What version of linux to start with

[Eric Bakken]

So far, i dont have any linux experience but it looks pretty neat and i was wondering what version of linux i should try first.... or doesn't it matter?

[Rick Garland]

Fedora Core 4 is a free download.
This is a RedHat product.

As to which flavor to start with, I do not see any preferences.

SUSE and RedHat seem to be the flavors with the most support.

[Ivan Ferreira · Accepted solution]

I really think that you should start with Mandriva. Is very easy to use and nice for desktop.

You should start with this, this distribution has a lot of wizards for configuration tasks. Also the installation of packages is a really easy task.

The problem is that you won't get security updates unless you are joined to the mandriva club.

Now, Fedora Core is a good distribution, and if you get used to this distribution, you will work with Red Hat Enterprise with no problems. Red Hat Enterprise is widely used for Production Servers. Fedora core updates are freely available.

If this will be you desktop, you need to read the Fedora Multimedia Howto. By default, mp3, videos, etc won't play.

[Eric Bakken]

ok then, i'll get manticore first to get the feel of things and then after a while i'll move on to redhat... which will be a better long-term os... thanks guys..

-Eric Bakken

[Gopi Sekar]

I would recommend you to start off with knoppix to get a feel of linux. Knoppix is CD based linux distribution where the entire OS runs off from CD.

You just have to download the ISO from web, burn it in to a CD and boot any system with this CD. You will have fully functional linux running straight from your CD, if you don't like it just power off the system :), the advantage in this you don't loose anything.

If you are happy with linux and comfortable with GUI then get Fedora Core 4, install it and play around with it.

Regards,
Gopi

[Eric Bakken]

ok, so i downloaded knoppix and it's pretty cool. I've been messing around with it for a few days now and i cant for the life of me figure out how to set up a internet connection.... when i try to connect, it hangs on initializing modem for ever....

[Rick Garland]

Are you using a modem? What browser are you using?

For Linux, most of the time the browser is Mozilla or Firefox or Netscape.

From the menu bar select Edit. Bottom of that list will be 'Preferences'

What you are looking for there is the Connection or Proxies. In Mozilla go to the Advanced and look for Proxies.

In Firefox it will be on the 1st screen.

[Steven E. Protter]

Mr. Scott of the Starship Enterprise: The right tool for the right job.

If you want a multi media enhanced release, consider blag Linux. I've toyed with it and like the fact you don't have to futz with the multi-media.

Fedora Core is free and solid and provides a good platform for learnings skills and practicing user or server type operations.

CentOS is a full copy of Enterprise Linux that lets you practgice and learn these skills.

SEP

[Eric Bakken]

i have firefox for a browser but i have to connect to my isp before i can use it... i cant get the modem to dial...

[Rick Garland]

Most ISPs have an FAQ area and in this area are the instructions for modems.

I remember having to setup PPP for modem connections to my ISP.

This involved creating chat scripts as well.

Don't know if this has changed.

[John Collier]

Thought I might expand on the idea of Knoppix.

Knoppix is what is considered a Live CD. What this means, in a nutshell, is that they entire distribution is bootable and will run directly and completely from a CD with no need to alter your hard drive at all. For those who are searching for a Linux distro that they like, this is a WONDERFUL thing.

Now, while Knoppix is one of the best-known Live CDs, it is NOT the only one available. There are many out there that will give you all kinds of different experiences with many different types of Linux. For a rather extensive list of Live CDs, I suggest you check out this URL: http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php

One other thing to consider. No matter what distro you choose to go with, your experience will be much the same if all you do is use the GUI (Graphical User Interface) on each of the available distros due to the fact that a large majority of them will use either KDE or Gnome for a GUI. Once you get used to them, then you will see very little that is really different until you start digging "under the hood" of each of them and finding out how they do things (updates, installs, removals, etc.). This is also the most important place to look when you really start the decision process on what to actually install on your hard drive. You need to be sure that you can manipulate it with relative ease and get the basics accomplished with that distro before you make big changes to your hardware.

Just my $0.02 on the subject...