Hi,

I noticed the MEPIS version I use (3.43) uses Debian reps. However, I have heard that MEPIS 6 + uses Ubuntu.

Is that true?

If yes, then does that mean if you are doing command line on MEPIS 6 + then you should do it "ubuntu style" instead of traditional "debian style?"

To clarify, on some command line issues, debian and ubuntu have slight variations, so I was wondering if that would come into play if I were to upgrade from version 3.43 to version 6 +

Any thoughts, info?

Thanks!

I've used both 3.4.3 and now 6.0, and I notice no differences in command line functionality. I had heard so many good things about both Mepis and Ubuntu, but I didn't like the idea of using "sudo" instead of "su", or Gnome by default instead of KDE, and few other things, so I went with Mepis.
To my knowledge, the only difference between 3.4.3 and 6.0 is the repository that it uses. Ubuntu repos have a regular 6 month release date; Debian is a lot slower.

No, Mepis 6 doesn't do the sudo thing.

What a load of hooey that is.

Yeah, I actually like that Ubuntu has a slower release cycle than Debian unstable. Compared to earlier versions, Mepis 6 is much kinder to those of us on dialup.

cymb and Sep:

So, if I understand your postings correctly, you are saying that MEPIS 6 + does NOT do command line differently from prior MEPIS releases. In other words, I would not have to use "Ubuntu style" command line if I upgraded to MEPIS 6 + even though I get access to repositories based upon Ubuntu.

Correct or not?

Forgive me if I am hair splitting, but I just want to be sure. I haven't gone to MEPIS 6 + because I am satisfied with 3.43, but the whole Debian command line vs Ubuntu command line scared me off.

I'm too dumb to learn two different types of command line...hell, I'm too dumb to learn one. LOL.

Your thoughts? Thanks!

LOL, I must admit, I don't even know what "Ubuntu style command line" is.

I've used Ubuntu before, and I use Mepis now. A commandline is a commandline. There is no difference.

Now if you are refering to the "sudo" thing Ubuntu does, where it has no root user, Mepis does not do that. Mepis does have a root user by default.

PS.
Ubuntu can very easily be made to have a root user also, you just have to know how to do it.

For example, Woodford noted that udev support has been slow to stabilize throughout Etch, which has caused problems in building a stable MEPIS distro based on Etch. "There's not anything to fault, it's simply the fact that Debian is more engineering conscious, and has a more methodical approach to getting a release out every year and a half.... It's not that Etch is broken, but just that Etch is changing a lot."
....
In the past, the Debian project moved more slowly. Woodford started working on MEPIS in November 2002. Debian Sarge had been in development for a few months after the release of Debian Woody in July 2002, and would stay in development for nearly three years. Companies such as Xandros, Linspire, and MEPIS built distros off of Sarge with relatively few problems because it was less difficult to keep up with the pace of development.
....
In addition, MEPIS users could look forward to more regular releases. Woodford said he'd like to move to a six month development cycle, like the one employed by Ubuntu now. (from http://os.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=06/02/09/159207 )

Just wanted to let you know I wasn't making that up; Warren said so himself.

We're not arguing with you cymbaline. It's just that anyone who thinks Debian is old and outdated, obviously doesn't know how a Debian system operates. Before I switched to Mepis, I was on a Debian system for roughly 3 years. If you setup the repositories a certain way, you can get tons more packages and software that is more cutting edge than on Ubuntu or Mepis.

That's not for me though. Being that cutting edge means many packages are updated every single day, and it's an endless update&upgrade cycle. Being on dialup, I prefer to download system-related stuff as little as possible.

Yes, the "sudo" thing. I don't understand that in the least bit. How can you not have a root user in a *nix system? It makes no sense.

If you don't have a root user, then how can you make system wide changes?

Actually, it's not a very difficult concept.

To edit /etc/fstab on an ordinary system VS. Ubuntu
------------------------------------------------------
Ordinary system:
1. Login as root
2. Enter "nano /etc/fstab" on a commandline
3. When finished, log out

Ubuntu system:
1. Stay logged in as user
2. Enter "sudo nano /etc/fstab" on a commandline
3. When finished, automatically goes back to user


The purpose of sudo is to give you root abilities without having to be root.

If you want to use root as opposed to sudo for root things, and you want the Ubuntu repositories then use Mepis 6. I have been quite pleased with it.

So, is "sudo" simply a way to temporarily use root?

I suppose what I am really asking, and confused about, is this:

How is that "sudo" stuff any different from me just typing "su" in konsole to get root, then typing "exit" when I want to leave root to return to my regular user account while in konsole?

Make sense?

If you could clarify, I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

It isn't any different, you just avoid "...typing "su" in konsole to get root, then typing "exit" when I want to leave root to return to my regular user account while in konsole?"

sudo means, "give me root priviledges just for this one command."

rickh is generally correct.

"sudo" lets you run one command as root user, then it immediately logs you out.

"su" logs you in as root user and anything you type is done as root user until you manually logout.


If your on a Ubuntu system and you don't want to immediately get logged out of root, that's easy, just type: "sudo su -"


EDIT:
The "sudo" command has a lot more features and administrative uses than this, but on an Ubuntu system it's just simply setup as I typed above.