SuSE9 or Debian? which should I choose?

Eugene · 11-13-2003, 04:58 AM

Debian - no (old)
SuSE - no (not free)
Libranet - no (not free)
Knoppix - no (1CD whice is a live CD. I know I can install to HD but still)

So for now I'm thinking...

Slackware 9.1
or
Mandrake 9.2

Eugene · 11-13-2003, 05:03 AM

I'm not that much of a newbie... I just can't decide on a distro.

fedora is full of bugs, its unsupported, and I don't think it will ever come out of the beta stage.

So mandrake then...

Kjetil4455 · 11-13-2003, 05:04 AM

You'll be pleased with all the packages that Comes with MDK, the shitty thing about it is that it's kinda slow (at least 9.0 is...)

Chu · 11-13-2003, 05:05 AM

Good choice..
But I still think you should definately consider Slackware..

Eugene · 11-13-2003, 05:08 AM

You know what I'm goint to FTP install SuSE...
I prolly will mess it up, but I'm going to try at least.

thanks for the help guys...

Kjetil4455 · 11-13-2003, 05:09 AM

That doesnt sound like a bad idea

Eugene · 11-13-2003, 05:11 AM

bumer...

I can't find what to download!!!

I went to the SuSE website download page and I don't see what I need.

I have an AMD... so I need an "i386" right?
I don't want a live-aval cd, I want to install the latest SuSE to the HardDrive.

So I want the FTP install of SuSE9 for i386.
CANNOT FIND THE LINK!

am I missing something here?

Kjetil4455 · 11-13-2003, 05:14 AM

yo, www.linuxiso.org - SuSE

SuSE - SuSE ftp install 8.2 19MB

I think that's what your looking for.

Eugene · 11-13-2003, 05:21 AM

but thats 8.2 and I want 9...

guest · 11-13-2003, 04:58 PM

Try Libranet at http://www.libranet.com/, you can download their 2.7 version for free and try it out. Debian is really a nice distro but pretty hard to get up and running properly, Libranet makes that all a lot easier. Plus, there is only one ISO to download. If you like it alot you could eventually pay the $40 or so for the 2.81 version.

ToniT · 12-20-2003, 05:43 AM

Some debian advocacy:

Code:

toni@mario:~$ uptime
12:38:36 up 115 days, 12:25, 34 users,  load average: 0.38, 0.11, 0.15

Last boot was because of broad electric breakout in Finland.

Most important pros of debian:

You only have to install it only once. The package management system is avesome.
Your fear of the old software is unnecessary. There is sid and sarge available, where you can pick newer versions as needed. The word 'unstable' or 'testing' doesn't refer to the software itsef, but is a property of packaging. That is, features and behaviour in software that is in unstable migth change among time.

cons:

You have to install it and get it running.
The "packaging" have to be understood to contain also installer.

I have been using Debian/unstable for two years now in my desktop machine. It has been about dozen times something has been broken (things like: "Ups.. my[debian developer] newest ghostview compilation uses some files that are contained in my home directory, not in the package, sorry.", or "Ups... ipv6 support in wget didn't work correctly in ipv4-only environments, reverting...".
These kind of things:

Applies to you only if you happen to use unstable version of the software in question
Are generally fixed in 24h.
You have allways the possibility to select earlier, working version instead if you have to. 'apt-get install foo/testing' or 'apt-get install foo/stable'.

286 · 12-20-2003, 06:46 AM

i think there is a FTP mirror from suse website for u to download the s9 version. what u get from there is a personal version. I m using SuSE 9 pro and feel good. but i think debian is much more suitable for a older pc. SuSE needs too much memory to run xwindows.

and YaST is short for: Yet Another Setup Tool. it's useful for a newbie like me.