On 9 May, 00:06, Seen <serr...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> I need help.
> I want to get away from Bill Gates and from one demo of Suse desktop,
> Linux looks like a great alternative. I want to use my new system to
> write programs and do web/internet stuff.
> Can you help (no flack please)?
>
> Here is the new hardware I have:
> Asus Striker MB with 8 GB mem and Intel Core 2 quad Q6600 CPU.
> 3ware SATA controller with 4 - 500 GB SATA drives.
> XFXforce GF7950 video card.
> Acer AL2416M monitor
> NEC Black 16X DVD+R Burner
>
> Unit has NEVER been powered up and there is nothing on the hard
> drives.
>
> What I want on it:
>
> * OS that will let me use it as a workstation and server (Pref 64
> bit that can run 32 bit).
> * Have Pearl, PHP, Python, Apachie webserver, MySQL, Java,
> Ruby, C++, Ajax and more.
> * Set up the hard drives Raid 1.
> * Be the center of a VPN.
> * have all the usual workstation stuff.
>

It'd be hard to find a Linux distro not capable of all the above.

> Been considering using one or a combination of these:
>
> SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
> SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop [
> Open SUSE [ Whats the difference?

How much it costs and what support you get (lots/lots, some/some, none/
none - not counting advice from friends, family, user groups and
newsgroups)

> VMware Server
> Ubuntu 7.10
> Fudora

freudian typo?

Asking in a SuSE newsgroup, what answer do you expect?

There are 2 main players in the Unix desktop environment market (this
is a seperate thing from the distribution) - KDE and Gnome. Personally
I prefer KDE - so would recommend kubuntu (KDE optimized) over ubuntu.

AFAIK VMWare is not a linux distribution it justs proves a mechanism/
environment for starting virtual computers on your machine

Again based on personal preference, I'd put CentOS above Fedora.
Particularly if you want a desktop environment that pushed your
graphics card (lots of eye-candy effects) alongside KDE.

Currently I've got openSUSE running on my machine but am thinking of
trying something different as openSUSE does not get on with my new
hardware. CentOS and Kubuntu are on my list.

> Other units are connected to a switch (Linksys ezxs88w) which include
> WinXP (3), Win 98 (2) and Win a ME windows.
>
> What would be the best configuration/setup?

You could try a different Linux on each one

BTW a beter solution than a VPN would be to encapsulate services on a
per-service basis using stunnel (available for MSWin and *nix/Linux)
Failing that, openVPN. I'd steer clear of ipsec unless you have a lot
of time on your hands.

C.