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Home > Archive > Linux Debian support > December 2007 > Distro for my workstation? ... was ISO burner please
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Distro for my workstation? ... was ISO burner please
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| > and for a look see first
>
> http://goodbye-microsoft.com/screenshots/
Sorry to hijack this thread, but the Debian screenshots reminded me of a
question that I wanted to ask...
I'll detail my specs at the end of this message for those who are
interested...
Right now, my file/ftp server is running on Debian Lenny. I do all the
administration through an SSH connection with the rare use of Webmin through
a web browser. It runs great and I love it.
I've tried several different distro's on my Desktop PC, including OpenSUSE
10.2, Debian stable 4.0r1 , Fedora core 8 and Kubuntu.
So far, I prefer OpenSUSE 10.2. I really like the Kickoff menu and I had no
problems getting 3D acceleration and the "Desktop effects" to work. Most of
my hardware worked without a problem, except a Logitech webcam and bluetooth
headset. Some things I don't like is that OpenSUSE seems a lot more
complicated under the hood. (An example is /etc/network ... I'm used to a
single "interfaces" file)
I can't shake the feeling that I really should be using Debian as my
desktop, since I've had such great luck running it as my file server. My
problem with this is that I'm told that Debian is "old skool" and that it's
revisions behind other distro's. If I'm building a system I'd rather start
with what's current.
So, should I just be happy with an OpenSUSE system for my workstation and
forget that I'm running Debian on my file server? ...or am I being told
incorrectly about the "old" technologies used in Debian? My workstation is
64bit, dual core AMD (as below).
Some details about my systems, for anyone who's interested...
File Server:
- 2.6Ghz Northwood P4 running at 3.2Ghz
- 1gig DDR memory, running at 1:1 with CPU (4x256meg DDR533)
- Asus P4C800E-Dlx mainboard
- Onboard Intel gigabit NIC
- Onboard Intel AC'97 audio
- Onboard Intel PATA and SATA controllers
- Onboard Promise SATA controller
- Onboard USB & VIA Firewire controllers
- AGP nVidia 6800GS video card
- 1x 120gig PATA in removable tray - used as a backup target
- 3x 500gig SATA hard drive (100meg unused, 400meg swap, remainder)
- 1x 500gig PATA hard drive (100meg /boot, 400meg swap, remainder)
- All "remainder" partitions combined into a RAID5 array
- I would have liked to combine 100meg partitions to RAID1 the /boot
partition
- 100mb Intel Ethernet Pro 100 PCI network card
- Conexant PCI modem
- DVD-RW
+ Media and PC LAN file store
+ PRIVATE FTP (only 3 users)
+ Torrent client, all traffic through CableModem #2
My Workstation:
- 1.8Ghz AMD Opteron 165 64bit dual core CPU at 2.4Ghz
- 3gig DDR memory (2x512meg + 2x1024meg)
- DFI LanParty nf4 Ultra-D PCIe mainboard
- Onboard nVidia gigabit LAN + Marvell gigabit LAN
- Onboard nVidia audio
- Onboard nVidia PATA & SATA controllers
- Onboard USB & VIA Firewiare controllers
- PCIe nVidia 7600GT video card
- PCI Auzentech Xplosion! CMI 8770 sound card (AVOID IT!)
- PCI ATI Theatre 550 Pro TV Tuner card
- 1x 320gig SATA drive (200gig Windows XP SP2, 120gig distro of the day)
- 1x 36gig WD RAPTOR SATA drive (Windows temp, Linux swap)
- BenQ LS DW1655 DVDRW
- Generic flash card reader (4 'slots')
- Cambridge Silicon USB bluetooth dongle
- Microsoft Natural Ergo 4000 Keyboard
- Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000
- Dell 2405FPW 24" LCD monitor
- Logitech Harmony 880 learning IR remote control
- motorola S9 & H300 bluetooth headsets
+ Basic workstation tasks - eMail, wordprocessing
+ Some graphics - photo touchup and printing CD faces
+ Some gaming
+ Occasional programming - HTML, ASP, PHP. Some Visual Basic. Would like to
do some Linux programming, XBox programming and PS3 programming.
Network Setup (monospaced font, please):
/----USB-------------------------------------\
Server] [Cablemodem #1 - 7mb/1mb]
\ \----Ethernet--->*1 [Router]---/
\ / / / /\
\----GigE----------[GigSwitch]----' / / / \
/ / / / / / / `---<802.11g wireless>
/ / / / / / /
MyPC]---GigE----------' / / / / / /
/ / / / / /
PS3]----GigE-----------' / / / / / *1>---\
/ / / / / [Cablemodem #2 -
5mb/512kb]
WifesPC]---GigE---------' / / / / *2>---/
/ / / /
/---GigE-----------' / / /
Laptop]---Ethernet-------------' / /
\---USB---->*2 / /
/ /
XBox #1]----------------------' /
/
XBox #2]----------------------'
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| sk8r-365 2007-12-22, 1:15 am |
| ["Followup-To:" header set to alt.os.linux.]
Horton heard a Who named Calab saying:
>
> Sorry to hijack this thread, but the Debian screenshots reminded me of a
> question that I wanted to ask...
<snip>
> problem with this is that I'm told that Debian is "old skool" and that it's
> revisions behind other distro's. If I'm building a system I'd rather start
> with what's current.
Debian has "stable" - Etch - which is "behind" the bleeding edge but
it's not "old" like DOS 6.6  . Think of it as "current stable". Lenny
and Sid are for those wanting blood splattered all over. For any use as
"production", Etch is the way to go, IMO, to avoid security holes being
worked out on the "latest greatest upgrade" and potential crashes with
data loss.
-sk8r-365
--
They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant,
and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my
people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
-- Isaiah 65:22
| |
| Anton Ertl 2007-12-22, 7:14 am |
| "Calab" <myspam@csd.ca> writes:
>I can't shake the feeling that I really should be using Debian as my
>desktop, since I've had such great luck running it as my file server. My
>problem with this is that I'm told that Debian is "old skool" and that it's
>revisions behind other distro's.
If you run Debian stable, you are definitely not on the bleeding edge.
>If I'm building a system I'd rather start
>with what's current.
Debian then offers you the testing and unstable tracks, which contain
more current software.
An important difference is that stable only gets security updates, and
these updates only fix the security issues, whereas testing and
untable get all kinds of updates, and security issues are fixed by
providing a new version (that may have other changes, too).
If I'd install a new system now, I would probably go with Lenny
(testing), and stay with Lenny until it becomes oldstable, then
upgrade to the then-current stable track. And if you really want to
live on the bleeding edge, there's unstable.
>So, should I just be happy with an OpenSUSE system for my workstation and
>forget that I'm running Debian on my file server?
Maybe. But I find it quite a bit easier to remember what's where if
all the machines run the same distribution. OTOH, if you like the
OpenSUSE setup you have, it will take some work to get it with Debian.
> - PCIe nVidia 7600GT video card
If you want hardware 3D acceleration, you need the proprietary nvidia
driver for this card.
- anton
--
M. Anton Ertl Some things have to be seen to be believed
anton@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at Most things have to be believed to be seen
http://www.complang.tuwien.ac.at/anton/home.html
| |
| Luc The Perverse 2007-12-22, 1:14 pm |
| Anton Ertl wrote:
> "Calab" <myspam@csd.ca> writes:
>
> If you run Debian stable, you are definitely not on the bleeding edge.
>
>
> Debian then offers you the testing and unstable tracks, which contain
> more current software.
>
> An important difference is that stable only gets security updates, and
> these updates only fix the security issues, whereas testing and
> untable get all kinds of updates, and security issues are fixed by
> providing a new version (that may have other changes, too).
>
> If I'd install a new system now, I would probably go with Lenny
> (testing), and stay with Lenny until it becomes oldstable, then
> upgrade to the then-current stable track. And if you really want to
> live on the bleeding edge, there's unstable.
>
>
> Maybe. But I find it quite a bit easier to remember what's where if
> all the machines run the same distribution. OTOH, if you like the
> OpenSUSE setup you have, it will take some work to get it with Debian.
>
>
> If you want hardware 3D acceleration, you need the proprietary nvidia
> driver for this card.
>
> - anton
I was intimidated by the naming convention and decided to play it safe
and went with "stable" version initially . . .
My mistake was obvious pretty quickly.
I did a full reinstall and went with Debian unstable and I couldn't be
happier.
There updates usually at least once a day - the other day my screen
saver lock password display changed in appearance. It makes me feel
like I have the most up to date software all the time.
--
LTP
--
LTP
| |
|
| Calab wrote:
>
> Sorry to hijack this thread, but the Debian screenshots reminded me of a
> question that I wanted to ask...
> Right now, my file/ftp server is running on Debian Lenny. I do all the
> administration through an SSH connection with the rare use of Webmin
> through a web browser. It runs great and I love it.
> So far, I prefer OpenSUSE 10.2. I really like the Kickoff menu and I had
> no problems getting 3D acceleration and the "Desktop effects" to work.
> Most of my hardware worked without a problem, except a Logitech webcam and
> bluetooth headset. Some things I don't like is that OpenSUSE seems a lot
> more complicated under the hood. (An example is /etc/network ... I'm used
> to a single "interfaces" file)
> I can't shake the feeling that I really should be using Debian as my
> desktop, since I've had such great luck running it as my file server. My
> problem with this is that I'm told that Debian is "old skool" and that
> it's revisions behind other distro's. If I'm building a system I'd rather
> start with what's current.
FWIW, I've decided to run OpenSUSE on my desktop. The KDE GUI definately
seems to be the most polished of the bunch.
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