What Was Your First Linux Distro?

SCerovec · 10-30-2013, 05:43 PM

My first distro (actually used) was Mandrake 8.1
I usually spent two hours wading and reading the package info during install - longer than it took to instal on my 4G hard disk back then :P
It was a fairly rounded set of package, then i found PLF then I found I want more...
I liked Suse and disliked yast, tried Knoppix and finally ended up with Slackware (10.1) since...
When I'm asked for advice, I recommend the mainstream ones for tryout (Fedora,Ubuntu) but Slackware for production (="just work") tasks

ncmoody · 10-31-2013, 12:14 PM

As other posters have extolled the virtues of Slackware I though I would give it a try.

First thoughts are it it's installation is archaic and quite unhelpful. Also seems very slow compared to other mainstream distros.

Seems it does not like Vmware. could not find the graphics screen.
Presented with a text login, got a GUI with startx but not vmware friendly (cursor trapped in window)

So far not impressed. More to come...

jamison20000e · 10-31-2013, 12:30 PM

So Slackware is your first? I just installed it for the first time in years it's too easy now I don't like that!

P.s: for all the big talkers there are those that don't... ((Not me of course.) Try them all and give them time\WORK!) ˙¿¡8$ʍolquıʍ Did you even try running a live session without your cradle?

Code:

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 3.10-3-amd64' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	...
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/11_Fatdog64 ###
...
menuentry "Fatdog64" {
...
}
### END /etc/grub.d/11_Fatdog64 ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86 ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86)" {
	...
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86 ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/22_invaders ###
menuentry "GRUB Invaders" {
	...
}
### END /etc/grub.d/22_invaders ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Slackware Linux (Slackware 14.0) (on /dev/sda4)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	...
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

Next DVD in the drive BSD, baby!

ncmoody · 10-31-2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamison20000e

So Slackware is your first?

No. not by a long chalk

So far I can only see it to be of value to masochists.

I shall persivere for a while just in case the light dawns nut I doubt it, feels as though I have stepped back 15 Years.

jamison20000e · 10-31-2013, 12:58 PM

"for users who like a basic, solid Linux distribution that makes very few assumptions about how the system is going to be used."

suicidaleggroll · 10-31-2013, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncmoody

So far I can only see it to be of value to masochists.

lol, I had the same impression.

jamison20000e · 10-31-2013, 01:11 PM

Mickey and Mallory sitting in a tree...

Mankind75 · 10-31-2013, 01:22 PM

SuSE Linux 6.2

TobiSGD · 10-31-2013, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncmoody

As other posters have extolled the virtues of Slackware I though I would give it a try.

First thoughts are it it's installation is archaic and quite unhelpful. Also seems very slow compared to other mainstream distros.

Seems it does not like Vmware. could not find the graphics screen.
Presented with a text login, got a GUI with startx but not vmware friendly (cursor trapped in window)

So far not impressed. More to come...

VMware Player runs just fine here. Cursor trapped in a VM Window usually means you forgot to install the VMware Tools.

ncmoody · 10-31-2013, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TobiSGD

VMware Player runs just fine here. Cursor trapped in a VM Window usually means you forgot to install the VMware Tools.

Over the last week I have installed 15 diferent distros to VMWare W/S 10 and Slackware 14 is the ONLY one that has trapped the cursor without the tools installed.

As I said I shall persist with Slackware, including installing the tools.

TobiSGD · 10-31-2013, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncmoody

Over the last week I have installed 15 diferent distros to VMWare W/S 10 and Slackware 14 is the ONLY one that has trapped the cursor without the tools installed.

Then you haven't tried CRUX, Arch or Gentoo also, the behavior should be the same on any of the more basic distros. It may possibly help to load the vmw_vmci kernel module, which handles host/guest communication.

ncmoody · 10-31-2013, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TobiSGD

Then you haven't tried CRUX, Arch or Gentoo also, the behavior should be the same on any of the more basic distros. It may possibly help to load the vmw_vmci kernel module, which handles host/guest communication.

You are correct, I do not have your technical extertise in the internal workings of either Linux or VMware.

I spent most of my working life on UNIX systems and I specialised in security not Kernel manipulation.

jpollard · 10-31-2013, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncmoody

No. not by a long chalk

So far I can only see it to be of value to masochists.

I shall persivere for a while just in case the light dawns nut I doubt it, feels as though I have stepped back 15 Years.

No - that would be LSF.

Slackware goes for stability, fixability, and reliability. Some of the others have gotten overly fancy trying to do everything... and not doing them very well. Look at fedora. There was a good installer (and they may get one again, but in the meantime, don't try anyting out of the defaults - it is a confusing mess then), and gnome has gone down the tubes. The boot system WAS quite decent - only one configuration file to deal with - now, there are 3/4 and not easily configured. Then there is NetworkManager, attempting to do everything with the network... so far it works for simple networks, but get things complex (multiple interfaces, virtual machines,..) and it gets flakey, or doesn't work at all. On top of that there is the abortion called systemd - can't control it, can't debug it, can't trace problems,... inherently not able to keep logs consistently, and hangs the system easily.

273 · 10-31-2013, 04:46 PM

I think Slackware must be doing too well, since it's one of the distro's that is often criticised. You see Ubuntu being criticised, and Fedora and, sometimes, Arch or Gentoo. More often, though, I see Slackware being criticised where people use Linux. I'd say that's a good thing.

ncmoody · 11-01-2013, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 273

I think Slackware must be doing too well, since it's one of the distro's that is often criticised. You see Ubuntu being criticised, and Fedora and, sometimes, Arch or Gentoo. More often, though, I see Slackware being criticised where people use Linux. I'd say that's a good thing.

At the risk of being slapped down AGAIN for daring to ask someone to explain their reasoning.

I would be fascinated to know why you think that more criticism is a good thing?

Are you saying that more criticism = good product?