Linux Which Linux OS would suit me?

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Gaurish said:
I didn't get it what you meant. your files would still be accessible in Linux as well, it can read fat and ntfs partition. also, for starting you probably want to setup a dual boot system.

Ubuntu has a nice step-by-step guide for switching too
Switching From Windows
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Yes, I know they are accessible.

I want my current XP installation to be available in VirtualBox with all the softwares and config preserved. So, if I have problem developing PHP in linux, I can still fireup virtualbox and run windows inside that to continue my work.

I hope, I made this clear.

Searching on Google didn't yield useful results. It seems like I am the first person who wants to accomplish such a thing.
 
Some thoughts while I wait for my freshly installed base Arch system to upgrade heh. Beginner's guide is very nice and easy to follow, yet to install KDE:

1. Rolling release model may be nice but in Arch's own words, you are on the cutting/bleeding edge meaning even experienced users can screw up and trash their systems, no?

2. I guess you rely mostly on "upstream" software projects with no additional patches/fixes/testing like you get with the popular distros.

3. What about bug fixes and security updates? Again, rely on upstream? I doubt Arch quickly patches any bugs or security vulnerabilities...

4. It seems it will be a maintenance headache, requiring lots of effort/work on your part? Even the package management FAQ warns that you should take care and also watch for unwanted changes post install/upgrade...

There are only 2 reasons (IMHO) to stick with Arch if they are true:

1. You don't want to reinstall every 6 months to get a new distro even though you can also just upgrade, I prefer reinstalling them and it takes under 10 min anyway plus some short time configuring/customising.

2. You want the so-called speed. If Arch is not fast on my desktop I'll drop it fast.

Some advantages of distros like Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva over Arch and other rolling-release distros:

1. Early access to cutting edge experimental features like pulseaudio, fancy/fast-boot (KMS/Plymouth/splash etc).

2. Least maintenance workload - less command line work since GUIs are available for much.

3. Well and broadly tested so reduced chance of problems.

4. Fast security updates.

I'm sure I'll have more/different opinions since I plan to use Arch for next few weeks/months until Ubuntu Karmic 9.10 becomes stable enough to install...:)
 
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arch linux is just 162 mb ?

I am trying to download a torrent from their website (FTP USB Images: i686 - x86_64).

Is that a correct one ?
 
^^Its ~300Mb .. For the Core ISo.. FTP will install all the latest software from internet and will require quite a handful of download.. Though you have to download X and other utils as well but in FTP it will download every bit of software needed for installation :P:
 
vishalrao said:
Some thoughts while I wait for my freshly installed base Arch system to upgrade heh. Beginner's guide is very nice and easy to follow, yet to install KDE:

1. Rolling release model may be nice but in Arch's own words, you are on the cutting/bleeding edge meaning even experienced users can screw up and trash their systems, no?
2. I guess you rely mostly on "upstream" software projects with no additional patches/fixes/testing like you get with the popular distros.
3. What about bug fixes and security updates? Again, rely on upstream? I doubt Arch quickly patches any bugs or security vulnerabilities...
4. It seems it will be a maintenance headache, requiring lots of effort/work on your part? Even the package management FAQ warns that you should take care and also watch for unwanted changes post install/upgrade...

There are only 2 reasons (IMHO) to stick with Arch if they are true:

1. You don't want to reinstall every 6 months to get a new distro even though you can also just upgrade, I prefer reinstalling them and it takes under 10 min anyway plus some short time configuring/customising.
2. You want the so-called speed. If Arch is not fast on my desktop I'll drop it fast.

Some advantages of distros like Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva over Arch and other rolling-release distros:

1. Early access to cutting edge experimental features like pulseaudio, fancy/fast-boot (KMS/Plymouth/splash etc).
2. Least maintenance workload - less command line work since GUIs are available for much.
3. Well and broadly tested so reduced chance of problems.
4. Fast security updates.

I'm sure I'll have more/different opinions since I plan to use Arch for next few weeks/months until Ubuntu Karmic 9.10 becomes stable enough to install...:)
Click to expand...

Check this post. I totally agree with it. Though I will be using Arch as my desktop soon as I need applications available easily which arch has. But the point lies in security and patches available.

No matter how hard they try, they won't be able to provide a easy environment like Ubuntu | Mandriva | Fedora or SUSE :)

If you are new get started with buntu or driva :)
 
Too late but late than never.. :lol:

i had started the installation, it wrote the image file and then asked for a reboot.

Saw ubuntu along with vista and Win 7, but when i select Ubuntu, it restarts my system instead of continuing :ashamed:

So, whats next Darky :P
 
Darky,i am looking for lightweight linuxOS...i know you might have answered this several times..but still need before i go d/l distros...i will list various linux distros,please suggest the best light weight with minimum req of RAM&processing power...

Linpus lite

Xubuntu

vector

PCLOS tinyME

slax

DSL

Puppy

the main req would be a full fledged desktop OS...:)just went through this thread ,some members recommend arch?is it light weight?
 
how much ram/what cpu do you have? i think even normal latest distro (ubuntu, mandriva, fedora) will do if you have at least 512 mb ram and whatever CPU :) if you have less RAM, try xubuntu since you want "full fledged" desktop...
 
vishalrao said:
BTW, how do you handle any exotic configs? Any sound/pulseaudio issues? What about things like WiFi/bluetooth/printing etc? (Yes I've read this in the guide, just want to know if any unexpected hassles/problems faced) 3d drivers for nvidia etc I dont think should be a problem...

I think I will use my tablet PC as a guinea pig to test playing around with Arch now :)
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I find editing simply text files more easy and then clicking here an there. the best thing with arch is the design, Simple approach.

Whenever I run into errors, I get have friendly arch community for help(forums,mailing list,IRC) etc.
 
vishalrao said:
Some thoughts while I wait for my freshly installed base Arch system to upgrade heh. Beginner's guide is very nice and easy to follow, yet to install KDE:

1. Rolling release model may be nice but in Arch's own words, you are on the cutting/bleeding edge meaning even experienced users can screw up and trash their systems, no?
Click to expand...

Cutting edge meaning, I always want to have latest versions. however if you are bothered, don't run "pacman -Syu" and stay stable

2. I guess you rely mostly on "upstream" software projects with no additional patches/fixes/testing like you get with the popular distros.

3. What about bug fixes and security updates? Again, rely on upstream? I doubt Arch quickly patches any bugs or security vulnerabilities...
Click to expand...

The Arch way. :ohyeah:

4. It seems it will be a maintenance headache, requiring lots of effort/work on your part? Even the package management FAQ warns that you should take care and also watch for unwanted changes post install/upgrade...
Click to expand...

well, upgrading your entire system with a single command feels like maintenance headache. then it really it:P

Code: 
 I prefer reinstalling them and it takes under 10 min anyway plus some short time configuring/customising.

Tha't what I don't want, as I started with Ubuntu 6.06. then Upgraded to 7.10. then while doing next upgrade it broke, I have to a fresh install. I don't want that. as I do everything customized to my needs

You forgot few more advantages

* Extensive Arch User Repository (AUR)

* ABS - The Arch Build System: powerful BSD like ports. you got option for source + binary. you don't get this kind of flexibility on other distros

Bottomline is go for arch if CLI does not scare you and you got full knowledge of your system(mainly hardware)

Enjoy!
 
update for you gaurish: i have arch running on both my tablet and desktop with kde and nvidia drivers :) sound, networking working fine. yet to configure wifi and things like printing, pulseaudio ...

btw how long have you been running arch? did you ever come across a situation where you upgraded "pacman -Syu" and it caused damage to the configuration? yes i read wiki warning that you should read announcements on main archlinux page before ever attempting upgrades :)

edit: i posted in other thread, i have yaourt running and powerpill too :) agreed arch wiki is the best thing out there...
 
vishalrao said:
.

btw how long have you been running arch? did you ever come across a situation where you upgraded "pacman -Syu" and it caused damage to the configuration? yes i read wiki warning that you should read announcements on main archlinux page before ever attempting upgrades :)
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more than a 1year now.

running upgrade would never damage your system. at worst case, upgrade may fail. nothing more. there is no threat that your system would stop working.

upgrade did fail for me 1 time when going major upgrade. but that's nothing, as I update system every day. so 1 errors in thousands of upgrades is acceptable to me.Also, the fix was very simple though, I did check the archlinux website. there just one command to be ran and done!

if still you are not comfortable, then use regular distros;)

vishalrao said:
update for you gaurish: i have arch running on both my tablet and desktop with kde and nvidia drivers :) sound, networking working fine. yet to configure wifi and things like printing, pulseaudio ..
Click to expand...

Use OSSv4 instead of pluseaudio. it rocks. pluseaudio is buggy

dpacmittal said:
I want to ask one question, though, before completely moving to Linux. I've got all my files in windows. Can I use anything to clone all the partitions into VirtualBox / VMware HDD Images, so that I can still access my current system in virtual mode under Linux?

That way, I could carry on with my work uninterruptedly.
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Can be done easily without problems.

*make a backup of your current windows using fancy "Moving my Computer wizard" that MS gives

* Install windows in VirtualBox / VMware

* Restores that backup into Windows running under VM just like you would do on normal Computer

Resources:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/0625443e-f5c7-4bec-a5e3-3b7e00503c481033.mspx

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/699ce30c-13f1-46ec-9684-e84bf4109dd81033.mspx

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/ca11e84f-fce6-4e3e-82ef-467870bb6baf1033.mspx
 
Gaurish said:
if still you are not comfortable, then use regular distros;)
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not that im not comfortable with this stuff, i totally enjoyed installing and configuring arch, it reminded me of playing with slackware 10 yrs ago, its just that in case i screw up an upgrade and cannot avoid a reinstall then its a pain with slow broadband :)

two notes:

just tried full arch boot from grub menu to runlevel 5 kdm login screen, its 5 seconds faster than jaunty! (took 20 seconds flat) i guess next step is once things are stable then i can compile kernel with modules included to see if it speeds up a little bit more... already have many daemons set to background startup during boot.

noticed internet/pacman lookups were slow (transfer speed ok), searched web and found out i was just using my router as nameserver and inside my router i had opendns servers. adding opendns nameservers directly to /etc/resolv.conf then doing "/etc/rc.d/network restart" solved the problem...
 
Gaurish said:
Use OSSv4 instead of pluseaudio. it rocks. pluseaudio is buggy
Click to expand...

currenlty im using alsa with it as the oss wrapper, i thought oss is an outdated/unmaintened system? pulseaudio i know is buggy but i noticed arch kernel has "preempt" enabled (not sure if RT is enabled) so i want to try "glitch free" if it really is glitch free... should be better than ubuntu if so...
 
vishalrao said:
not that im not comfortable with this stuff, i totally enjoyed installing and configuring arch, it reminded me of playing with slackware 10 yrs ago, its just that in case i screw up an upgrade and cannot avoid a reinstall then its a pain with slow broadband :)
Click to expand...

In this case backups come handy.for this very reason its important to do backups. I do weekly backups on a external HDD using rsync .

Next I am thinking for setting about Mac style Time Machine using flyback

two notes:

just tried full arch boot from grub menu to runlevel 5 kdm login screen, its 5 seconds faster than jaunty! (took 20 seconds flat) i guess next step is once things are stable then i can compile kernel with modules included to see if it speeds up a little bit more... already have many daemons set to background startup during boot.
Click to expand...

If you want to get maximum performance from your machine, try ABS. as everything is complied natively the performance is faster

vishalrao said:
currenlty im using alsa with it as the oss wrapper, i thought oss is an outdated/unmaintened system
Click to expand...

This should answer your questions about OSS

http://4front-tech.com/hannublog/?p=5
 
vishalrao said:
currenlty im using alsa with it as the oss wrapper, i thought oss is an outdated/unmaintened system? pulseaudio i know is buggy but i noticed arch kernel has "preempt" enabled (not sure if RT is enabled) so i want to try "glitch free" if it really is glitch free... should be better than ubuntu if so...
Click to expand...

OSS is still thriving IIRC.but Isn't latest pulseaudio fine enough?BTW ,I have a ppa repo added for Ubuntu:

Code: 
#pulseaudio

deb [url]http://ppa.launchpad.net/themuso/ppa/ubuntu[/url] jaunty main

deb-src [url]http://ppa.launchpad.net/themuso/ppa/ubuntu[/url] jaunty main

#ALSA

deb [url]http://ppa.launchpad.net/sarvatt/ppa/ubuntu[/url] jaunty main

Gaurish said:
Yup. we all like playing with toy, don't we?
Click to expand...

I think I don't.:) let the geeks play with `em all.
 
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