Peter's Blog

Installed new linux system on my server. Actually I intend to use it as a TV... anyway I finally decided on a distribution.

Gentoo:

• previous distribution
• too much hard work and nursing and random breaking

Knoppix:

• confused as to whether it is supposed to be installed and used or just booted from live CDs as a party trick
• worked with my TV card

Redhat:

• the MS of the linux world. Used 7.1 yonks ago and was not impressed.

Suse:

• Used for a long time (6.1, 6.3)
• Slow ftp servers however many years ago
• Ended up compiling everything as I could never find rpm's

Slackware:

• First ever distribution I tried, years ago, from a cover disk on a magazine
• Is it still going?

Ubuntu:

• related to Gnoppix and Debian
• very hard to remember the spelling. I think of it as umbongo. Umbongo, Umbongo, they drink it in the congo.
• tried live CD (600M, 2 hour bittorrent download) and PC went into a constant rebooting loop
• tried installation CD (600M, 2 hour bittorrent download) and PC went into a constant rebooting loop
• don't remember a linux installation ever failing so bad.
• it's boot screen just shows Ubuntu, a logo and a progress bar: I want boot logs.

Finally went back to Debian Woody:

• It's low level enough for me without the Gentoo level of hastle and constant breaking.
• I like apt: want to try something? It's installed in minutes.