[svlug] RH5.0 experience, update

[Rafael]

On Fri, 27 Mar 1998, Steve Kong wrote:

> ---svlug-digest <owner-svlug-digest at svlug.org> wrote:
> > I buy RH and have other distributions for hacking if the time allows
> but
> > for a work environment we need distributions that are stable and not
> as
> > buggy as RH5.0 for example. 
> 
> I use RH5.0 and its stable.  From what I've read RH5 seems buggy
> because it's the first distribution to be based on the glibc
> libraries.  Growing pains for being cutting edge?

>  steve kong      steve_kong at yahoo.com
 

It's not the cutting edge, I would say. Distribution should never be.
But new libs will be a pain for a while. Distributions should always be a
bit behind the bleeding edge so that sysadmins would not bleed, much less
newbies. You want to make new users feel comfortable and safe, and provide
a stable environment for sysadmins in the workplace. Experimenters can get
all the latest stuff of the net.

I decided to upgrade my main system at home finaly. I got a free RH5.0 at
one of our meetings after all. Old RH4.1 was stable and working good for
over a year. I installed everything from RH5.0. Te installation was
smooth, I entered all the parameters after the boot and left for the
fitness club. When I was back the system was waiting for network
configuration etc. Rebooted and setup X. What's left are: PPP, personal X
settings, config for gateway on local net, sound, and some goodies from
the old system. Some will probably need recompiling, will see.

My previous bad experiences with RH5.0 were due to partial installations. 
Either the disk drive was not big enough, or I decided not to install all
the crap, so some stuff was missing. However, I expected the install
program to warn me, or just include all the "dependencies" for the
programs I selected. That's where RH5.0 fails big time. That happend to me
a few times when I installed partial RH5.0 on an older PC at home and in
the office with 300/400+ MB drives. 

My PC config: Adaptec SCSI controller on the motherboard,
540MB SCSI ID 2, SyQuest 1.5GB Syjet on ID 1, Linux is on IDE, 1GB.

I can boot from Syjet drive into DOS for some old microcontroller
programer things, or use it for a backup under Linux, which I did before
the upgrade.  With removable cartridges you don't need to spin everything
all the time.  I also use it for experimental Linux installations. It's
like old days with 2 floppy drives on XT. You can have DOS 1.0, 2.0, 3.1
on different disks. Of course, I could install that other task switching
OS, but why torture myself? 

My suggestion is to get 1 GB drive and install everything in RH5.0.
That way all the stuff that is needed will be there.

Next thing I'll try is BRU. Seems promissing for a poor man's backup which
is need after each sucessful installation and setup.

I wish RH would include TkDesk instead of that outdated file manager that
you can start in X. Another thing is the desktop. They should give you a
choice to install whatever you like and not all the stuff. I hate (HATE)
the default X setup! So much clutter ends up on the drive and it's a pain
to remove it. 

   O__  ----  Rafael Skodlar
  c/ /'_ ---  Not a Microsoft Sacrificed Systems Engineer
 (*) \(*) --    Egyptians built pyramids without the computers.
~~~~~~~~~~ -    Why do I need one to do the taxes?


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