[RAVETTE]

I have a free PC. I want to install LINUX for testing and learning on this machine, form what I read, it is adequate.

The question is, which is better Mandriva 2005 or Linux 7.2 for this purpose and easier to mess around with. The plan is to have a LAMP server and a KDE interface, etc. I have install CDs for both products.

I am afraid to try FEDORA, so I have not even considered. The other version would be SuSe or Debian, but I am not sure I want to pay Novell prices for SuSe 9.3.

Advice is welcome on all, but mostly linux 7.2 and Mandriva. Also, is it still possible to update Linux 7.2 with the RPMs.

Thanks;
ravette

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i use knoppix linux live cd and i works fine for me

[chopyaedoff]

i use knoppix linux live cd and i works fine for me

[Tyger]

You can download almost any version of linux for free and burn the files to CD or DVD. You can probably get a CD burner and software for less than the cost of one operating system. But the download sessions are long, as much as 24 hours for the OS on a high speed connection. If you're on dialup be prepared to have your computer running for a week.

But you can also get very inexpensive disks, as little as $2.00 per disk.

If you want to use different operating systems and your computer has an extra large bay put a server tray in it. Then when you want to run a different system just slide another hard drive in.

[samiko]

if you are a heavy windows user then the transition to Linux isn't easy. The new Suse has a windows like GUI, hence it would feel and look like windows with a lot more bundled in. You can download any Linux free of charge on the internet.

T recommend using live CD's as they don't require installation and can run straight from the CD, so you don't need to worry about any problems that you might encounter with installation.

[mpfeif101]

He wants to install linux to test for servers, and a Live CD doesn't fit that. To answer your question, Redhat is the more popular server linux, while Mandriva is a more popular desktop linux.

When you say "Linux 7.2" I assume you are talking about Redhat? I'm not very familiar with Redhat, but RPM stands for Redhat Package Manager so I would assume that RPM's will work on Redhat.

Suse, Fedora, and Debian are all nice OS's as well, but for server I'd say go with Redhat

[samiko]

I know he needs a server but if he wants to see what LINUX is like then he can test it with a live CD that doesn't need installing.
But I agree with mpfeif101 that Redhat is a popular OS especially with servers.