

If you won't have an internet connection during the installation you would be better off downloading the first full CD, or perhaps DVD.

Let us know how you do.

Cheers,

Evo2.