dawgiestyle

11/15/04: Which Linux Do I Use?

Since I began trying alternatives to windows I have used 5 different distributions of Linux, as well as OpenBSD and just a little FreeBSD. The Linux distributions I have used are RedHat, Slackware, Debian, Gentoo, and finally Suse. I have to say that all in all, I am very pleased with Suse. Find out why. I started out by installing RedHat 7.3 to dual-boot with windows. At the time though I was using dialup internet with a winmodem, so I didn't spend any real time in Linux till a couple months later when I moved up to ADSL. To my surprise, as soon as I booted into RedHat, I was online, so I got myself familiar with the basic commands and was on my way. It wasn't till a few months later when I accumulated enough spare parts to build a second computer that I really started using linux in a big way. Again, I installed RedHat 7.3 exclusively on the second box and got a kvm switch. No more hassle of rebooting :) RedHat was only installed for a short time when I felt confident enough to try out Slackware 9.0, after reading so much about it. I immediately fell in love with its simplicity and the necessity of actually learning things about linux. In fact, I still run Slackware (version 10.0 now) on that very box, which is now my fileserver.

After upgrading my desktop, I decided to once again go the way of dual-boot. This time, my aim was to completely curb my dependence on windows and mainly use linux. The windows partition was therefore just a safety net. So I installed Slackware on this box also and all was well. I didn't like NIS though, and Slackware does not use PAM, so LDAP authentication is awkward. I resolved this by writing some small shell scripts using the rsync command to keep passwd and group files in sync, but I learn by doing, and I really wanted to get LDAP working, so alas, I made the decision to look past Slackware on the desktop.

At this point, I installed Debian woody after hearing great things about it. Of course, now I realize that woody is more appropriate for servers and the latest unstable release is better for a desktop. This was largely the reason I replaced it after only 2 days. As a side note, I have worked with Debian since then on webserver boxes, and found that its ease of upgrading is a big advantage for it in this area.

I was taking a networking course around this time, which was only half-days, so I figured I had the time needed to try out Gentoo. I was extremely impressed with this distribution. The install docs were very thorough, and installing and upgrading software was very easy to do, if a little time-consuming. I did achieve LDAP authentication within a few days of getting Gentoo up and running :)

Once I got a job, I found that I no longer had the time to maintain my Gentoo box. It is definitely more of a hobby distribution. After trying out a Suse Enterprise Server 9.1 evaluation at work, I downloaded the install boot cd and did an ftp install of Suse 9.1 at home. This distribution has everything I want and need. The installer is fantastic, software and system management is done through a single interface (though I still like to get right into the config files myself), and updating my system is a breeze and takes no time at all.

I have to say that it wasn't until I decided to ignore the real zealots and elitists that I was comfortable trying Suse. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using a refined distribution where you don't have to deal with text config files all the time. There are also plenty of programmers and kernel hackers that use more refined distributions, so why not? And Suse is definitely the most refined Linux distribution I have seen to date.

As for OpenBSD, well, it will always be my firewall. It is a great OS for many other things, but in my current setup, it is a superb firewall.