Re: linux size (fwd)

[mike <troll@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Adam Williams wrote:
> 
> >
> > > i know this might seem like a stupid question, but is redhat any harder to
> > > use? i heard one person on irc say that slackware is for idiots, maybe he's
> > > just stupid or didn't know what he was talking about. i also heard NASA
> uses
> > > debian, so well you'd think it'd be halfway decent if they did.
> >
> > It all depends on your particular background, and what expectations and
> > experiences you bring to Linux (and to Unix in general). Understanding "the
> > Unix philosophy" is essential if you want to work with the system in great
> > detail, but in reality you can learn as much, or as little, as you want.
> > Obviously, the more you learn, the more you'll be able to use the tools
> > effectively (unless you get distracted by the infinite customization
> > options, as so many Windows users discovered...programs to randomly change
> > one's background wallpaper? Well, "for those who like that sort of thing,
> > that's the sort of thing they like.")
> >
> 
> I think that given that RedHat comes with some nice admin tools (control-panel)
> it is probably easier to use than most other distributions.  Slackware is
> pretty much manageless,  as in their is nothing that even attempts to keep
> track of what file lives where and who (application wise) it belongs to.

Actually, if you use the "pkgtool" "installpkg" or "setup" you will
generate a couple of log files which name the files installed, and if
I'm correct, where they are in the tree. Not as complete as Red Hat or
Debian, it exists nonetheless.

-Mike List

  Most
> commetcial software for Linux that I have seen (which is certainly not close to
> ever package) seem to "endorse" RedHat as their prefered environment.  Since I
> don't have anything else I don't know what would happen otherwise.  And I here
> that LinuxConf (and AWESOME utility) has been fully integrated into RedHat 5.1,
>  which lets you control and configure just about everything from a web browser.
>  When I looked at it awhile ago it did DNS, NIS, users, sendmail (to some
> degree), and even a little BOOTP.
> 
> > Exactly. Fortunately, this is changing more quickly than any other area,
> > with the possible exception of "ease of use" (Gnome, KDE, the concept of
> > the Linux Standard Distribution (or is it the Linux Distribution Standard?)
> > and many more). KDE in particular (or something else that comes out of
> > nowhere!) just might be the killer interface that gets your grandmother
> > using Linux (a cliche, but a good yardstick nonetheless).
> >
> 
> It is a pretty sight (albiet a memory hog).
> 
> >
> > Too true. So it's a good idea to read reviews, as well as look through
> > books on the racks and see how much real content they offer, as opposed to
> > repackaging the fruits of the open source community's efforts. The only
> > positive part of this is that it gets the information into the hands of
> > those without net access themselves.
> >
> 
> I've found "better" contect in UNIX books verses LINUX specific books.  And
> 99.44% of the stuff carries over.  What I'd really love is a good performance
> tuning book for Linux.