Help me choose a Linux Distro

I want to choose a linux distro that I will use for testing porpoises.
I need a distro that fulfills all the following:

1.Easy Instalation

I should be able to install it with the fewest amount of steps
possible

2.Desktop Enviroment

After installation there should be a desktop environment in place that
has at least basic visual administrative tools for common tasks like
network and user configuration.

3.Easy package add and removal

I would like to have a visual application that I can run at any time
and that allow me to choose from a list packages that I would like to
have installed and configured. Preferable it should be just a list of
packages with check boxes. If I check one of the packages the package
should be installed and configured on a "standard" configuration and I
should be able to remove it in the same way. I am particularly
interested on packages like MySQL 5.X , web server and mail server.

Please remember that I have only basic Linux knowledge. I just want a
distro where I can easily test and learn mayor packages as MYSQL.

Thanks in advance

Artificer wrote:
[color=blue]
> I want to choose a linux distro that I will use for testing porpoises.
> I need a distro that fulfills all the following:
>
> 1.Easy Instalation
>
> I should be able to install it with the fewest amount of steps
> possible
>
> 2.Desktop Enviroment
>
> After installation there should be a desktop environment in place that
> has at least basic visual administrative tools for common tasks like
> network and user configuration.
>
> 3.Easy package add and removal
>
> I would like to have a visual application that I can run at any time
> and that allow me to choose from a list packages that I would like to
> have installed and configured. Preferable it should be just a list of
> packages with check boxes. If I check one of the packages the package
> should be installed and configured on a "standard" configuration and I
> should be able to remove it in the same way. I am particularly
> interested on packages like MySQL 5.X , web server and mail server.
>
> Please remember that I have only basic Linux knowledge. I just want a
> distro where I can easily test and learn mayor packages as MYSQL.
>
> Thanks in advance[/color]

Try it with politeness.

Artificer wrote:
[color=blue]
> I want to choose a linux distro that I will use for testing porpoises.
> I need a distro that fulfills all the following:
>
> 1.Easy Instalation
>
> I should be able to install it with the fewest amount of steps
> possible
>
> 2.Desktop Enviroment
>
> After installation there should be a desktop environment in place that
> has at least basic visual administrative tools for common tasks like
> network and user configuration.
>
> 3.Easy package add and removal
>
> I would like to have a visual application that I can run at any time
> and that allow me to choose from a list packages that I would like to
> have installed and configured. Preferable it should be just a list of
> packages with check boxes. If I check one of the packages the package
> should be installed and configured on a "standard" configuration and I
> should be able to remove it in the same way. I am particularly
> interested on packages like MySQL 5.X , web server and mail server.
>
> Please remember that I have only basic Linux knowledge. I just want a
> distro where I can easily test and learn mayor packages as MYSQL.[/color]

I would have thought any distribution would provide this.

My choice would be Fedora-7 with KDE or Kubuntu.

--
Timothy Murphy
e-mail (<80k only): tim /at/ birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
tel: +353-86-2336090, +353-1-2842366
s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

Artificer wrote:[color=blue]
> I want to choose a linux distro that I will use for testing porpoises.
> I need a distro that fulfills all the following:
>
> 1.Easy Instalation
>[/color]
Damn Small Linux. It doesn't even require installation.
[color=blue]
> I should be able to install it with the fewest amount of steps
> possible[/color]

My Dsl Browser[color=blue]
>
> 2.Desktop Enviroment[/color]

Yes, as above[color=blue]
>
> After installation there should be a desktop environment in[/color]
place that[color=blue]
> has at least basic visual administrative tools for common tasks like
> network and user configuration.
>[/color]
DSL has Fluxbox ans JWM[color=blue]
> 3.Easy package add and removal
>[/color]
as above[color=blue]
> I would like to have a visual application that I can run at any time
> and that allow me to choose from a list packages that I would like to
> have installed and configured. Preferable it should be just a list of
> packages with check boxes. If I check one of the packages the package
> should be installed and configured on a "standard" configuration and I
> should be able to remove it in the same way.[/color]

Once you got the grips with DSL you can switch over to Debian.

Ottavio
[url]http://www.pledgebank.com/boycottvista[/url]

F8BOE wrote:
[color=blue]
> Artificer wrote:
>[color=green]
>> I want to choose a linux distro that I will use for testing porpoises.
>> I need a distro that fulfills all the following:
>>
>> 1.Easy Instalation
>>
>> I should be able to install it with the fewest amount of steps
>> possible
>>
>> 2.Desktop Enviroment
>>
>> After installation there should be a desktop environment in place that
>> has at least basic visual administrative tools for common tasks like
>> network and user configuration.
>>
>> 3.Easy package add and removal
>>
>> I would like to have a visual application that I can run at any time
>> and that allow me to choose from a list packages that I would like to
>> have installed and configured. Preferable it should be just a list of
>> packages with check boxes. If I check one of the packages the package
>> should be installed and configured on a "standard" configuration and I
>> should be able to remove it in the same way. I am particularly
>> interested on packages like MySQL 5.X , web server and mail server.
>>
>> Please remember that I have only basic Linux knowledge. I just want a
>> distro where I can easily test and learn mayor packages as MYSQL.
>>
>> Thanks in advance[/color]
>
> Try it with politeness.[/color]


As well, there is really no easy answer. I use Mandriva
([url]http://www.mandriva.com[/url]), and it goes a long way towards meeting your
requirements, but in the end, it is personal preference. Any mainstream
distro now makes it easy to add and remove programs, including
their "dependencies" - other programs that you have to install as well
before the one you want will run. That is the big difference between
Linux and Windows, where program packages usually come with all the DLLs.
Ubuntu ([url]http://www.ubuntu.com[/url]) now has a server version, but probably no
desktop with it, since servers are often run with a minimum of "extras."
You could install their desktop version and add MySQL to it. I am actually
running a mixture of both, including MySQL, under Mandriva, and its
installer asks you what you want to run on your computer.

HTH,

Doug.

On Sat, 23 Jun 2007 22:42:56 -0700, Artificer wrote:
[color=blue]
> I want to choose a linux distro that I will use for testing porpoises. I
> need a distro that fulfills all the following:
>
> 1.Easy Instalation
>
> I should be able to install it with the fewest amount of steps possible
>
> 2.Desktop Enviroment
>
> After installation there should be a desktop environment in place that
> has at least basic visual administrative tools for common tasks like
> network and user configuration.
>
> 3.Easy package add and removal
>
> I would like to have a visual application that I can run at any time and
> that allow me to choose from a list packages that I would like to have
> installed and configured. Preferable it should be just a list of
> packages with check boxes. If I check one of the packages the package
> should be installed and configured on a "standard" configuration and I
> should be able to remove it in the same way. I am particularly
> interested on packages like MySQL 5.X , web server and mail server.
>
> Please remember that I have only basic Linux knowledge. I just want a
> distro where I can easily test and learn mayor packages as MYSQL.
>
> Thanks in advance[/color]

PCLinuxOS 2007 Final satisfies all your requirements.

It is about the easiest install I've ever come across. Pretty much takes
care of everything automagically with very little input from the user.
All GUI config utilities. Simple and very intuitive. Works well on both
old and new systems. I have it installed on a 5 year old Dell Inspiron
5000e notebook (500MHz P3 and 256MB RAM) and a self built, 5 to 7 year
old desktop system (1GHz Duron with 512MB RAM). No problems. Runs
smartly on both even with the default KDE GUI. Uses Synaptic, a GUI front-
end for apt, for package and dependency management. Repositories are
already preconfigured for you, but simple to change, if you so desire.
All through a GUI interface. Plus, it installs most browser plug-ins by
default. It even runs Windows Media Player files. 99% of other Linux
distros don't include plug-ins at all. You have to install them yourself
AFTER the OS installation is complete. What a pain.

Perfect distro for the Linux tyro.

Check out the details: [url]www.pclinuxos.com[/url]

Stef

Artificer wrote:[color=blue]
> I want to choose a linux distro that I will use for testing porpoises.
> I need a distro that fulfills all the following:
> 1.Easy Instalation
> I should be able to install it with the fewest amount of steps
> possible[/color]

How will you know the fewest steps without trying a few of them? Not many
people try different distributions available at the same time to count the
steps. Answers that are out of date are useless.
[color=blue]
> 2.Desktop Enviroment
> After installation there should be a desktop environment in place that
> has at least basic visual administrative tools for common tasks like
> network and user configuration.[/color]

KDE and Gnome and others are the same in all distributions. Linux is not
dependent on them. All linux has is a choice of command line interfaces of which
bash is the most popular. Technically linux does not even have shells like bash.
The OS can get along quite well without them although it will make the user
wonder what to do with the computer as paperweight.
[color=blue]
> 3.Easy package add and removal
> I would like to have a visual application that I can run at any time
> and that allow me to choose from a list packages that I would like to
> have installed and configured. Preferable it should be just a list of
> packages with check boxes. If I check one of the packages the package
> should be installed and configured on a "standard" configuration and I
> should be able to remove it in the same way. I am particularly
> interested on packages like MySQL 5.X , web server and mail server.[/color]

Why not find a local linux group and hire someone. If you have no interest in
learning you might as well stick with windows. As with any tool you have to
learn how to use it. The implication of MS as something that requires no
learning comes at a very heavy price no one who knows better would pay. I mean
installation is so simple that a new application can disable other applications
without the need for the user to even be told it is going to happen. It saves
the user from making decisions and worrying.
[color=blue]
> Please remember that I have only basic Linux knowledge. I just want a
> distro where I can easily test and learn mayor packages as MYSQL.[/color]

Whichever you choose will become the best there is.

No one thinks of a car as an effortless thing to learn and use. No one thinks
of even a blender or microwave as something effortless to learn and use. Why do
you expect to find an operating system to be effortless? If all you ever want to
do is the simplest things then stick with Microsoft. You have no need for linux.

And one hopes you have used databases before because you are not going to jump
into any of them without having a grasp of the basic concepts of how computers
work. And if you do I do not see the point of your questions.

All that said, Redhat FC7, choose custom install, scroll to the bottom and
choose install everything. Get it started before you go to sleep and reboot in
the morning.

yum upgrade

brings you up to date. Adding a new package is

yum install packagename*

or

yum -nogpgcheck localinstall package.rpm

and the other part is

yum erase packagename*

I think those are simple enough.

Read the fine man page or just type yum to see what else is possible.

--
The purpose of torturing prisoners is to torture prisoners.
It has no other purpose.
-- The Iron Webmaster, 3805
nizkor [url]http://www.giwersworld.org/nizkook/nizkook.phtml[/url]
Lawful to bomb Israelis [url]http://www.giwersworld.org/israel/bombings.phtml[/url] a11

Matt Giwer (jull43@tampabay.REMover.rr.com) writes:[color=blue]
> Artificer wrote:[color=green]
>> I want to choose a linux distro that I will use for testing porpoises.
>> I need a distro that fulfills all the following:
>> 1.Easy Instalation
>> I should be able to install it with the fewest amount of steps
>> possible[/color]
>
> How will you know the fewest steps without trying a few of them?
> Not many people try different distributions available at the same time
> to count the steps. Answers that are out of date are useless.[/color]

But "number of steps" is also irrelevant. When I slapped the latest
version of Slackware on my drive in May, I didn't really have to do
much, though of course I've done it before. Yet everyone is always
talking about how "Slackware is for the advanced user".

We also need to examine this "easy to install" question, since it's
one of those Big Steps that people perceive as such before they
can enter the land of Linux, yet it is a relatively minor step (no
matter how big). You won't be constantly installing Linux, but you
will be constantly using Linux (if you stick with it). So other factors
may be far more significant for the beginning user than how easy it
is to install.

I once posted about this and someone replied that it is an issue
since every time you need to upgrade you'll have to deal with the
installer. And that is a valid point. Yet, the issue of the install
process is the gateway to Linux, and people often only see that first
Big Step, and not much beyond it. Once you've passed through that
install, a lot of things will look different.

Michael

Michael writes:[color=blue]
> I once posted about this and someone replied that it is an issue since
> every time you need to upgrade you'll have to deal with the installer.[/color]

This is certainly not true of Debian.
--
John Hasler
[email]john@dhh.gt.org[/email]
Dancing Horse Hill
Elmwood, WI USA

Michael Black wrote:[color=blue]
> Matt Giwer (jull43@tampabay.REMover.rr.com) writes:[color=green]
>> Artificer wrote:[color=darkred]
>>> I want to choose a linux distro that I will use for testing porpoises.
>>> I need a distro that fulfills all the following:
>>> 1.Easy Instalation
>>> I should be able to install it with the fewest amount of steps
>>> possible[/color]
>> How will you know the fewest steps without trying a few of them?
>> Not many people try different distributions available at the same time
>> to count the steps. Answers that are out of date are useless.[/color][/color]
[color=blue]
> But "number of steps" is also irrelevant. When I slapped the latest
> version of Slackware on my drive in May, I didn't really have to do
> much, though of course I've done it before. Yet everyone is always
> talking about how "Slackware is for the advanced user".[/color]

Back with Slack 3.0 I could barely spell linux and had no problem. A later
version sort of earned the advanced user because the obscure description of how
to get the graphics mode working. I never figured it out and upgraded RH 5 to 6
instead of trying it. I assume it was really simple wrapped in needless detail
instead of making it an installation choice.
[color=blue]
> We also need to examine this "easy to install" question, since it's
> one of those Big Steps that people perceive as such before they
> can enter the land of Linux, yet it is a relatively minor step (no
> matter how big). You won't be constantly installing Linux, but you
> will be constantly using Linux (if you stick with it). So other factors
> may be far more significant for the beginning user than how easy it
> is to install.[/color]
[color=blue]
> I once posted about this and someone replied that it is an issue
> since every time you need to upgrade you'll have to deal with the
> installer. And that is a valid point. Yet, the issue of the install
> process is the gateway to Linux, and people often only see that first
> Big Step, and not much beyond it. Once you've passed through that
> install, a lot of things will look different.[/color]

I never turned back once MS had trashed my HD for the third in a month.
No one said an UPS was mandatory with Windows. Florida lightning is a bitch. And
besides it made an honest man of me because with Gimp I didn't have to pirate
photoshop.

--
The purpose of torturing prisoners is to torture prisoners.
It has no other purpose.
-- The Iron Webmaster, 3805
nizkor [url]http://www.giwersworld.org/nizkook/nizkook.phtml[/url]
flying saucers [url]http://www.giwersworld.org/flyingsa.html[/url] a2

[ John Hasler ] wrote:[color=blue]
> Michael writes:[color=green]
>> I once posted about this and someone replied that it is an issue since
>> every time you need to upgrade you'll have to deal with the installer.[/color]
>
> This is certainly not true of Debian.[/color]
Indeed, all you need to upgrade to the latest release is:

apt-get dist-upgrade

But I guess Michel's point is, that The Slack is pretty easy to install.
OTOH I am afraid most new users want a GUI based installer, requiring
only a few mouse clicks.

Unfortunately many new users are not really interested in GNU/Linux, but
seek for an alternative to Windows, just to get rid of all the mallware
'nd stuff.

I would recommend a Live distro like PCLinuxOS or (K)Ubuntu:

[url]http://www.pclinuxos.org[/url]
[url]http://www.ubuntu.com[/url]
--
|_|0|_| Registered Linux user # 394093
|_|_|0| [url]http://counter.li.org[/url]
|0|0|0| [url]http://ml2mst.topcities.com[/url]

On 2007-06-26, ml2mst <ml2mst@gmail.com> wrote:[color=blue]
>
> But I guess Michel's point is, that The Slack is pretty easy to install.
> OTOH I am afraid most new users want a GUI based installer, requiring
> only a few mouse clicks.[/color]

The irony, of course, is that most of the GUI-based installers require
many more than only a few mouse clicks. I recently did a Centos 4.4
install, and the number of screens/decision points was more or less
comparable to my Slackware installs. The only actual difference I found
is that the Slackware installer expects you to have already partitioned
prior to starting setup, whereas CentOS has a partition screen.
Everything else is eye candy.

This is splitting hairs, but I've found most distributions fairly easy
to install; the difference is in configuring them once installed. Back
to my example, CentOS does a whole lot automatically (including X, which
I hate configuring myself), whereas Slackware leaves things to the admin
(which, excepting X, I prefer).

--keith

--
[email]kkeller-usenet@wombat.san-francisco.ca.us[/email]
(try just my userid to email me)
AOLSFAQ=http://www.therockgarden.ca/aolsfaq.txt
see X- headers for PGP signature information

[ Keith Keller ] wrote:[color=blue]
> On 2007-06-26, ml2mst <ml2mst@gmail.com> wrote:[color=green]
>> But I guess Michel's point is, that The Slack is pretty easy to install.
>> OTOH I am afraid most new users want a GUI based installer, requiring
>> only a few mouse clicks.[/color]
>
> The irony, of course, is that most of the GUI-based installers require
> many more than only a few mouse clicks. I recently did a Centos 4.4
> install, and the number of screens/decision points was more or less
> comparable to my Slackware installs. The only actual difference I found
> is that the Slackware installer expects you to have already partitioned
> prior to starting setup, whereas CentOS has a partition screen.
> Everything else is eye candy.[/color]

I agree with you to some extend. I prefer the Slack's install as well.
Cfdisk and co, require you to know exactly what your doing. Also I agree
that most GUI installers require more than "just a few mouse clicks",
however the install GUI's of those Live CD's actually require a maximum
of 6.
[color=blue]
> This is splitting hairs, but I've found most distributions fairly easy
> to install; the difference is in configuring them once installed. Back
> to my example, CentOS does a whole lot automatically (including X, which
> I hate configuring myself), whereas Slackware leaves things to the admin
> (which, excepting X, I prefer).[/color]

In the 1990's I had no problem configuring X with xf86config, but since
most distributions have this hardware recognition, I guess I became
somewhat lazy :-) Only if it doesn't work right out of the box, I'll
configure it manually (which is very rare these days).

--
|_|0|_| Registered Linux user # 394093
|_|_|0| [url]http://counter.li.org[/url]
|0|0|0| [url]http://ml2mst.topcities.com[/url]