Very Computer

I realise I am unlikely to be the first person to ask this. I'm
looking to build a pc an run linux as the OS.  If all goes well I'm
planning to use it only for running basic office programs and my own
FORTRAN programs.  Subsequently, for a laugh, I thought I might set up
a (small) cluster using cheap components.  Which is the best
distribution?  Its going to be one of the major commercial versions,
but which one out of RedHat, SuSE, Madrake etc is most suitable?

Cheers

Quote:> I realise I am unlikely to be the first person to ask this. I'm
> looking to build a pc an run linux as the OS.  If all goes well I'm
> planning to use it only for running basic office programs and my own
> FORTRAN programs.  Subsequently, for a laugh, I thought I might set up
> a (small) cluster using cheap components.  Which is the best
> distribution?  Its going to be one of the major commercial versions,
> but which one out of RedHat, SuSE, Madrake etc is most suitable?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=best+linux+distribution

Try them all.

http://cart.cheapbytes.com/cgi-bin/cart
under CheapBytes CDs (top left)
contains linux x86 Install cds for ~$2 each and up + shipping

Redhat 7.x x86 install and doc cd (~$4)
Linux Mandrake 8.x  (GPL Version) (~$6)

For people accross the pond,
        http://www.linuxemporium.co.uk
        http://www.linux123.co.uk/

and for the down under fokes
        http://www.cetustech.com.au/

Mandrake is based on Redhat, has more utilities, a much
better user friendly installer.

Pick custom/expert install if you do not want to wipe
your disk. Load cd and read the docs with your browser.

Install docs are on the Mandrake cd and readable via Micro$not.

For hardware compatibility
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/fhard.php3
http://www.redhat.com/corp/support/hardware/index.html
http://lhd.datapower.com

I get several people at work to go in on my credit card
and I get my shipping reduced to  $1 a cd when we split
shipping.

  I bought a cheap computer on UBID and had problems booting and installing
Red Hat 7.2. I then tried Debian Potato and Slackware 8.0. Both of them
booted immediately and installed extremely easily.  I have a single board
computer and it was a little easier getting Slackware configured for the
video and NIC cards and compiling a new kernel.

  If you are rich and can afford the $43 (including S&H) or so for the 4CD
Slackware 8.0 set.  I'd recommend that.  Debian is only $14 but they are
about to release their next version.

  Keep in mind that I have about 2 weeks experience here, so only take my
word for what it is worth.

[Posted and mailed]

Quote:> I realise I am unlikely to be the first person to ask this. I'm
> looking to build a pc an run linux as the OS.  If all goes well I'm
> planning to use it only for running basic office programs and my own
> FORTRAN programs.  Subsequently, for a laugh, I thought I might set up
> a (small) cluster using cheap components.  Which is the best
> distribution?  Its going to be one of the major commercial versions,
> but which one out of RedHat, SuSE, Madrake etc is most suitable?

There is no "best" distribution. What works well depends on what type
of work it'll be asked to do, the expertise of the users and
administrators, the hardware on which it'll be run, etc.. I have no
experience with clustering, so I can't address that part of the
question, but for the rest, check my Linux distributions Web page:

http://www.rodsbooks.com/distribs/

--

http://www.rodsbooks.com
Author of books on Linux & multi-OS configuration

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there is no one "best" distro - it all depends on your
requirements. some distros will fit on a floppy disk,
some are more in tune as servers, some as workstations,
some designed for router installs, and some designed as
feature-packed distros. both SuSE and Mandy are good
distros (SuSE Pro has more in the box; you can download
Mandy, burn it, and be running quickly). For a hobbyist,
Slackware and Gentoo come to mind. for you though, i'd
probably pick either SuSE or Mandy. two good sources for
a distro list are:

http://www.distrowatch.com/
http://www.linux.org/dist/index.html

- --
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Michael J. Tobler: motorcyclist, surfer,  #    Black holes result
 skydiver, and author: "Inside Linux",     #   when God divides the  
 "C++ HowTo", "C++ Unleashed"              #     universe by zero

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Best for what?  Each distro has its own strengths and weaknesses.

--
drumstik
www.ameriphreak.com
http://phreaks.freeshell.org/files/valuhackAdv.exe
http://valuhack.sourceforge.net