Top Linux Distributions

Every major linux distribution has a web site that provides information about how to get it and use it. If you haven't chosen a distribution yet, here are some sites that can help you evaluate, find and get a linux distribution that interests you:

• Distrowatch (www.distrowatch.com)- Contains information about a few hundred different Linux distributions. The site provides an easy way to find out about different distributions, and then simply connect to the distribution's home page, download site, or related forums.

• LinuxIso.org (www.linuxiso.org)- Provides information about Linux distributions and how to get them. Also tells you about downloading, verifying, and burning your own CDs from ISO images.

• LWN.net Linux Distributions (lwn.net/Distributions)- If you want to read succinct descriptions of more than 400 Linux distributions on one page, this is the place to go.

Here are key sites associated with Linux distributions covered in this book:

• Fedora (fedora.redhat.com)- Community-driven Linux, supported by red Hat. In the past year, Red Hat, Inc. has designated FedoraForum.org as the official Forum site for Fedora.The project itself is transitioning from the Red Hat Web site to http://fedoraproject.org. Check the
Fedora Legacy Project (http://fedoralegacy.org) for long-term support issues. Look to Fedora Extras (www.fedora.us) and Livna.org (rpm.livna.org) for downloads of extra Fedora software.

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux (www.redhat.com)- Check the main Red Hat Web site for information on commercial Linux products.

• Debian GNU/Linux (www.debian.org)- Get news, documentation, support, and download information about Debian. Try the Debian news site (www.us.debian.org/news/) for the latest news articles on Debian.

• SUSE (www.novell.com/linux/suse)- Get product and support information from this project's site. The Novell site also provides information about Novell's own Linux offerings. The community supported version of SUSE (called open SUSE) also has a web site (http://www.opensuse.org).

• Knoppix (www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html)- The official KNOPPIX page on its creator's (Klaus Knopper's) Web site. An English forum is at www.knoppix.net, and a German forum at www.linuxtag.org/forum.

• Yellow Dog (www.yellowdoglinux.com)- From this site, sponsored by Terra soft solutions,you can purchase Yellow Dog Linux on CDs or get it pre-installed on mac hardware. The YDL.net site offers some extra services for Yellow Dog Linux users, such as personal
e-mail accounts and Web space.

• Gentoo (www.gentoo.org)- The center for the active Gentoo community. The site contains a wealth of information about Gentoo and Plenty of forums and IRC channels in which to participate. You'll find a solid and growing documentation set to back up the distribution and tons of software packages to try (in the thousands).

• Slackware (www.slackware.org)- Check the changelogs at this site to get a feel for the latest Slackware developments. Try Linux Packages (www.linuxpackages.net) for a broader range of information about Slackware.

• Linspire (www.linspire.com)- Purchase a computer running Linspire from this site, or just buy the boxes set. Linspire offers a Live CD version you can try out for free.

• Mandriva (www.mandrivalinux.com)- Formed from the merger of Mandrake Linux and Connectiva Linux, the Mandriva Linux Web site gives visitors a variety of Linux products, services, and support.