VANITY -- Best version of Linux? Apache? Perl?

08/13/2002 | by Lazamataz

[Lazamataz]

I'm putting together a Linux box. Want to run Apache and maybe a perl interpreter. Does anyone have a suggestion as to the best version of Linux? Where do I go for that best version? How about Apache? What is the best perl development environment?

Keeping in mind, of course, that Free is Good.

[hole_n_one]

Apache and perl will come with any distro. Also, in order to avoid humiliating taunts when asking questions about Linux, make sure you understand that Linux is just the kernel (stable version at 2.4.19). :) If you're doing web development with Apache and perl, you'll probably want mod_perl, which is an Apache module specifically made to run perl CGI scripts from. You'll also want to download the latest Mozilla browser. The distros tend to be a little behind on it. In terms of a development environment, I myself prefer just a bunch of XTerms with nedit for coding.

When will the version of this thread that has the text in English be available?

[sackofcatfood]

If you're new, you definitely want either Mandrake or Redhat. Mandrake has just awesome out-of-the-box hardware support, but there's a reason why ReadHat is the defacto industry standard. :D

If I were you, I'd ged RedHat and wait on for RedHat 8.0 for your webserver if you can. As far I know, there's no utility to upgrade your Apache 1.3 httpd.conf file to the Apache 2.0 version. 2.0 was really a major realease. What I'm saying is just that if you're eyeing 2.0, you'll want to put together your website on 2.0, not 1.3 and upgrade.

RedHat 8.0 is going to have Gnome 2.0 and all those other goodies first, but the Mandrake isn't trailing so far behind. Of course, both will be using gcc 3 which will give you trouble compiling a lot of old software.

Personally, I use Mandrake but I prefer RedHat. Of course, I'm the kind of guy that just installs every package to avoid any dependancy problems. (And even then it only takes as much space as Windows, lol). If you putting it on that old 386, might want something like SlackWare or some distro of BSD. [SIDENOTE: Why are you BSD folk all reductionists ? ;p]

[kennyo]

Somebody really needs to bitchslap the Linux propeller heads.

ROTFLMAO

[Bosco]

I've tried a few flavors of Linux - SuSe, RedHat, Mandrake. Also worked with other UNIXen systems - Sun, IBM, HP. I also use Win2k server and WinXP on a daily basis. Point being: I'm not a newbie.

I purchased SuSE 7.3 pro a few months back. Prior to that I was a RedHat guy - from 5.2 forward. I initially liked SuSE because it seemed more "together" of a system. But the difficulties updating the system (flaky update servers in the USA) and its Euro-centric customer base brought me back to Red Hat.

I download it, burn the CDs and am happy. Currently have a Pentium 200 (no pro, no mmx) running my web and mail server right here in the house. I only reboot once a month and usually it's because the DSL network has an outage and I use the downtime to let the system cool off for a bit and reboot my router.

Redhat - It will be around for a while, it's a solid distribution, installation is a breeze, good tech support, excellent updates for free.

Your initial question about the best version of perl and linux is moot. Perl will run on any distro of linux you select. So, pick your distro and update the perl binaries when you need to, in case the distro doesn't have the latest perl package when you want/need it.

Does that help?

[John Robinson]

We're using a stock Red Hat 7.2 (with security updates); with the exception of the latest MySQL 4.0.2 and a tweaked Apache (patched with lingerd, built from the 7.2 distribution.)

Personally, I've pretty much given up on Linux on the desktop. Instead, I've reverted to using Windows 2000 + Exceed 6.0 for those occassions when I want to use X applications. (That of course only works if you can dedicate two machines.)

[John Robinson]

The best Perl development environment is Linux, bash, and vim.

[PokeyJoe]

Gimmie about 15 minutes to think up a really cool logo with an eagle on it, and a really cool tag line.

"Free Republic Linux: We don't have a problem finding our sources."

[Reweld]

Lazamataz

The monitor is NOT the problem - it's the video card plugged into the motherboard, or the video chipsets built into the motherboards. Basically, any modern PC has a video system that conforms to the basic VGA video specs, and will do graphics at the basic 640x480 screen size and 16 colors. Any higher resolutions and color depths requires software drivers for that specific video card or chipset. The problems I had with Linux was that NONE of my video hardware would do graphics with either version of Linux I bought. I spent many hours swapping video cards between two different PC's and never found a combination that would do graphics with Linux. I piddled around with the command line stuff for a while and then made one box a Windows machine and the other box an OS/2 machine. The only way I would attempt Linux again would be if I could buy a proven, guaranteed Linux box from a store that would give me my money back if it wouldn't do X-Windows or whatever......

[ShadowAce]

Penguin Ping

[Lazamataz]

We're using a stock Red Hat 7.2 (with security updates); with the exception of the latest MySQL 4.0.2 and a tweaked Apache (patched with lingerd, built from the 7.2 distribution.)

I was thinking MYSQL for the backend as well, and enough people have mentioned Red Hat for me to think that was the way to go. Lots of Mandrake mentions, too; but I've always heard the best things about Red Hat.

Personally, I've pretty much given up on Linux on the desktop. Instead, I've reverted to using Windows 2000 + Exceed 6.0 for those occassions when I want to use X applications. (That of course only works if you can dedicate two machines.)

That would be 'Lindows', right? This machine I will be taking to Linux will be a sit-in-the-corner box. My main computer will stay solidly Win.

Thanks for the suggestions! Wish me luck; I've been a .NET and Java and VB/VFox guy for a while now. It will take me a while to shake those demons. ;^)

[Lazamataz]

The best Perl development environment is Linux, bash, and vim.

k.

Thanks!

[usconservative]

Go with Red Hat Laz.

I just finished up a server roadmap research project and the Linux industry is consolidating around Red Hat. They have a better distribution, more driver support, and more support for the product.

Can't go wrong with Red Hat. (Mandrake is a very close 2nd btw.)

[Lazamataz]

Does that help?

Yes, it did! Big time!

[Lazamataz]

Go with Red Hat Laz.

You live close enough to help.

You like Guiness Extra Stout?

[Lazamataz]

Thanks!!!!

[John Robinson]

For the most part, those Linux propeller heads reverse engineered the specs on much of that hardware. The hardware manufacturers don't offer much assistance, and very rarely offer Linux drivers for their hardware. Being as how things are, it's remarkable any hardware works with Linux. Truely a testament to the determination of the typical Linux propeller head.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for posting this, because I want to learn about Linux also.
However , my Graphic card is an ATI Radeon AIW 8500 DV and I suspect it is not on the Linux list.
It appears that ATI isn't writing drivers from what I read on their website.

[John Robinson]

L1/\/ux 0wns j00.

[Lazamataz]

LOL

If I was young again, I would be a Script Kiddie.

[John Robinson]

I've been with Red Hat very nearly since time (for them, at least) began. I forged an early venture into Linux with a 1.x release of Slackware (the first Linux distribution), but at the time lacked the mettle to make that go. Red Hat got me up and running, and I haven't strayed since.