Linux which one

[GazCBG]

Hi,

I am looking to put Linux on my spare PC, what I want is

Desktop
Access to SSH/Shell
Be able to put up Apache, MySQL, PHP etc... for testing

What Linux distro do you recommend ?
I have been looking at CentOS

Also will a wireless keyboard and mouse work ?

[Kymmy]

I use Centos 5.2 here for my web server...purely due to the fact that Virtualmin/webmin has an install script for it..makes like 200% easier..

[Aragorn]

Try a couple of LiveCD's and see what takes your fancy.
Distros I have used -
Fedora (more cutting edge than RHEL/Centos)
RHEL / Centos - mainstream 'corporate' Linux (if Linux can be mainstream)
OpenSUSE - imo easier to work with than Fedora, but still flexible
SLES - enterprise server version of Suse
Ubuntu - too tightly packaged for my liking

I would suggest looking at OpenSUSE and Fedora/Centos first.

The keyboard / mouse should work with most recent distros, with a possible question against the server versions.

Also need to think about which window manager - most come with Gnome as default, but KDE is more 'windoze-like'. If the machine is up to spec you could try Compiz Fusion (3d effects etc).

[Peter_]

I am fairly new to Linux myself, tried Ubuntu and it had a hissy fit, so I then tried Kubuntu and found it very annoying presently trying Fedora but not 100% happy with it.

So any recommendations for general use and one that has good MP3 conversion software on board would be good as sick of working round licences to burn to CD.

[xpod]

Also need to think about which window manager - most come with Gnome as default, but KDE is more 'windoze-like'.

Sorry for being a pedant but Gnome & KDE are Desktop Environments and not Window Managers.

Ubuntu,for example,use the Gnome Desktop Environment with the Metacity Window Manager.Theres a few of the more common DE`s & WM`s for any interested parties.

If the machine is up to spec you could try Compiz Fusion (3d effects etc).

The more oomph the merrier for sure but Compiz gets by on far less than certain other eye candy seems to dont you think.

[admars]

I'd recommend www.distrowatch.com to have alook through the different Linuxes.

As others have said Live CDs are great for quick testing to see if you liek the immediate look and feel. Even better use something like Virtual box so you can knock up test boxes, either using the iso as a livecd or install them to a virtual hard drive.

CentOS and openSUSE spring to mind to me as good server ones to use.

What spec is the spare PC? How comfortable are you with Lunux/Unix/command line? A guy who look safter out work Linux web servers runs openSUSE on them, but no window manager. He controls them from command line, or remotely using an admin web page.
If you're using an old PC, you'll want to avoid KDE, Gnome, XFCE, and go for something like fluxbox, jwm
i think some of the small distros like Slitaz, puppy, and dsl can run web servers


Ubuntu I've grown to like at home for a day to day desktop os (hated not being able to just be root at first) , but now regularly use LinuxMint.
I was using openSUSE10.3 and 11 for a while (I was a bit of a distro hopper when I first installed Linux at home) but now prefer Mint.

Moldova Linux Mint is more or less Ubuntu but with loads of codec stuff already added. Plus you have the advantage of being able to use debian repos, ubuntu repos, and mint repos, so even more apps to choose from Saying that k3b is available for most distros (you don't need to be using kde to use it) and is my fave cd/dvd burning app.

[xpod]

As others have said Live CDs are great for quick testing to see if you liek the immediate look and feel

Unfortunately that initial look,especially with Ubuntu and it`s brown can itself be enough to put many people off right there and then.
As the old adage goes "never judge a book by it`s cover".....and that really goes for Linux Distro`s looks too.
Any Distro can be changed to look however you want it to look so although the live CD`s are great for hardware compatibility testing,as well as getting a feel for things nobody should ever be put off by any default looks on those Live cd`s.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by admars

Moldova Linux Mint is more or less Ubuntu but with loads of codec stuff already added. Plus you have the advantage of being able to use debian repos, ubuntu repos, and mint repos, so even more apps to choose from Saying that k3b is available for most distros (you don't need to be using kde to use it) and is my fave cd/dvd burning app.

So if I download Mint it can actually convert and burn MP3's

[admars]

So if I download Mint it can actually convert and burn MP3's

well in as much as MS Windows can, i.e. the OS doesn't do it, but you can get software for it which can

if what you mean is, " can I open a burn app, browse to the directory where my mp3 files are and quickly and easily make an audio cd?"
Then the answer is yes, the application k3b can do that. I can't remember if k3b was installed already, if it wasn't I quickly and easily added it using the software manager.

edit:
Hmmn, Maybe I did it in another distro, just tried it it didn't work, guess I need to install something else, I'll have a look! Mint's forums are handy for that sort of thing
edit again:
added libk3b2-extracodecs using Synaptic and k3b does it now

[Matth]

Mandrake (now Mandriva) is Redhat based, pre-tuned for i686 (P-II or better)

A lot of X86_32 distros will be i586 (Pentium) compiles - if you need a 386/486 linux check carefully.

The other thing, if your CPU is X86_65 capable, is the choice between 32 bit or 64 bit - if you need to support more RAM, the choice is made for you.

[KingDaveRa]

If you want easy - really easy - go with Ubuntu.

If you want lots of functionality thrown in, go with OpenSuSE.

Personally, I hate all the Redhat/Fedora derivatives. And yes, I'm aware SuSE is vaguely related :p

SLES gets my vote overall though.

[Peter_]

I downloaded Linux Mint and it appears to be OK up to now, seems more intuitive to use up to now, link below for anyone interested.

http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php