> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Davies [mailto:Rob_Davies@NTLWorld.Com]
> Sent: 05 June 2001 15:27
> To: nottingham@lists.lug.org.uk
> Subject: Re: Redhat 7.1 (log, dull, etc) -- was RE:
> [nottingham] Looking
> for a local more-recent Redhat distro...
> Debian has a low footprint minimal install, some of the web controlled
> router distro's eg) smoothwall, or astaro might be another
> good choice. But
> if you know RH, then you might be better sticking to it, and
> doing a custom
> install. I ran servers that way without X, and /usr isn't
> that large then, without all the GUI crap.
Yes, this is what I did when moving from RH 6.0 - RH 6.1. It was quite a
task to remove any X dependencies esp when it comes to the development
libraries (I need to build various tools on this machine). This is one of my
reasons for looking elsewhere as I am quite happy/familiar with Redhat.
> This is why I dropped RH, they have an offer of managing your
> machine for
> you via a subscripton service, or you have to watch the
> lists/web pages,
> and download and install rpm's by hand, or if you're willing
> to trust it use something like autorpm.
The subscription service looks like its an easy "busy customer exploitation
opportunity" that RH couldn't resist. I'm now looking for a free/open
updates app and will look at autorpm as a starting point.
> I didn't know they dropped linuxconf, but you can install it
> yourself from
> the web site. I found I had to anyway as the RH 6.1/2
> linuxconf was shipped
> with lots of bugs, and wasn't very trustworthy. Maybe the
> steam has run out
> of linuxconf, in favour of vendor specific tools, a bad thing IMNSHO.
Yes, I like linuxconf, YAST, etc. esp in a new install. The linuxconf
website is in full swing whereas Redhat's bugzilla reports linuxconf as
being depricated for redhat. The RH 7.1 users guide is full of linuxconf
usage notes but the "Workstation" install doesn't install linuxconf - I
discovered that the rpm _is_ available on one of the CDs though.
> chkconfig kudzu --off
>
> chkconfig(8) copied from SGI's irix is something I miss, it manages
> /etc/{rc.d,init.d,}/rc?.d very nicely.
Looks just the thing - I shall look into chkconfig.
> To be quite honest, I think you should have asked about this
> before you
> asked about getting RH7.1, I thought you'ld already made your
> mind up. It's
> probably best to use one distro, but know it well, unless you
> like making life difficult for yourself.
Yes, I'm quite OK with Redhat - its a simple licensing issue for here at
work and its a popular one for friends/collegues who are trying Linux for
the first time and for whom I am the first line of support!
> As you're happy configuring things yourself, you might well
> like Debian
> rather a lot, I loved the install because it gave full 100%
> control, you can
> even build the fs's by hand. You could spend the money on a
> RH subscription
> on a broadband net connection instead ;)
Yes, I'd like to try Debian and I will certainly try smoothwall. The RH 5 CD
set was £10 - not too bad and it worked out cheaper in time and hassle than
downloading it and burning it myself.
> The reason why I moved to SuSE 7.1 is that Potato is way out
> of date, and
> you miss out on trying commercial programs, and update disks
> from mags. I
> prefer KDE to Gnome, which was the final clincher and wanted KDE2.
> You ought to do a minimal Debian install, and then
> immediately switch to
> testing (woody) as it's probably fairly stable by now, though they're
> gearing up for a new release, which includes KDE, mozilla,
> Gnome etc etc.
>
> Rob
Yes, I was with SuSE at 4.2(?) which came with a book prior to PC Plus
providing 5.1 which I absolutely loved! I have spent time in Mandrake
country during the bad times of the way too early 7.0 release which prompted
me to move to Redhat for stability here at work -- I'm finding that all of
the vendors share common challenges when trying to make decisions for the
users.
I spent some time in Redhat's Bugzilla yesterday and came up with some good
direction on the problems I encountered on my install (soundcard, SCSI,
X-screensaver hang, linuxconf).
All in all its quite fun to upgrade!
Michael Erskine (MSEmtd)
mailto:michael.erskine@blue8.uk.com
<JAPH>
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