I'd like to try to learn a bit of Linux and set up a webserver with a database backend in the process. What Linux version (Fedora Core, Mandrake etc) would be ideal for this?

11/28/2005 9:28:09 PM

OpenBSD or FreeBSD. and don't install a gui.

if you insist on linux, use slackware...

you don't need a gui so don't install one.

11/28/2005 9:32:21 PM

why slackware over other distros?

11/28/2005 9:48:45 PM

slackware or gentoo

11/28/2005 9:53:28 PM

I'm assuming you're new to Linux (ignore this post if not). The best place to start would most likely be Ubuntu, as it is easy to use, has a nice GUI, and installing the servers is astoundingly simple using synaptic. Slackware or Gentoo are good if you've been using Linux for a while, and already understand how it works, but really unless you're a tech masochist, its best to stick with something a little more user friendly (side note: fedora is also good, but I personally like Ubuntu better). I realize that running a web server/database doesn't require a GUI, but if you're new to Linux, its very nice to have. Just my two cents.

11/28/2005 10:09:47 PM

Yeah I'm definitely aiming for a linux with a gui. Basically this is for me to learn on as well as have a workable website and database. I'd also like a linux with a good set of driver libraries built in. Fedora Core, I have someone i know who runs it at work so I know I can ask them things. I have an ancient server at work that's about to be replaced that is running Red Hat 6.1 and I know so little about it. I can do basic bash commands and a few other things but I'd really like to learn my way around a linux server.

11/28/2005 10:19:50 PM

I agree with an earlier poster. Download and install Ubuntu (or Kubuntu, which uses KDE instead of Gnome). It has excellent hardware recognition and software is easy to install, even through the command line.

11/28/2005 10:37:55 PM

Well, whatever you do, DON'T use Red Hat 9.0, sucks balls.

11/28/2005 10:38:08 PM

a nice user friendly windows clone does little to force you to learn linux and how to use it efficiently and more just to make you feel like you're cool and you've done something. use something that requires you to look at man pages --help and online documentation on another computer (or bug the hell out of your friends) or just don't bother

11/29/2005 12:43:09 AM

This is true, if you only ever use the GUI, then all you've really learned is Gnome, not Linux. You have to understand though, that many people do not wish to go straight from a GUI centered Windows to CLI centered Linux. Most people prefer to use the GUI as a jumping off point, to allow them to "dip their toes into the water" so to speak. While some folks (those who have a natural ability with computers) may like reading dozens of man pages just to be able to do simple tasks, most people perfer to use the command line only when necessary, and use the GUI the rest of the time. Both ways have their merits, and thats why the vast majority of Linux distributions include both .

[Edited on November 29, 2005 at 1:51 AM. Reason : Bah! Spelling Errors!]

11/29/2005 1:51:22 AM

Quote :

"This is true, if you only ever use the GUI, then all you've really learned is Gnome, not Linux. You have to understand though, that many people do not wish to go straight from a GUI centered Windows to CLI centered Linux. Most people prefer to use the GUI as a jumping off point, to allow them to "dip their toes into the water" so to speak. While some folks (those who have a natural ability with computers) may like reading dozens of man pages just to be able to do simple tasks, most people perfer to use the command line only when necessary, and use the GUI the rest of the time. Both ways have their merits, and thats why the vast majority of Linux distributions include both"

Well said.

11/29/2005 1:55:01 AM

I agree with some of the posts here, if you've been raised on windows and the GUI enviornment I would go with a Linux distro and put the GUI on it, just to make the transition easier. But I would use the command line to install any packages and setup your network or whatever it is you want to do. What I end up doing most of the time is using my XP machine and just ssh'ing into my Linux box to do whatever I need to do on it, but I still have the GUI on the Linux box just to surf the web or use if my XP machine is busy or acting up or crashes, at least I have something else to be able to use.

11/29/2005 7:38:57 AM

it does NOT hurt to have xwindows on any linux box. it hurts when you start leaving it on

11/29/2005 8:58:59 AM

I enjoy debian personally, I think apt saves alot of my time. If you go with slackware or something similar try and use one of their optional package managers that does the dependencies for you. There are alot of time saving features that people advise you not to use but I think the goal should be to become productive sooner rather than spend too much time doing tedious things by hand which can be automated instead.

The big distros like debian or redhat or ubuntu and the like have alot of nice time savers in them, I dont really agree that they dumb down the OS for novices because advanded users have alot to gain from them as well.

One thing you could do is to install it so that you have to type 'startx' in the command line to bring up the gui rather than using the gui by default. You should also pick a few programs that you really like to compile yerself so you can experience the new features before your distribution packages it. But there is no reason to compile everything or do every single task by hand or to always use the command line, if something saves you time you shouldn't feel bad about using it but just be aware of how to do those things by hand as well in case you ever want to do something that isnt automated for you.

11/29/2005 9:40:19 AM

Quote :

"if something saves you time you shouldn't feel bad about using it but just be aware of how to do those things by hand as well in case you ever want to do something that isnt automated for you."

***BE AWARE HOW TO DO THOSE THINGS BY HAND AS WELL***

very wise words. I second that!

synaptic/apt-get/yum are your friends... until they turn on you and attack!!

11/29/2005 2:44:31 PM

I found that I learned the most when I started accessing my server at work from my house with ssh. I hadn't discovered Cyqwin yet so I had to learn how to do the really complex shit manually.

11/29/2005 3:10:01 PM

Are you the same dr. toast I met before? I imagine you are, there aren't very many people around who call themselves dr toast.

11/30/2005 11:22:50 AM