For the advanced user there are a number of sophisticated distributions
which work well on the desktop and as a server. Here our the Hungry
Pengiun's choices...
Live linux
For those who wish to try Linux without having to install it on their hard drive, there exists a number of
LIVE CD distributions. They boot directly from the CD and don't install anything on the hard disk. Boot up time
is of course slower than with a hard disk, but it is a great way to experiment with Linux.
Knoppix is a bootable
Linux CD with great automatic hardware
detection (including support for many
graphics cards, sound cards, SCSI
and USB devices)
Knoppix can be used as a Linux demo, educational CD or as a rescue
system. It has on-the-fly decompression,
which means that the CD can have up to 2 GB of executable software
installed on it.
MEPIS MEPIS Linux is a user-friendly operating system based on
Debian Stable that "just works". It runs from
your CD/DVD or USB drive so you can use it on your Windows or Mac
machines without installing.
MEPIS comes with much of the software
most users need, and hundreds of additional open-source programs are
just a click away
MINI
Along with the full blown LIVE CDs like Knoppix and MEPIS there is a collection of mini distirbutions who truly
believe that small is beautful.
Damn Small Linux, a.k.a. DSL is a very versatile 50MB mini
desktop oriented Linux distribution.
Despite its minuscule size it strives to have a functional and easy to
use desktop.
DSL include XMMS (for MP3), an FTP client, a web browser, a spreadsheet,
an email client, a word-processor and much more.
If you like Damn Small Linux you can install it on your hard drive.
Because all the applications are small and light it makes a very good
choice for older hardware.
Feather Linux is a Linux distribution which runs completely off a
CD or a USB pendrive and takes up under 115Mb of space. It is a Knoppix
remaster (based on Debian), and tries to include software which most
people would use every day on their desktop.
SERVER
CentOS is an Enterprise-class Linux Distribution derived from sources
freely provided to the public by Red Hat, in other words CentOS is a clone of RHEL.
However CentOS conforms fully with the Red Hat's redistribution policy and aims
to be 100% binary compatible. CentOS is free.
Another great server version of Linux is Ubuntu Server. Ubuntu
Server includes what is needed to provide a service, nothing more. This
lean, efficient
architecture sees more services delivered with less computing power and
less resources required. Ubuntu Server is provided free of licensing and
subscription fees. The Ubuntu security team provides vital maintenance
and security updates for free.
Enjoy...