this question is clearly down to a matter of opinion however this is something i am very much interested to hear.

I have installed fedora core 3, but now i note that the kernel seems to be behind in version to some of the other builds.

I'm brand new to linux and as such i have assigned myself the challenge of learning.

So i am looking for a linux distro that is basically going to be piss easy to use and is going to be suited to getting me used to the powerful linux os.

So what do you think? Which is best? Which would be best for testing my network security? As that is the longterm goal.

Thats an easy one, there is no answer. All distro's have the same potential for software/configuration. So... it doesent matter what you pick, they can all be taken to the same places.

if all you want is to test network security, get Phlak or Knoppix-STD, or Operator, theyr all live CD's and are easy to use.

Fedora tends to release newer kernels a few days or weeks after the main release of the vanilla kernel from kernel.org. Sometimes if the changes in the kernel are minor, they are just backported to the old kernel, so having the latest kernel doesn't necessarily mean that you will have features that others using older kernels don't have.

As for the best distro, you maybe better off trying out a few and then picking the one that you are most comfortable with, because people will always vote for their favorite distro as the best but it may not be the best for you. Also this issue about the best distro, depends on what you want to use your Linux system for. Some distros are better off than others at certain things, so you have to pick the right one for the right job.

Oh no, not that question again. We get some like this everyday, without miss, "Which is the best Linux", "Which media player is best" and a traditional "Linux Vs Windows" type of threads. Please, search the forum:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/search.php

make sure to watch this flash animation too:

http://uploads.ungrounded.net/188000/188612_Posting.swf

A distro for testing network security and being piss easy!? Can't see how, but how much do you want to learn?

The usual advise:
- Try Knoppix
- Install Knoppix
- Try another like College Linux, Ubuntu, Mepis, Yoper or even Mandrake or Xandros
- Get wet and learn Gentoo, Debian, Slackware or Fedora

Since you skipped already to Fedora, I think you'll be fine. Don't look to much at kernel versions, but what vulnerabilities they have and what affects you. I tend to skip a few versions untill an upgrade is really necessary.

The latest and greatest versions of whatever is not wise when looking for a security system (which is not exactly the same as a secure system).

I'm new to the world of Linux as well, but right now I'm using Suse 9.2. Very easy to install, had no trouble recognising some of the rather obscure and obsolete hardware on my system, and runs reasonably well on the shockingly low specification computer I'm using it on. I quite like it, but there may be better distributions out there for new Linux users.

@MegamanX: the "Little Billie" link is awesome...I couldn't stop laughing Maybe you should put it in your sig or something.

Supposedly, Mandrake is suppose to eb the number one distro for beginners. I am a beginner that tried and it and I liked Fedora Core 3 better. Fedora Core 3 is simple while not being to simple, so you learn Linux instead of just using it and panicing if you ever use a Linux version that isn't your distro.

However Linux comes in a lot of varieties. There is a specific Linux version for each kind of person. One of the big upside to Fedora to me though is that it is easy to find rpm's. On those underused Linux versions it can be hard to find rpm's come time. Also so many people use Fedora that if you have a problem people are always there to help you quick.

Hey, thanks mate! I know the feeling, I love that Billie too. My favorite part is "you dumbarse..." ghehe. Well, I added that to my signature as you suggested, good idea . But I will contact the creators first to know it that's ok

Cheers!

Amen!

Preach it, Brother!!

LOL

P.S: just read your signature, I should have something like that too, lol. Good job!

I quite liked that "Billy" thing.

I wish I could claim credit to producing that animation but sadly I had absolutely nothing to do with it. I came across it some months ago and googled for "posting and you" to find it again so I could link to it.

lol there should be a sticky thread saying not to ask which is the best linux distro or a sticky thread pointing to the most user friendly because seriously this question gets asked every single day like 5 times

any way i suggest ubuntu its based on debian which means you never have to worry about dependencys, there is a 6 month release so your always up to date, tons of support so i suggest ubuntu for you