[KLUG Members] Anyone tried Gentoo Linux?

Steven L Owens members@kalamazoolinux.org
Tue, 04 Jun 2002 16:45:43 -0400


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  I recently installed Gentoo on one my boxes and I have found it to be the most intriguing distro that I've come across.  Gentoo installs everything from source and allows for a lot of copiling optimization and it also uses Portage which is apparently a BSD style ports system that will resolvle dependencies.

  One advantage I have ecountered is the very noticeable speed increase.  KDE 3.0 runs so much faster that I don't hate it anymore:-).  In general I have never had a linux box with so much pep, it just feels fast.

   I also like the roll your own style.  Nothing gets installed unless I install it.  This also means that I have to know what I need something for before I install it.  Complete control over what is on my box and where it is.

   The documentation on the website http://www.gentoo.org  is adequate to good.  But combine that with the support forums on the site and most of my questions are answered very quickly.

   A couple of cons that I ran into so far. X and KDE took about 5 hours to compile and install from source and my box is pretty powerful compared to most.  I've heard reports of 12-24 hours on some slower boxes.  Although those are the "biggies" nothing else has taken more than 10-20mins.
   Plus currently there is no ebuild for sendmail but I'm sure that will be forthcoming shortly.


   I'm definetely not a linux expert, probably more novice but the biggest reason I'm so jacked up is the sense of accomplishment I got from the whole thing.  I installed it, compiled the kernel about 4 times to get it just right,  installed x and kde from source,  and got my usb mouse working.  
   I'm JAZZED about the whole experience.

Slonocode

  

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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>&nbsp; I recently installed Gentoo on one my boxes 
and I have found it to be the most intriguing distro that I've come 
across.&nbsp; Gentoo installs everything from source and allows for a lot of 
copiling optimization and it also uses Portage which is apparently a BSD style 
ports system that will resolvle dependencies.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>&nbsp; One advantage I have ecountered is the very 
noticeable speed increase.&nbsp; KDE 3.0 runs so much faster that I don't hate 
it anymore:-).&nbsp; In general I have never had a linux box with so much pep, 
it just feels fast.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp; I also like the roll your own 
style.&nbsp; Nothing gets installed unless I install it.&nbsp; This also means 
that I have to know what I need something for before I install it.&nbsp; 
Complete control over what is on my box and where it is.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp; The documentation on the website <A 
href="http://www.gentoo.org">http://www.gentoo.org</A>&nbsp; is adequate to 
good.&nbsp; But combine that with the support forums on the site and most of my 
questions are answered very quickly.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp; A couple of cons that I ran into so 
far.&nbsp;X and KDE took about 5 hours to compile and install from source and my 
box is pretty powerful compared to most.&nbsp; I've heard reports of 12-24 hours 
on some slower boxes.&nbsp; Although those are the "biggies" nothing else has 
taken more than 10-20mins.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp; Plus currently there is no ebuild for 
sendmail but I'm sure that will be forthcoming shortly.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp; I'm definetely not a linux expert, 
probably more novice but the biggest reason I'm so jacked up is the sense of 
accomplishment I got from the whole thing.&nbsp; I installed it, compiled the 
kernel about 4 times to get it just right,&nbsp; installed x and kde from 
source,&nbsp; and got my usb mouse working.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp; I'm JAZZED about the whole 
experience.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Slonocode</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>&nbsp; </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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