Xandros [Was: Switching from SuSE]
On Mon, 2003-04-21 at 00:50, Haralambos Geortgilakis wrote:
> Hi Yall & Anupam,
>
> dude, checked out Xandros 1.0?
>
Hmmm... they seem strangely hesitant to give any information at all on
how to get it without sending them a check. I know that companies need
to make money, but not providing easily accesible ISOs is gonna hurt
them.
I do like the look of their SOAP based admin stuff though (but then I'm
a web developer, so I prefer to create my software as a web based app).
Jon
> Greek Geek :-)
>
> TyagiAnupam@aol.com wrote:
> > In a message dated 4/20/03 4:43:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> > peter@whysall.net writes:
> >
> > > On Sun, 2003-04-20 at 20:19, TyagiAnupam@aol.com wrote:
> > > >Hi,
> > > >
> > > >I do not yet subscribe to this list, so please copy your reply to
> > > my
> > > >address. I am thinking of switching from SuSE to Debian and have
> > > a few
> > > >questions to find out if Debian is for me---I know in the
> > > long-run it
> > > >is, but can it do a few critical tasks now.
> > >
> > > Actually, subscribing to this list might be helpful to you.
> > > Admittedly,
> > > it is a bit like drinking from a firehose, but if you regard it as
> > > a
> > > searchable resource that happens to turn up in email...
> >
> >
> > Thanks! I will try to subscribe sometime later today.
> >
> > > >Why switching from SuSE: I have SuSE 7.1. For most part it works
> > > >fine, until I want to configure it, get user support (I never
> > > used it
> > > >because I could install and use it by myself, but when I needed
> > > them
> > > >they tell me that my support period expired---thanks!). So, first
> > > I
> > > >ran into Winmodem problems and could not connect to the internet.
> > > >Now, I cannot use my Linksys wireless card with it. Without this
> > > I am
> > > >stuck with MS-Win for my internet connectivity. Without this
> > > >connectivity, I am stuck with my current internet provider that
> > > does
> > > >not support Linux---but why ask them for Linux when I can't use
> > > it to
> > > >connect to internet. I am willing to upgrade to newer SuSE, buy
> > > other
> > > >distributions (Redhat, Mandrake) if their distributions supports
> > > my
> > > >needs for internet connectivity. But can't find info on this on
> > > their
> > > >website (no reply to my e-mail from Mandrake yet): they need to
> > > hire
> > > >better business consultants---no point advertising new features,
> > > when
> > > >you bury the information about switching at some obscure place on
> > > the
> > > >website. As Shapiro and Varian write (in "Information Rules")
> > > >user-base is key to success in this market---read it, SuSE,
> > > Mandrake
> > > >(Redhat has been doing the readings---but they don't want
> > > individual
> > > >users, only enterprise). If Debian can handle this transition, I
> > > will
> > > >make a contribution equivalent to my purchase of another Linux
> > > >distribution to Debian project---I would have *subscribed* one of
> > > the
> > > >other Linuxes, so I will subscribe to Debian---continuous flow of
> > > >funds to support open source, open support.
> > > >
> > > >What I need from Debian immediately: (1) Linksys network card
> > > support
> > > >with Linksys router/access point that is configured with a Win-XP
> > > >computer.
> > > What is the exact model of your network card? The router should be
> > > irrelevant - it'll just work as it doesn't care what your
> > > operating
> > > system is. An access point is effectively just a bridge
> > > (admittedly with
> > > knobs on) and as such is transparent to the devices that are
> > > clients of
> > > it.
> >
> >
> > The card is Linksys Instant Wireless Series model WPC11 ver. 3,
> > using 802.11b
> > It is said to support upto 128-bit WEP, but a search on the web
> > shows a lot of posts with problems with using this card with WEP
> > under linux.
> >
> > > >(2) Preferably Winmodem support, that can hopefully connect to
> > > AOL, at
> > > >least for some time. I know there are issues on AOL side, may be
> > > they
> > > >will give the info needed for connection.
> > >
> > > This is going to be hard. WinModem support is difficult at the
> > > best of
> > > times. Even though AOL uses a proprietary client, I'm not entirely
> > > sure
> > > that they don't just use a regular PPP connection. Maybe someone
> > > else
> > > can speak to this and other dialup issues (like Winmodems)?
> >
> >
> > I am using Fujitsu-E-6570 laptop, 380 RAM (128 original), 20GB HD.
> >
> > > >(3) Very little time spent doing system admin, fixing config
> > > files,
> > > >etc. Step-by-step instructions for doing so. I am mainly a user,
> > > and
> > > >not an administrator---though I can do some if needed, but would
> > > like
> > > >to automate these. I have already spend way too many hours on
> > > >winmodem problem and recovering from crashes while building SuSE
> > > >kernel for Linksys wireless LAN. They have put their own fixes
> > > on the
> > > >kernel, which do not correspond to their sources when building
> > > wlan
> > > >modules, so it fails.
> > >
> > > To the very best of my knowledge, Debian's kernel sources and
> > > their
> > > kernels correspond. "apt-cache search kernel-patch" reveals a
> > > large
> > > number of patches that can be used with the kernel-package system
> > > to
> > > safely patch your kernel. You'll like kernel-package. I mean
> > > *really
> > > like* it.
> >
> > > >(4) Good security and virus protection.
> > >
> > > Well, if you stick to "stable" (AKA Woody) then you'll be as
> > > secure as
> > > the updates from security.debian.org. However, security is not
> > > just
> > > about the software - it's down to you, too. Virus protection? Not
> > > an
> > > issue on Linux.
> >
> > > >(5) My computing needs are modest (no gaming, etc.), primarily
> > > >statistical (with open source software well supported on linux).
> > > If I
> > > >switch, I am likely to stay with a distribution---but because of
> > > >switching costs that I will have to incur I am posting this
> > > message to
> > > >make sure this will work for me.
> > >
> > > Well, if you're forthcoming with information, and ask sensible
> > > questions, then people here will help you out all they can. A
> > > couple of
> > > pointers:
> > >
> > > 1. Be as specific as you can - this means including device makes
> > > and
> > > models, kernel versions, error messages.
> >
> >
> > The default kernel with SuSE 7.1 is 2.2.18. But I have rebuit and
> > reinstalled so many times that the LILO gives the option of three:
> > 2.2.18, something called SuSE kernel (don't know what this is), and
> > the one I actually use 2.4.0-4GB. The "4GB" part is the SuSE doing
> > (I think to provide enhaced support), and it created problems
> > because there is a complain while building modules that the kernel
> > is different from the source. Sources are not installed when the
> > system was installed, and Yast configuration tool does not seem to
> > give an option to install only sources. The sources are not
> > installed at their usual place, even when installed. So I am not
> > even sure that some directories under /usr/src/linux* contains the
> > needed sources. But that is a moot point, because of the "4GB"
> > issue.
> >
> >
> > > 2. If you're trying to achieve a goal, and something isn't
> > > working, tell
> > > us about the goal, as well as the thing that isn't working.
> >
> >
> > The goal is to get the Wireless card working securely, then I can do
> > the installations, upgrades, etc from Linux, and get to use it more
> > often---as a user I have worked more on Unix than any other system,
> > so I am definitely looking forward to spending more time on Linux.
> > The current hurdle is making the wireless LAN work and getting used
> > to some admin tasks and automating them.
> >
> > Please also suggest a good intro book or printable web document on
> > Linux administration if you know of any. I already have "Linux in
> > a Nutshell" from O'Reilly, but this is a reference. I also have
> > "LINUX network administrator's Guide" by Olaf Kirch and Terry Dawson
> > (O'Reilly) and "Unix system administration handbook" by Evi Nemeth,
> > Garth Snyder and Scott Seebass. The last two are dated, and don't
> > even mention wireless, not that I know all that is in there. So, a
> > good intro will be helpful. I know something about changing
> > dot-files from *user* point of view.
> >
> >
> > > >I will be thankful for any help with these. I have been
> > > encouraged by
> > > >some posts in your archive to give Debian a try, and have heard
> > > good
> > > >things about user support on Debian.
> > >
> > > Welcome aboard. I'm sure I'm not alone in extending a warm welcome
> > > to a
> > > new Debianista!
> >
> >
> > Thanks a lot!
> >
> > ---Anupam.
>
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