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Introduction to Linux Distributions

Chris Farris

Room17 Enterprises

<chrisf@room17.com>

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Purpose

   Beginning Linux Users have tough choice.

	4 Major Distributions
		Caldera			
		Debian			
		RedHat
		SuSE

	4 Minor Distributions
		Mandrake
		Stampede
		Slackware
		TurboLinux

	100+ Specialty Distributions
		MkLinux		Trinux
		LinuxPPC		KhaOs
		Yellow Dog Linux	
		Ultra Penguin
		30+ Language Specific Distributions

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What Should Distribution Provide?


	Install Routines

	Packages

	Administrative Tools


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Installation Routines

	Caldera
		Lizard (X based)
		Very easy to use, but graphics slowed it a bit.
		Lisa   (text based)
	Debian
		Asked too many questions. dselect still a lousy interface.
	Mandrake
		Uses standard RedHat install.
	RedHat
		Allows user to choose services to run at boot
		Didn't ask about network/hostname configuration.
		Didn't install necessary X libraries, or mtools.
	Slackware
		Fairly straight forward.
		Didn't configure X
	SuSE
		YaST can be confusing to new users.
		Not a sequential install.
	TurboLinux
		Easy to use 
		Walks user through install like RedHat and Slackware

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Caldera Windows Startup

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Caldera Bootup Screen

%image "caldera1.gif" 

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Caldera Partitioning Screen

%image "caldera2.gif" 

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Caldera Install Screen

%image "caldera3.gif" 

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Caldera Lisa Screen

%image "caldera5.gif" 

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Debian Package Selection Screen

%image "debian.gif" 

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RedHat Install 

%image "redhat1.gif" 

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SuSE Install 

%image "suse1.gif"

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SuSE Package Selection

%image "suse2.gif"

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TurboLinux Install

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TurboLinux Package Selection

%image "turbo1.gif"


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Install Time

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(performed on a AMD 5x86-133 w/ 64MB or Ram, and a 1 GB IDE HDD)
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	Caldera
		55 Minutes
	Debian(*)
		8+ Hours
	Mandrake 
		27 Minutes
	RedHat
		1 hour
	Slackware
		38 Minutes
	SuSE
		1 hour
	TurboLinux
		1 hour 20 minutes


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* Yes, I know this is totally fubar.
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Packages

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(Numbers taken from website unless otherwise noted)

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	Caldera
		300 Packages
	Debian
		2250 packages
	Mandrake 
		633 Packages
	RedHat
		~620 Packages
	Slackware
		272 Packages
	SuSE
		900 Packages
	TurboLinux
		740 Packages
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          (taken from free CD)

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Administrative Tools


	Caldera
		COAS
	Debian
		None (*)
	Mandrake
	RedHat

	Slackware
		None (*)
	SuSE
		YaST
	TurboLinux
		TurboDesk Control Panel




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* No useful GUI Admin tool included, or made obvious

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COAS Network Config

%image "caldera4.gif" 

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COAS User Administration

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COAS Kernel Modules

%image "caldera7.gif" 

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COAS Package Management

%image "caldera8.gif" 

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SuSE Administration Tool

%image "suse4.gif" 

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SuSE User Administration

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TurboLinux Control Panel

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TurboLinux Runlevel Manager

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TurboLinux User Manager

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TurboLinux Package Manager

%image "turboB.gif" 

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Window Manager Installed

	Caldera
		KDE
	Debian
		Fvwm2
	Mandrake 
		KDE
	RedHat
		GNOME/Enlightenment
	Slackware
		fvwm2
	SuSE
		KDE
	TurboLinux
		Afterstep

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Platforms Supported

	Caldera
		i386
	Debian
		i386, Alpha, SPARC, 680x0
	Mandrake 
		i386
	RedHat
		i386, Alpha, SPARC
	Slackware
		i386
	SuSE
		i386, Alpha
	TurboLinux
		i386, PPC
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Websites

	Caldera
		www.calderasystems.com
		Online user guide
	Debian
		www.debian.org
	Mandrake
		http://www.linux-mandrake.com/
		Online user guide
	RedHat
		www.redhat.com
		Online user guide
	Slackware
		www.slackware.org
	SuSE
		www.suse.com
	TurboLinux
		www.turbolinux.com
		Online user guide

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Price

Boxed set price:

	Caldera 2.2
		$49.95
	Debian 2.1
		$38.95	
	Mandrake Linux 6.0
		$50.00
	RedHat 6.0
		$79.95
	SuSE 6.1
		$49.95
	TurboLinux 3.3
		$49.95

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Conclusion


         Caldera Debian Mandrake RedHat Slackware SuSE TurboLinux
Install     1      7       4       5       6       3       2
Packages    6      1       4       5       7       2       3
Admin       2      6       4       5       7       3       1
Website     2      5       4       3       6       7       1
Price       2      1       3       4       1       2       2
Stability   4      3       5       7       6       1       2

Overall	    2      4       5       6       7       3       1

		

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Alternative Operating Systems


	Open BSD
		Security conscious OS
		http://www.openbsd.org
	NET BSD
		Ports to over 20 Architectures
		http://www.netbsd.org
	Free BSD
		The user friendly BSD.
		http://www.freebsd.org


	BeOS
		Good for Multimedia applications.
		Commercial product, retails for $69.95
		http://www.beos.com


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For More Information

	Linux Weekly News
		LWN does a weekly distribution roundup
		they also have a list of distributions.
		http://www.lwn.net
	Kernel Notes Distribution List
		http://www.kernelnotes.org/dist-index.html
	Woven Goods Distribution List
		http://www.fokus.gmd.de/linux/linux-distrib.html
	Distribution Differences Project
		http://userweb.interactive.net/~revf2/LPI/


	This Talk
		http://www.room17.com/wandering_chaos/