What distro do you run?

[delta_t]

FreeBSD

[PrimeCruncher]

Dumped Red Hat Fedora Core 4 as the OS of choice for my farm server. Now running Mandriva (formerly Mandrake) Linux 10.2 (AKA LE 2005). MUCH better. Very easy to use (note that this is coming from a primarily Windoze user!) and MUCH faster than FC4.

[rdotson]

Originally Posted by adpowers

... because you compile everything from source for your own system.

What computer system/OS do you use to compile your Gentoo kernel and other sources on? Seriously, this is my primary concern about switching to Linux (probably Xandros, but I'd like to check out Lindows as well if possible).

I run two versions of Windows 2000 on two different partitions. I have a primary installation that I use for most everything, and I use the secondary "bare-bones" Windows 2000 installation simply to do maintenance and backups of the primary installation.

How do you go about backing up your Linux installation so that if you have a disk crash or something you don't have to reinstall the whole OS plus apps, etc., from scratch? I have no problem saving my home directory and other personal data, but an OS typically won't let you backup system files that are in use and potentially changing all the time.

Finally, how do you go about organizing your personal data and programs? In Windows I usually have a few main directories in the root for different projects, programs, etc. Am I supposed to put all that into my Linux home directory (which usually gets *incredibly* cluttered), or is it Ok to create my own directories off the main "/" root directory? Stuff like this isn't typically discussed in Linux User Guides.

Thanks,

Ron

[paulunderwood]

What computer system/OS do you use to compile your Gentoo kernel and other sources on? Seriously, this is my primary concern about switching to Linux (probably Xandros, but I'd like to check out Lindows as well if possible).

I don't know much about Gentoo except the whole system can be compiled as it is installed making it very efficient.

You've missed out on the Linspire 5.0 give-away last week -- I got my copy over bittorrent

I run two versions of Windows 2000 on two different partitions. I have a primary installation that I use for most everything, and I use the secondary "bare-bones" Windows 2000 installation simply to do maintenance and backups of the primary installation.

You could do the same thing under linux. As well as a "/home" partition and a swap partition you could have as many Linux "/" partitions as you like -- all different distributions if you like But one is usually good enough.

How do you go about backing up your Linux installation so that if you have a disk crash or something you don't have to reinstall the whole OS plus apps, etc., from scratch? I have no problem saving my home directory and other personal data, but an OS typically won't let you backup system files that are in use and potentially changing all the time.

You could periodically mirror everything with "cron" if you are really that paranoid. I think "rsync" is used to make a back up machine. Then there are things like software RAID.

Finally, how do you go about organizing your personal data and programs? In Windows I usually have a few main directories in the root for different projects, programs, etc. Am I supposed to put all that into my Linux home directory (which usually gets *incredibly* cluttered), or is it Ok to create my own directories off the main "/" root directory? Stuff like this isn't typically discussed in Linux User Guides.

It is best to keep all your personal stuff on the "/home" directory, the reason being that if you need to reinstall the system under the "/" partition then you do not affect the "/home" partition -- simply reformat the "/" partition but not the "/home" one

You can put stuff in a directory under "/" if you have to -- you can give a user access using the root account and "chown" or "chmod"

[Xyzzy]

Originally Posted by rdotson

Snip!

In a nutshell, whatever you want to do is probably possible... Linux (Unix) is geared towards letting *you* make the decisions, not some other guy...

If you have the time, please read this:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/writings/taoup/html/

It describes a lot of the "why" and "how"... Trust me, it is worth reading, and it is free!

[Peter Nelson]

Currently using production 9.3 Professional of Suse.

However, recent developments are OPENSUSE.ORG

The 10.0 has been through four betas and is at Release candidate 1. Your can download it now from opensuse site.
Final version scheduled for October 6th. I expect to see boxed versions out in Oct/Nov.

10.1 is already in Alpha.

[Peter Nelson]

"Scheduled for 6th October."

Final Suse 10 was RELEASED on 6th October. Go download it!

What could another large OS vendor LEARN from this?

[victor]

Gentoo linux

[xilman]

Originally Posted by victor

Gentoo linux

Trying to install amd64-gentoo on a 3500+ box and having a frustrating time of it

The damned clock is running much faster than it should --- looks like interrupts are being dropped somewhere.

Every time I tell the machine to reboot, it shuts down and just sits. I have to pull the power cord to make it pay attention again.



Paul

P.S. At least a certain large software manufacturer got these two right.

[paulunderwood]

Every time I tell the machine to reboot, it shuts down and just sits. I have to pull the power cord to make it pay attention again.

Is it a BIOS setting? Are you saying M$ reboots the same box?

[xilman]

Originally Posted by paulunderwood

Is it a BIOS setting? Are you saying M$ reboots the same box?

I assume so and yes, respectively.

The nearest I've yet found on Google is someone having similar symptoms on a dual-Opteron box. His BIOS had a disabled APCI setting. I took at look at my BIOS, couldn't see anything immediately wrong and, anyway, XPHome Does The Right Thing. It is a pity it's such a repulsive operating system.


Paul