Gentoo...which one?

coopns · 01-23-2006, 07:26 PM

I am going to give Gentoo a try, which one do I download?

I have a P11 with 320 ram.

There is a install PPC universal and install x86 universal?

http://www.linuxiso.org/distro.php?distro=45

Thanks.

justanothersteve · 01-23-2006, 07:30 PM

x86 for Intel
ppc for PowerPc (Mac)

so you need the x86 universal

Matir · 01-23-2006, 08:09 PM

Yep, x86 universal (or minimal... I use minimal for my installs).

coopns · 01-23-2006, 08:21 PM

What is the difference? minimal?

Thanks.

coopns · 01-23-2006, 08:30 PM

Any tips for a rookie?

Matir · 01-23-2006, 08:34 PM

Minimal does not contain the stage3 images and portage snapshots. During the install, you would download just the parts needed for your install, and the portage snapshot will be more current. It's really a matter of personal preference. If you just follow the Gentoo handbook, you will be fine.

sundialsvcs · 01-23-2006, 08:35 PM

In these days of high-speed Internet, "not much."

The "universal" CD, and the "packages" CD, contain more material burned-in to the disk. Which is fine if the computer you're dealing with is not connected to the Internet. But which is fairly unimportant if it is, because the materials available on-line are certain to be much more current.

One thing that differentiates the Gentoo approach from others is that the system which you start with is minimalistic, and you add to it those packages that you have decided you require. The "Portage" system is aware of when one package you have selected requires another, and it is also aware when one of your previous selections precludes the subsequent installation of another. Through the "USE-variable" system it is able to customize the packages as you install them so that unnecessary features are omitted from them. (You compile the packages yourself.)

Gentoo is a very powerful system, but I warn you that it should not be your first foray into the world of Linux. (I don't think so, anyway... others certainly disagree.)

cs-cam · 01-24-2006, 01:26 AM

On a P2? Have fun installing it! Let me know when you're done, I'll look for your email in about a week

Matir · 01-24-2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cs-cam

On a P2? Have fun installing it! Let me know when you're done, I'll look for your email in about a week

While your point is well taken (Gentoo's install isn't the fastest), I set up the following box in a day a few months ago (some cpuinfo data stripped for clarity and length):

Code:

$ uname -a
Linux fserv 2.6.12-gentoo-r9 #2 Thu Sep 15 15:06:49 EDT 2005 i686 Pentium II (Deschutes) GenuineIntel GNU/Linux
$ cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor       : 0
vendor_id       : GenuineIntel
cpu family      : 6
model           : 5
model name      : Pentium II (Deschutes)
stepping        : 0
cpu MHz         : 331.891
cache size      : 512 KB
bogomips        : 653.31

cs-cam · 01-24-2006, 04:45 PM

Heh, yeah I was exaggerating but that's pretty impressive considering the specs! No distcc?

Matir · 01-24-2006, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cs-cam

Heh, yeah I was exaggerating but that's pretty impressive considering the specs! No distcc?

Nope. Of course, no X/KDE/Gnome/etc. either. It's just a 'file server' for my home network. Works really well.

BinJajer · 01-24-2006, 04:54 PM

Oh,hey. I found a better solution to that. I just cross-compiled KDE on a dual-processor (2GHZ) box and copied over the effect...