[sf-lug] recommended Linux distributions to install on dual or tri boot

Tue Feb 25 04:34:24 PST 2014

Hi to all,
I need to install variety of operating systems on a new machine and I need especially recommendation for some Linux distro, something new to me which will challenge me a bit and help me to get back in shape, more info below under THIRD OPERATING SYSTEM or SUMMARY. I've quite decent machine now which I will be installing so partitioning the disk and deciding what to put on it. From the hardware point of view it has quadro core processor on 3 GH, 4 GB of DDR so kind of fine at the moment, I should not worry about the basic functionality - it is brand new lower power style computer.

I plan to install Linux Mint as for the time being most often used operation system - I've moved from Ubuntu because of the Unity and also because of feeling that they are getting too commercial (last time when I was downloading Ubuntu I was not sure any more if I have to pay or not and did not feel good about that in general).

I need to install also Windows. Before I used virtual box from Oracle but this time I will need to have complete system probably Window 8.1 on a dedicated partition. 

THIRD OPERATING SYSTEM will be Linux and I do hesitate what distro to choose, this is the "core" of this post I would say. I've been using Ubuntu since 2007 till 2012 as my main operating system, and Linux Mint since, so more or less the same thing for 7 years or so, I would say that I'm lower intermediate concerning the knowledge or good basic user. The last two years especially I feel that my knowledge of Linux and admin skills are going downhill quite pretty fast and I'm using less and less terminal which is definitely not helping - I prefer terminal to graphical interface, I think it is more "clean", if you know what you are doing and using it made me learn quite a bit before. So at the moment I'm wondering what distribution of Linux should I choose so it keeps me fit I would say and "hits me" with some challenges but still I would be able to do something in it. Now what do I want to achieve in the upcoming months: I will be playing more with local
 networks being admin on them (several computers involved, I did that before and it was great way how to learn, it keeps you very fit) and I want to start my own server, nothing big just slowly start to build up the knowledge and experience. The network will have to be feasible for different Linux distributions and Windows, I will need people to be able to share data and connect to the printers etc. Also I will need an access to "distant computers" like from office to my home network etc. I think that should be most of the activities which I can imagine now from the network point of view, concerning the server I do not really now too much about that so hard to say. The security of all above doesn't have to be very high, lets say standard level should do.

SUMMARY. So to conclude and summarize. I need to install two different Linux distros, one Linux Mint other one unknown asking for recommendation about that one, plus Windows. The goal is to set up local network or two (in the office and at home) and share files, printers etc. between computers with different operating systems and between these two networks together. Also I would like to start my own server, first time.Security of all above would be standard nothing special.

Many thanks for any info, this doesn't really hurry, I've few weeks. I will also do my reading but you know advice from more experienced users is always appreciated. So far stable version of Debian seems like one option (probably for the server?) and if I want to get really fit Archie Linux was recommended to me before. 

From South Korea, Jeju,

Frantisek Algoldor Apfelbeck

biotechnologist&kvasir and hacker

http://www.frantisekapfelbeck.org

"There is no way to peace, peace is the way." Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
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