RedHat support changes

• To: ldm-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• Subject: RedHat support changes
• From: Arthur A. Person [mailto:person@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
• Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2003 16:50:48 -0600

All...
  I don't use gempak, but I do run the LDM.  I have had good luck with the
LDM on Slackware and Debian.  Both of which are good distros that can be
stripped down or inflated as needed.

Pros for Debian:
 - apt-get package management (similar to rpm, but without the annoying
circular
   dependencies).
 - Debian usually releases patches within hours of a security hole
discovery.
 - apt-get upgrade only upgrades needed packages and lets you see what
packages
   are being updated.

Cons for Debian:
 - stable tree is pretty far behind, but apt sources are out there with back
ports
   for more up to date software (www.apt-get.org)
 - learning the Zen behind Debian takes some time.

Pros for Slack:
 - it is the original distro so the community is there
 - it maintains a familiar setup across versions (same install interface for
as long
   as I can remember).
 - uses tgz for packages, so management is easy.

Cons for Slack:
 - Get used to compiling packages.  Most of the applications I've used
didn't have
   slackware pre-made packages, so grab the source and start compiling.

There are many more, but everyone has their favorite.  I'm currently running
Debian!


Brad


-----Original Message-----
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 3:20 PM


Hi...

It was brought to my attention today that RedHat is apparently dropping
support for it's free versions of Linux.  This leaves us (and I'm sure
many of you) in a quandary as to what to do.  The options appear to be
either to buy support (which apparently will be $150 per desktop, more for
servers) or switch to another vendor.

We will probably be forced to switch to another vendor, at least for 
many of our desktops, because of the costs involved.  I'd be interested in 
any opinions anyone has as to preferences for other Linux distributions 
and why.  Also, are there any gotcha's with the other distro's as far as 
running the LDM and gempak are concerned?

                                    Thanks.

                                      Art.
-- 
Arthur A. Person
Research Assistant, System Administrator
Penn State Department of Meteorology
email:  person@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, phone:  814-863-1563

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: RedHat support changes
    • From: Aaron Cline