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my suggestion: gentoo linux

hi there,

i was running mandrake as my first "real" linux installation for something like two months, when i heard about gentoo and gave it a try. i must say, gentoo is the COOLEST distribution i've ever seen!

for those who don't know about gentoo: gentoo linux is somewhat different from other distros like mandrake, redhat etc.: you build up your whole system from source, this means everything is downloaded as a source and compiled with the options you want.

the heart of linux is called "portage", which is a mix from BSD's ports system and debian's apt-get. if you want to install an application, say xmms, you just type

#emerge xmms

and gentoo downloads, compiles and installs the newest version of xmms, including some cool patches. portage keeps track of all the apps you've installed and gives you the ability to also easily (and safely) uninstall an applications by typing

#emerge unmerge xmms

for example. if you want your WHOLE system to be updated, just type

#emerge --update world

for portage to always know about the newest versions, you should first do an

#emerge rsync

so that portage downloads the newest "portage tree" which contains information for more than 4000 packages so far.

this way, you always have the newest software, with all recent security & stability patches. also, you can build up the entire system like YOU want it. you can exactly tell gentoo what you want and what you don't want to be compiled into your programs. this is done with the USE variable. for example, if you want all your sound apps to have support for ogg vorbis, you would just add "ogg" to the USE variable. or if you'd like to add some mmx or sse optimizations to your apps, just add "mmx" and "sse" to your USE variable.

this USE variable and all other portage-related things are set up in /etc/make.conf. this file also let's you set the CFLAGS, and CXXFLAGS, which tells the compiler how to compile the sources (optimized or not).

in my opinion, gentoo is the perfect distro for any experienced linux user who wants full control over their system. but, i think it's also very suitable for people relatively new to liunx, but willing of how linux and your computer works. in my first 3 days with gentoo, i've learned more about linux than in my 2 months with mandrake.

it's wonderful how to see everything working fine, i've never had such a smooth, perfect and damn FAST linux running on my machine. compiling takes some time, but it's well worth it!

mandrake made me switch to linux, gentoo made me LOVE LINUX! give it a try!

May the source be with you... :D

hehe another one (a gentoo inside):

On the Nth day, God emerged world.

it's not from me, i've found it in the gentoo forum, but i like it. you have to know gentoo to understand it i guess.

tom

why not write a review for gentoo in the reviews section here? thanks

Help! I can't get Gentoo to work! :D

Code:

uilleann / # emerge life

Calculating dependencies  

emerge: there are no masked or unmasked ebuilds to satisfy "life".



!!! Error calculating dependencies. Please correct.

uilleann / #  emerge girlfriend

Calculating dependencies  

emerge: there are no masked or unmasked ebuilds to satisfy "girlfriend".



!!! Error calculating dependencies. Please correct.

uilleann / #

fancypiper, you've highlighted a shortcoming of Gentoo's package update system - sometimes the desired packages are not available using the portage system. However, you could probably still download packages from specific web sites and install them the 'manual' way (tar -xvf life.tar, make, make install, etc). For the required packages, have a look here:

http://www.nyx.net/~dnadams/gal.html
http://www.getagirlfriend.com/

Quote:

Originally posted by synn
I am Beginner

erm... good for you... :confused:

I'm too lazy to google it...but does gentoo have a graphic install?

no, that's not a relevant thing to have for gentoo... doesn't make sense.

the installation is a list of console instructions that are very easily laid out. you would not need a grpachical install even if it was possible.

I to have a gentoo question... if its ok to ask here. In the installation instructions it askes for you to :

Edit the /etc/conf.d/net script to get your network configured

Code listing 21.2: Boot time Network Configuration

# nano -w /etc/conf.d/net
# rc-update add net.eth0 default

How do i do that. Do i actually have to make the script or really just edit it? Can some one post their own as an example for me? Please...
Thanks

You type the command:

nano -w /etc/conf.d/net

This shows up and you edit it to fit your setup:

Code:

# /etc/conf.d/net:

# $Header: /home/cvsroot/gentoo-src/rc-scripts/etc/conf.d/net,v 1.7 2002/11/18 19:39:22 azarah Exp $



# Global config file for net.* rc-scripts



# This is basically the ifconfig argument without the ifconfig $iface

#

iface_eth0="192.168.0.1 broadcast 192.168.0.255 netmask 255.255.255.0"

#iface_eth1="207.170.82.202 broadcast 207.0.255.255 netmask 255.255.0.0"



# For DHCP set iface_eth? to "dhcp"

# For passing options to dhcpcd use dhcpcd_eth?

#

#iface_eth0="dhcp"

#dhcpcd_eth0="..."



# For adding aliases to a interface

#

#alias_eth0="192.168.0.3 192.168.0.4"



# NB:  The next is only used for aliases.

#

# To add a custom netmask/broadcast address to created aliases,

# uncomment and change accordingly.  Leave commented to assign

# defaults for that interface.

#

#broadcast_eth0="192.168.0.255 192.168.0.255"

#netmask_eth0="255.255.255.0 255.255.255.0"





# For setting the default gateway

#

#gateway="eth0/192.168.0.1"

After editing, save your changes, then type the command:

rc-update add net.eth0 default

Quote:

Originally posted by fancypiper
Help! I can't get Gentoo to work! :D

Code:

uilleann / # emerge life Calculating dependencies emerge: there are no masked or unmasked ebuilds to satisfy "life". !!! Error calculating dependencies. Please correct. uilleann / # emerge girlfriend Calculating dependencies emerge: there are no masked or unmasked ebuilds to satisfy "girlfriend". !!! Error calculating dependencies. Please correct. uilleann / #

Solution: use Debian.

Code:

[ddipaolo@quinn ~]% sudo aptitude install sex

Reading Package Lists... Done

Building Dependency Tree

Reading extended state information... Done

The following NEW packages will be installed:

  sex

0 packages upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

Need to get 67.2kB of archives. After unpacking 279kB will be used.

Do you want to continue? [Y/n/?]

QED

fancypiper, Thanks for your help. I was unsure if i was going to make some kind of script or just edit it when i read the documentation. I was waiting to begin installing because i wanted to see what i would have to do.
Thanks i will begin installing now.

PS: any one had any luck with nforce2 and gentoo?