Do you Gentoo?

I finally ditched RedHat!

[Nick_W]

As some of the regular linux folks might know, I've been flirting with the idea of ditching RedHat for some time. I tried RedHat Fedora [fedora.redhat.com] and really liked it but, I need more power!

I recently asked about Gentoo at WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com] and after some thought decided to give it a whirl.

If you're not familiar with Gentoo Linux [gentoo.org], here it is in a nutshell:

A linux distro that you compile and build from the ground up. Specific to your individual architecture, preferences and hardware.

It took me almost 48hrs to get the basic system up and running with a working x-server on a Nforce2 chipset (and all the problems that entails) but now I've done it I can tell you this: It's GOOD baby!

It runs about 30% faster than RH for me, and I learnt TONS of stuff building it, which was one of the things that really interested me. I learnt:

• All about Partions
  
• Alternate filesystems - I'm running Reiserfs as main, with ext2 on the /boot and swap
  
• All about the inner workings of linux
  
• How to successfully compile a new kernel (currently running the latest 2.6)

If you have a box sitting idle, and some free time and patience, I'd really recommend it.

Advertisement over ;)

Nick

[seindal]

Isn't Gentoo a variant of Debian? In that case, why not just go for Debian. I never regretted one second switching to Debian. It is so easy to handle, once you gotten the hang of it.

René

[trillianjedi]

What was your level of experience with Linux before undertaking that Nick?

TJ

[Nick_W]

>experience

Couple of years with RH. It does most of the work for you as you probably know. Fedora is actually really nice, but having every program on your machine specifically tailored for your hardware and prefs is, performance wise, beyond anything you could do with pre-compiled binaries...

Nick

[trillianjedi]

>experience

OK, well I'm about 6 months messing with Mandrake and Debian. Very computer literate though and I learn fast.

I'd like to give it a go. Do you think I'd cope with it?

Did you find any useful resources on the web to guide you through it, or are the Gentoo helpfiles sufficient?

I'm not sure what I'd do with the box when built, it's not for anything important, but I'd like to give it a try. Skills like that are always useful to have.

TJ

[Nick_W]

>>Do you think I'd cope with it?

If I did, you will ;)

>>Did you find any useful resources on the web to guide you through it

Just head over to gentoo.org -> they have a good install guide (don't rush it, it. Read everything) and a great forum with a LOT of very knowledgeable Gentoo enthusiasts....

Let me know how you get on, I have the same nick over there...

Nick

[dragonlady7]

I know little about Linux, but our server was Debian a long time, and when we replaced the server, we went with Gentoo. So I'm assuming there's some significant difference. My boyfriend's a huge dork and I think he needed to show off what a studly dork he was or something. All I know is, it took for ever to set up. But he's happy with it now. :D
(added:)
:lol: I just re-read this and it's very teenybopperish. Sorry 'bout that. Must be the early hour.

[trillianjedi]

I just re-read this and it's very teenybopperish. Sorry 'bout that.

I thought it was a *fantastic* post!

TJ