OSDev.org

Yayyak wrote:

Combuster wrote:Try gentoo. Distro versions are not a problem there

No, but the installation is. It's hardly user friendly. I tried it today. Ghastly.

Rumor has it there's actually a GUI installer available now.

I never tried it myself. The first time, the Gentoo installation handbook is terrifying and intimidating. But by reading and following it, you learn a lot about how Linux in general and Gentoo in specific "tick". That in turn sets the stage for a feeling of control over your Gentoo system I haven't encountered in RedHat, SuSE, or Kubuntu (the other Linuxes I tried).

The second time around it isn't that intimidating anymore, and if you have copies of some core config files (/etc/make.conf, /etc/portage/package.* and /var/lib/portage/world), recreating a setup is a breeze.

Today I don't break a sweat if I am asked to set up a Gentoo box remotely over SSH, or repairing an installation from a LiveCD. Gentoo makes you dive deeper into the system than you initially intended, but at the end of the road you realize it's better this way.

I agree, however, that Gentoo isn't "my mom" or "my little sister" stuff. It's for pros, but for those I know of no better Linux distro.

Solar wrote:Rumor has it there's actually a GUI installer available now.

Rumor also has it that it sucks. Seriously, from the articles I've read, it's not too good, and fails in comparison to Ubuntu's or Suse's. (Probably the prettiest out there.)

Solar wrote:The second time around it isn't that intimidating anymore, and if you have copies of some core config files (/etc/make.conf, /etc/portage/package.* and /var/lib/portage/world), recreating a setup is a breeze.

Totally agree. I've installed\reinstalled Gentoo on main box now about 3 times now, and it gets easier and easier. When I first installed it, the manual (Which is awesome, by the way.) seemed to be a completely illogical bunch of instructions. However, now, after doing it more than once, it really makes quite a bit of sense. (Surprising, right?)

When I first installed it, the manual (Which is awesome, by the way.) seemed to be a completely illogical bunch of instructions. However, now, after doing it more than once, it really makes quite a bit of sense. (Surprising, right?)

Because of that manual, anybody who isn't computer illiterate can install gentoo, and learn more about linux in the process. The first go is still a long run, but following the instructions will get you a working system.
And every subsequent time it gets easier

As for other distros, I've tried SuSE and Xandros several times before I found gentoo, now I wouldn't want to try anything else.

It's for pros, but for those I know of no better Linux distro.

And since you want to run a server...