244 Part III . Choosing and Installing a (Crystaltech web hosting)
244 Part III . Choosing and Installing a Linux Distribution Choosing a Linux Distribution Hundreds of Linux distributions are available today. Some are generalized distributions that you can use as a desktop, server, or workstation system; others are specialized for business or computer enthusiasts. Part of the intention of this book is to help you choose which one (or ones) will suit you best. Using the DVD that comes with this book, you can boot directly to KNOPPIX (to try out Linux without installing it on your hard disk) or to Fedora Core 4 (to install Linux on your computer s hard disk). Because the Fedora Core 4 included with the book is the complete FC4 distribution, you can install a full range of desktop interfaces and applications, programming tools, and server features. So after you ve tried out KNOPPIX and are ready to install Linux on your hard disk, I recommend you try Fedora. Using the CD that comes with this book, you can boot directly to Damn Small Linux (a smaller bootable Linux system) or Debian (to do a network install of Debian to your hard disk). These two distributions can be set up to work well on computers that are older and less powerful, or have a CD drive but no DVD drive. For Debian, the book also provide descriptions for setting up Debian as a mail and Web server. Other Linux distributions included on the DVD and CD are stored there in ISO images that fit on CDs or, in some cases, mini-CDs or bootable business card size CDs (shaped like business cards, but can be read by most CD drives). Because of space limitations on the DVD, some of the distributions contained there are intended for network installs, which means you need an Internet connection to get some of the software to complete a full install. Linux at Work Because I know a lot of people who use Linux, both informally and at work, I want to share my general impressions of how different Linux distributions are being used in the United States. Most consultants I know who set up small office servers used to use Red Hat Linux, but now have mostly moved to Fedora Core, Ubuntu, or Debian GNU/Linux. Mandriva Linux (formerly Mandrakelinux) has been popular with people wanting a friendly Linux desktop, but Fedora and SUSE are also wellliked. The more technically inclined like to play with Gentoo (highly tunable) or Slackware (Linux in a more basic form). For people who are transitioning to Linux with Macintosh hardware, Yellow Dog Linux lets them install on a PowerPC and learn skills that are useful to expand later to Red Hat Linux systems (Yellow Dog is based on Red Hat). As for the bootable Linuxes, everyone I know thinks they are great fun to try out and a good way to learn about Linux. For a bootable Linux containing desktop software that fits on a full CD (or DVD), KNOPPIX is a good choice; for a bootable mini-CD size Linux, Damn Small Linux works well.
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