Just can't go Xp - with WPA - No Way!
Now what's the best way to go Linus quickly?
Have a xtra full box, with goodies...

The goal would be to get up a Linux box with network, web server and RDBMS relatively quickly. Money isn't really a problem, as it's probably best to a get a growth and development Linux platform started RIGHT! rather than cheap... ( I am an experienced, degreed computer pgmr, developer, MCSD and not bad with hardware). I understand a new platform(OS, Network, Compilers, Database, RDBMS, web server and dev tools) better get done right the first time or I'll constantly be replacin and going back...

Basicly the first big question is whick LINUX to start with? Man! There's a lot of em - RedHat, Caldera, SuSe, ..., and quite a few Free downloads... Looking at prices from CDW shows Linux ain't cheap( RedHat Pro V7.2 $169, Redhat Pro DataBase $1900+)... Then SuSE Linux 7.1 Pro is only $65.. What do ya really need?

Where's the reasonable starting place? Doe's it come with compilers, database and devtools!

Anybody with a good start plan would be appreicated!
Is a good ole PII450 box good enough to start with! Or should I throw a PII700 in it first...

Thankx, in Advance...

Also consider I pay over $2000/yr for my MSDN universal subscription. May seam a lot, but ya literally get EVERYTHING M$ makes...(OS's, Servers, Office Products, Databases, Devtools, Misc... with a year's worth of updates)
It's actually a Killer deal for dev shop or developer!

Anything like that for Linux platform??? The whole ball bame for serious developers?

You need Slackware Linux, Apache, and mySQL. It's just that simple. Time to setup the server: an afternoon. Time to develope your envisioned site: that's up to you. Cost to you: squat.

OK - But an afternoon to set up a server - yea sure!
It'l take me a week to read the doc and download. Like the A dir is Base system, D is Pgm Dev tools, and so on... Even with DSL I have a to download, organize, make boot floppies and CD's... Looks like a project in itself!!

MySql is kool, have already checked it out, can/will do...

How about Hardware support for Linux? The Slackware Project harwdare support didn't look too current - Like my Linksys NIC, and ATI Xpert wasn't listed...

How about buyin/installin SuSE Linux as a learning experience in prep for Slackware... SuSE lists supporting ALL hardware on my old box(LinkSYS NIC, ATi Xpert Vidio, old HP 8100 CD/RW Burner). And Suse says it has CD burnin software included! SuSE Personal is $35, SuSE Profrssional is $69.

Wouldn't if help to already have a Linux system up and runnin for the download and prep of a Slackware Linux box... Looks like I could literally just throw SuSe on an existing Win2k box(as Dual Boot). The SuSe website says SuSe Linux has an easy auto installation and auto-detection of hardware(and mine's listed) - and quite a few apps plus CD burn software... I think I might like to already being working in Linux environment to build another LINUX one, rather than covnersion to ISO formats from Windoze...

Wow, SuSe Linux, $35/$69 for Personal/Professional sure looks both cheap and cost effective compared to a couple a days of reading, then trial and error with SlackWare... Once I learn a little, know what I'm doin, then Slackware may well be way to proceed.

I think I'm going to go SuSE just for convienience and learnin! Check out www.Suse.com - Think I need anything more that the personal version? It might be a excellent $35 lesson to get started with...

What doya think?

And in general are executables compatable in Linux environments? Like will anything developed in Slackware Linux also run in SuSe, Redhat, Calderis, BSD, Etc... And would Slackware Dev Tools also run SuSE, Redhat,...

How Really OPEN is OPEN Source? As far as Apps, compliers, linkers, devtools go?

Download Slackware ISO, burn the image, boot the CD. It's that simple.

Just hold on a sec...CompSci, you sound like you're new to Unix and Linux, yes?

I would really recommend you get RedHat or SuSE Linux, unless you're really unsure of yourself and have no idea what you're doing, then get Mandrake. Apache takes minutes to set up. I think Slackware is a little too difficult for you, plus, Slackware looks to be going under. Red Hat, SuSE, and Mandrake all have excellent hardware support. You will get all your hardware supported except for the modem.
Linux also has nice GUIs, too.
It really is free. (Odd concept to M$ people). You can literally go to the site, download 2 isos, burn 'em, and you'll have more software than you could possibly use. It really is free. But you may wanna look into a Server Version of RedHat, since it looks like you'd be more comfortable with the support that entails.

I urge you, as a first time user, to not go with Slackware.

"If you teach a child to read, then he or her will be able to pass a literacy test" - George W.

OK! Givin it a shot!
Found Slackware ISO images: www.linuxiso.org/slackware.html
There's 3 of em - install.iso, extra.iso, and source.iso
Am downloadin as we post! looks to be about 2 hr each...

Will try to brun and boot when done!!!

Till then, later...

I first found Slackware at www.slackware.com and it didn;t have ISO images... that was the problem, and apprehension per nasty lookin downloads...

Red - I agree, but I'm also fearless( Stupid too, I was even one of the OS/2 developers in Boca!) While i'm downloadin Slackware install.iso, I also have the backup plan for SuSE... I sorta like SuSE per recent IBM support for DB2 Universal Database!

Now you say it's free"! Even SuSE somewhere? And yes, for sure I don't know exactly what I'm doing! Ya have to start somewhere.

I had a friend back in OS2 and mid 90's and he loved UNIX and had Coherent Unix for Intel. It had everything, source, compilers, debug, web dev, the whole ball game... not a bad setup!

If I go for SuSE professional, Do i get the whole ball game like that also - Pro is 7 CD's!. Are all dev tools, source and everything included? $69 isn't really much...

Linux ain't Free or Easy...

Tried all day to download it...
1. Slackware - download 33Kb max/ keeps dying every 50M...
2. Redhat - max 8kb - 36hrs - too slow...
3. SuSE - Cant even find i386 ISO Images....

I can easily get a stable 200Kb download thru my DSL - But no Linux download server will keep it up... Don't have problem with reliable servers... If Linux wants real consideration as Win replacement they're gonna have to get it together!

Considering time and agrevation WASTED it's a lot better to just go buy it...

And WoW, even that's a bitch - My local CompUsa is sold out of SuSE Professional!!!

Oh well, tomorrow's another day...

Tried the mirrors?

ftp://metalab.unc.edu

comes to mind...

"If you teach a child to read, then he or her will be able to pass a literacy test" - George W.

If you're running a web server you might also be interested in a BSD variant. NetBSD will run on anything, OpenBSD is ultra-secure, and FreeBSD is optimized for i486's. They tend to be harder to learn than Linux (well, the easier distros, BSD and Slack are probably on the same level, I'm just now switching from Slack to BSD for the hell of it). Before the evil Linux-demons-from-heck kill me for mentioning BSD, I'm not saying one is better than the other, merely that he should check all his options before making a choice! *runs and hides from scary flying demons*

Me "I bought a TNT2 M64, the BIOS says its a Vanta"
IOMagic "Theyre the same card"
Me "Um, no"

Thanks, metalab.unc.edu may get me Redhat 7.2 tonite...
But it connects pretty slow - 19.7Kb for 9+ hrs per disk iso - grumble, grumble...

I'm spoiled! Have an IBM home worker in the house, and we keep Bell South on thieir toes denanding our DSL FAST and STABLE - cause IBM's payin for it and wants us online and on time! BEll South doesnt like it but they do keep us hot and available... How this for DSL..

Your download speed : 1027050 bps, or 1027 kbps.
Browsers would show : about a 125.3 k/sec transfer rate.
Your upload speed : 209643 bps, or 209 kbps.
Your connection rocks .. above the 1mbit barrier!

That's spoiled!
9 hours of download/disk - Ugly!

There's another CompUsa about 20 miles away that shows SuSE Pro in stock... Will Probably just drive down tomorow morn and do SuSE Pro. Reports and reviews say SuSE is a first class, profesional distribution...

Perhaps, Linux by tomorrow nite!

Hardware support. 'Nuff said.

"If you teach a child to read, then he or her will be able to pass a literacy test" - George W.

Compare the list of supported hardware in BSD to that of Linux which isn't listed as beta or experimental. There's not that much of a difference. If you want cutting edge technology go for Windows, if you want stability take your pick of the better license (thats what it comes down to in my mind)

Me "I bought a TNT2 M64, the BIOS says its a Vanta"
IOMagic "Theyre the same card"
Me "Um, no"

SuSE Linux up and postin!!!

T'was a bit if a bitch... old ATI(mach64) vidio card was a headache, install config wouldn't do it, had to install No X11, then come back with Sax2. Then then Net/DSL thru LAN and router gateway wasn't documented, more Trial and Error... But ya really don't understand till ya debug a bit - and I get here...

It's pretty slow but I'm up on an old P200, 64Meg , NIC only... Simple Config... And I don't really know what I'm doin... But i gott say:
SuSEE installs pretty good... Im Impressed... MAy really be a Win KIller...



Hasn't crashed yet...
Installed StarOffice..
Gotta get another browser on this, first thing - this Knoqueror ain't good - seams like it has no cache.

What's best browser for Linux?