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Linux Overview and Demo. Chris Wester Jim Santana Jeff Jones. Outline. What is a distribution? How many distributions are there? How to get a distribution? Comparison of 4 distributions: Fedora Core 4 Gentoo Debian Knoppix Live Demonstration. What is a Distribution?.
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LinuxOverview and Demo Chris Wester Jim Santana Jeff Jones
Outline • What is a distribution? • How many distributions are there? • How to get a distribution? • Comparison of 4 distributions: • Fedora Core 4 • Gentoo • Debian • Knoppix • Live Demonstration
What is a Distribution? • A Linux distribution (or distro) is a complete Linux operating system: a collection of free and sometimes non-free software created by individuals, groups and organization from around the world and having the Linux kernel at its core. • Companies such as Red Hat, SuSE, MandrakeSoft, as well as the Gentoo project, compile the software and provide it as a complete system ready to install and use. (wikipedia)
How Many Distros Are There? • Currently, there are 345 active distributions listed on distrowatch.com
How Do I Get A Distribution? • Distributions are available for download from many sources: • Distribution-specific websites. • BitTorrent downloads. • Purchase of installation CD. • OSU’s Open Source Lab (OSUOSL) • http://ftp.oregonstate.edu/pub
Distribution Comparison • Comparison of 4 major distributions: • Fedora Core 4 • Gentoo • Debian • Knoppix
Fedora Core 4 • http://www.fedora.org OR OSUOSL • Advantages: • Graphical Installer • “Out of box” support for most hardware • All packages for install contained on LiveDVD • Older releases of FC become Red Hat Enterprise Linux. • FC5 to be released 02.27.06
Fedora Core 4 • Disadvantages: • Poor multimedia support without extensive program manipulations • No hardware optimizations • Enormous system resource usage • Installer size • 4 CD’s / 1 DVD
Gentoo Linux • http://www.gentoo.org OR OSUOSL • Advantages: • Powerful Updater: Portage • Checks package dependencies before installation • Heavy Multimedia support “Out of box” • DIVX, MP3, XVID, Quicktime • Highly Customizable hardware configurations • Lower system resource usage • Faster program execution • Installer size: • 1 CD
Gentoo Linux • Disadvantages: • No Graphical Installer • Text-Based only • LiveCD doesn’t contain extra packages • GUI must be downloaded from the internet • Hardware specific kernel means long compile times for software.
Debian • http://www.debian.org OR OSUOSL • Advantages: • Package installer Apt-get • Checks for dependencies before installation • Huge pool of volunteer programmers
Debian • Disadvantages: • Installation size: • 14 CD’s / 2 DVD • Doesn’t include KDE • Difficult to configure
Knoppix • http://www.knoppix.org OR OSUOSL • Advantages: • No HD installation necessary • Fully functional GUI (KDE) • Hardware Support via NDISWrapper • Uses Windows drivers • Ease of use • Boot to CD • Perfect for first-time users
Knoppix • Disadvantages: • Performance depends on system specs • Loads entire OS to RAM • Must expand programs from the CD to RAM • Only has one GUI (KDE) • Heavy system resource usage
So What’s The Best Distro? • It Depends. • Intended usage • End-user demands