Making the switch to Unix/Linux

**fishyMishy** · August 20th, 2003, 03:33 AM

After downloading a couple of dozen patches for Win XP this year alone, after having to fear the Next Big Virus every week,
I've had enough with Windows.

I'm now interested in switching over to Linux... or maybe Unix?
The problem is that there are so many alternatives. I mean -
what is the difference between Linux and Unix, really?

I've looked up the following distributions:
freeBSD
openBSD
netBSD
Redhat
Mandrake
SuSE
Debian

Suggestions are very welcomed!

**cpugeniusmv** · August 20th, 2003, 03:47 AM

let me begin by saying, linux/unix have just as many (if not more) security holes as windows. they just aren't exploited nearly as much because the larger percentage of the user base is running on the windows operating system.

if you really want to try linux...i'd recommend going with mandrake 9.1, it's the only one i've tried, and i've seen no reason to try any others...yet, although when i get the time i would like to. if you search the forums for linux, i'm sure you will find some very informative posts. i know that there have been some threads about this recently.

**RACKnRAIL** · August 20th, 2003, 04:34 AM

Red Hat is excellent, but some code writing skills are necessary. Here their link if you'd like to learn more. Red Hat 9

**fernandez** · August 20th, 2003, 04:41 AM

Unix is proprietary software. Linux on the other hand is an emulation of Unix, i.e it works almost like Unix, but it is open source.
I'd suggest that you either try Mandrake, Red Hat or SuSE.

Edit: You have to download security patches for Linux too.

**isamoor** · August 20th, 2003, 05:35 AM

Well, first I recommend clicking the banner in my signature. That is a helpful page.

Then for starters, I recommend downloading a knoppix iso and booting into that. You can just try linux off of the cd that way and get used to it.

And then I'm gonna have to recommend Mandrake 9.1 too. It's probably the best for a newbie.

I'm suprised you listed the *bsds. They are nice oses too, but not so easy to start with. FreeBSD is by far my favorite among them.

Hope that helps,

Isamoor

**zab** · August 20th, 2003, 12:26 PM

Originally posted by cpugeniusmv
let me begin by saying, linux/unix have just as many (if not more) security holes as windows.

Wrong. OpenBSD has not had a single remote exploit in 5 years. Get your facts straight before posting.

**cpugeniusmv** · August 20th, 2003, 12:30 PM

Originally posted by zab
Wrong. OpenBSD has not had a single remote exploit in 5 years. Get your facts straight before posting.

where are your facts from? give me sources.

if freebsd is so secure, why don't all the servers in the world run on it?

**zab** · August 20th, 2003, 12:32 PM

Originally posted by fishyMishy

I've looked up the following distributions:
freeBSD
openBSD
netBSD

are different unices released under the BSD license:

* FreeBSD is extremely stable, a lot more stable than most of the linux distros (even though some customly tuned linux kernels can outperform it).

* NetBSD runs practically everywhere, but I'm not aware of any other distinctive features

* OpenBSD is the most secure os in the world, more secure even than linux kernel with the NSA patches. but is pretty slow and doesn't have many fancy features.

Redhat
Mandrake
SuSE
Debian

Suggestions are very welcomed!

Redhat is easy to install, sort of works for servers. Mandrake's even easier, perhaps better choice for desktops. SuSe is a little better than Redhat for servers and a little harder. Debian is considered the hardest and best for server use.

**zab** · August 20th, 2003, 12:36 PM

Originally posted by cpugeniusmv
where are your facts from? give me sources.

if freebsd is so secure, why don't all the servers in the world run on it?

FreeBSD is the stable one, and many many servers (including hotmail.com) run on it.

OpenBSD is the secure one, but is a lot slower. Its mostly used on firewalls.

I get my facts from BUGTRAQ, reading their documentation, source, articles and most importantly - trying them all myself. The only one I haven't tried yet is NetBSD.

Also, I used to work as a security analyst some time ago.

**cpugeniusmv** · August 20th, 2003, 12:39 PM

thanks for correcting me, but you could have been a little more polite with your first post... ;-)

**zab** · August 20th, 2003, 12:45 PM

Originally posted by cpugeniusmv
thanks for correcting me, but you could have been a little more polite with your first post... ;-)

point taken. I'll be more polite to you in the future. (notice I said to you, not to everyone in general :D)

**Theinfamousone** · August 20th, 2003, 12:55 PM

I'd imagine that if as many people were running OpenBSD as Windows (nearly everyone), they would find a few security holes.

Could be wrong though...

Not even I worry about viruses, I've gotten maybe 2 in my life that did basically nothing, and even if they did, I have everything backed up so it just gives me a good excuse to reformat. That being said, if you are so worried about viruses in Windows, you probably aren't technically advanced enough to run...say Red Hat.

Again...could be wrong though...

**dverma75** · August 20th, 2003, 12:56 PM

Originally posted by fishyMishy
After downloading a couple of dozen patches for Win XP this year alone, after having to fear the Next Big Virus every week,
I've had enough with Windows.

I'm now interested in switching over to Linux... or maybe Unix?
The problem is that there are so many alternatives. I mean -
what is the difference between Linux and Unix, really?

I've looked up the following distributions:
freeBSD
openBSD
netBSD
Redhat
Mandrake
SuSE
Debian

Suggestions are very welcomed!