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diff --git a/includes/lenny/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-choosing.en.html b/includes/lenny/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-choosing.en.html new file mode 100644 index 000000000..e0403cc09 --- /dev/null +++ b/includes/lenny/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-choosing.en.html @@ -0,0 +1,961 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0//EN"> + +<html> + +<head> + +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<title>The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ - Choosing a Debian distribution</title> + +<link href="index.en.html" rel="start"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html" rel="prev"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html" rel="next"> +<link href="index.en.html#contents" rel="contents"> +<link href="index.en.html#copyright" rel="copyright"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html" rel="chapter" title="1 Definitions and overview"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html" rel="chapter" title="2 Getting and installing Debian GNU/Linux"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="3 Choosing a Debian distribution"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html" rel="chapter" title="4 Compatibility issues"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html" rel="chapter" title="5 Software available in the Debian system"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html" rel="chapter" title="6 The Debian FTP archives"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html" rel="chapter" title="7 Basics of the Debian package management system"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html" rel="chapter" title="8 The Debian package management tools"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html" rel="chapter" title="9 Keeping your Debian system up-to-date"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html" rel="chapter" title="10 Debian and the kernel"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="11 Customizing your installation of Debian GNU/Linux"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html" rel="chapter" title="12 Getting support for Debian GNU/Linux"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="13 Contributing to the Debian Project"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html" rel="chapter" title="14 Redistributing Debian GNU/Linux in a commercial product"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html" rel="chapter" title="15 Changes expected in the next major release of Debian"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html" rel="chapter" title="16 General information about the FAQ"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisfaq" rel="section" title="1.1 What is this FAQ?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisdebian" rel="section" title="1.2 What is Debian GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-linux" rel="section" title="1.3 OK, now I know what Debian is... what is Linux?!"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-non-linux" rel="section" title="1.4 Does Debian just do GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-difference" rel="section" title="1.5 What is the difference between Debian GNU/Linux and other Linux distributions? Why should I choose Debian over some other distribution?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-gnu" rel="section" title="1.6 How does the Debian project fit in or compare with the Free Software Foundation's GNU project?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-pronunciation" rel="section" title="1.7 How does one pronounce Debian and what does this word mean?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-version" rel="section" title="2.1 What is the latest version of Debian?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-updatestable" rel="section" title="2.2 Are there package upgrades in `stable'?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-boot-floppies" rel="section" title="2.3 Where/how can I get the Debian installation disks?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-cdrom" rel="section" title="2.4 How do I install the Debian from CD-ROMs?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-cdimage-symlinks" rel="section" title="2.5 Why does the official stable released CD-ROM contain symlinks for `frozen' and `unstable'? I thought this CD contains just `stable'!"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-remoteinstall" rel="section" title="2.6 Can I get and install Debian directly from a remote Internet site?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-alternativebootinstaller" rel="section" title="2.7 Are there any alternative strategies for booting the system installer?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1" rel="section" title="3.1 Which Debian distribution (stable/testing/unstable) is better for me?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2" rel="section" title="3.2 But what about Knoppix, Linex, Ubuntu, and others?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-arches" rel="section" title="4.1 On what hardware architectures/systems does Debian GNU/Linux run?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherdistribs" rel="section" title="4.2 How compatible is Debian with other distributions of Linux?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherunices" rel="section" title="4.3 How source code compatible is Debian with other Unix systems?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherpackages" rel="section" title="4.4 Can I use Debian packages (".deb" files) on my Red Hat/Slackware/... Linux system? Can I use Red Hat packages (".rpm" files) on my Debian GNU/Linux system?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-non-debian-programs" rel="section" title="4.5 How should I install a non-Debian program?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-termcap" rel="section" title="4.6 Why can't I compile programs that require libtermcap?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-accelx" rel="section" title="4.7 Why can't I install AccelX?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-motifnls" rel="section" title="4.8 Why do my old XFree 2.1 Motif applications crash?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-apps" rel="section" title="5.1 What types of applications and development software are available for Debian GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-softwareauthors" rel="section" title="5.2 Who wrote all that software?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-pkglist" rel="section" title="5.3 How can I get a current list of programs that have been packaged for Debian?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-buildenv" rel="section" title="5.4 How can I install a developer's environment to build packages?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-missing" rel="section" title="5.5 What is missing from Debian GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-no-devs" rel="section" title="5.6 Why do I get "ld: cannot find -lfoo" messages when compiling programs? Why aren't there any libfoo.so files in Debian library packages?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-java" rel="section" title="5.7 (How) Does Debian support Java?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-isitdebian" rel="section" title="5.8 How can I check that I am using a Debian system, and what version is it?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonenglish" rel="section" title="5.9 How does Debian support non-English languages?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-pine" rel="section" title="5.10 Where is pine?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-qmail" rel="section" title="5.11 Where is qmail/ezmlm/djbdns?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-flash" rel="section" title="5.12 Where is a player for Flash (SWF)?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-googleearth" rel="section" title="5.13 Where is Google Earth?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-voip" rel="section" title="5.14 Where is VoIP software?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonfreewireless" rel="section" title="5.15 I have a wireless network card which doesn't work with Linux. What should I do?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dists" rel="section" title="6.1 How many Debian distributions are there?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-codenames" rel="section" title="6.2 What are all those names like etch, lenny, etc.?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sid" rel="section" title="6.3 What about "sid"?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-stable" rel="section" title="6.4 What does the stable directory contain?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-testing" rel="section" title="6.5 What does the testing distribution contain?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-unstable" rel="section" title="6.6 What does the unstable distribution contain?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dirtree" rel="section" title="6.7 What are all those directories at the Debian FTP archives?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-archsections" rel="section" title="6.8 What are all those directories inside <samp>dists/stable/main</samp>?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-source" rel="section" title="6.9 Where is the source code?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-pools" rel="section" title="6.10 What's in the <samp>pool</samp> directory?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-incoming" rel="section" title="6.11 What is "incoming"?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-ownrepository" rel="section" title="6.12 How do I set up my own apt-able repository?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-package" rel="section" title="7.1 What is a Debian package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-deb-format" rel="section" title="7.2 What is the format of a Debian binary package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pkgname" rel="section" title="7.3 Why are Debian package file names so long?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-controlfile" rel="section" title="7.4 What is a Debian control file?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-conffile" rel="section" title="7.5 What is a Debian conffile?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-maintscripts" rel="section" title="7.6 What is a Debian preinst, postinst, prerm, and postrm script?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-priority" rel="section" title="7.7 What is an <em>Essential</em>, <em>Required</em>, <em>Important</em>, <em>Standard</em>, <em>Optional</em>, or <em>Extra</em> package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-virtual" rel="section" title="7.8 What is a Virtual Package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-depends" rel="section" title="7.9 What is meant by saying that a package <em>Depends</em>, <em>Recommends</em>, <em>Suggests</em>, <em>Conflicts</em>, <em>Replaces</em> or <em>Provides</em> another package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pre-depends" rel="section" title="7.10 What is meant by Pre-Depends?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pkgstatus" rel="section" title="7.11 What is meant by <em>unknown</em>, <em>install</em>, <em>remove</em>, <em>purge</em> and <em>hold</em> in the package status?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-puttingonhold" rel="section" title="7.12 How do I put a package on hold?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcepkgs" rel="section" title="7.13 How do I install a source package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcebuild" rel="section" title="7.14 How do I build binary packages from a source package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-creatingdebs" rel="section" title="7.15 How do I create Debian packages myself?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-pkgprogs" rel="section" title="8.1 What programs does Debian provide for managing its packages?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-updaterunning" rel="section" title="8.2 Debian claims to be able to update a running program; how is this accomplished?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-whatpackages" rel="section" title="8.3 How can I tell what packages are already installed on a Debian system?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-listfiles" rel="section" title="8.4 How to display the files of a package installed?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-filesearch" rel="section" title="8.5 How can I find out what package produced a particular file?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-datapackages" rel="section" title="8.6 Why doesn't get `foo-data' removed when I uninstall `foo'? How do I make sure old unused library-packages get purged?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-howtocurrent" rel="section" title="9.1 How can I keep my Debian system current?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-upgradesingle" rel="section" title="9.2 Must I go into single user mode in order to upgrade a package?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-savedebs" rel="section" title="9.3 Do I have to keep all those .deb archive files on my disk?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-keepingalog" rel="section" title="9.4 How can I keep a log of the packages I added to the system? I'd like to know when which package upgrades and removals have occured!"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-autoupdate" rel="section" title="9.5 Can I automatically update the system?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-aptproxy" rel="section" title="9.6 I have several machines how can I download the updates only one time?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-non-debian-kernel" rel="section" title="10.1 Can I install and compile a kernel without some Debian-specific tweaking?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-customkernel" rel="section" title="10.2 What tools does Debian provide to build custom kernels?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-custombootdisk" rel="section" title="10.3 How can I make a custom boot floppy?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-modules" rel="section" title="10.4 What special provisions does Debian provide to deal with modules?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-removeoldkernel" rel="section" title="10.5 Can I safely de-install an old kernel package, and if so, how?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-papersize" rel="section" title="11.1 How can I ensure that all programs use the same paper size?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-hardwareaccess" rel="section" title="11.2 How can I provide access to hardware peripherals, without compromising security?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-consolefont" rel="section" title="11.3 How do I load a console font on startup the Debian way?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-appdefaults" rel="section" title="11.4 How can I configure an X11 program's application defaults?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-booting" rel="section" title="11.5 Every distribution seems to have a different boot-up method. Tell me about Debian's."> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-custombootscripts" rel="section" title="11.6 It looks as if Debian does not use <samp>rc.local</samp> to customize the boot process; what facilities are provided?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-interconffiles" rel="section" title="11.7 How does the package management system deal with packages that contain configuration files for other packages?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-divert" rel="section" title="11.8 How do I override a file installed by a package, so that a different version can be used instead?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-localpackages" rel="section" title="11.9 How can I have my locally-built package included in the list of available packages that the package management system knows about?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-diverse" rel="section" title="11.10 Some users like mawk, others like gawk; some like vim, others like elvis; some like trn, others like tin; how does Debian support diversity?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-debiandocs" rel="section" title="12.1 What other documentation exists on and for a Debian system?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-onlineresources" rel="section" title="12.2 Are there any on-line resources for discussing Debian?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-searchtools" rel="section" title="12.3 Is there a quick way to search for information on Debian GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-buglogs" rel="section" title="12.4 Are there logs of known bugs?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-bugreport" rel="section" title="12.5 How do I report a bug in Debian?"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contrib" rel="section" title="13.1 How can I become a Debian software developer?"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contribresources" rel="section" title="13.2 How can I contribute resources to the Debian project?"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-supportingorganizations" rel="section" title="13.3 How can I contribute financially to the Debian project?"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-sellcds" rel="section" title="14.1 Can I make and sell Debian CDs?"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-packagednonfree" rel="section" title="14.2 Can Debian be packaged with non-free software?"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-childistro" rel="section" title="14.3 I am making a special Linux distribution for a "vertical market". Can I use Debian GNU/Linux for the guts of a Linux system and add my own applications on top of it?"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-commercialdebs" rel="section" title="14.4 Can I put my commercial program in a Debian "package" so that it installs effortlessly on any Debian system?"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-i18n" rel="section" title="15.1 Extended support for non-English users"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-dependencybasedboot" rel="section" title="15.2 Faster booting: Dependency based boot sequence"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-di" rel="section" title="15.3 Improvements in the Debian Installer"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morearches" rel="section" title="15.4 More architectures"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morekernels" rel="section" title="15.5 More kernels"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors" rel="section" title="16.1 Authors"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-feedback" rel="section" title="16.2 Feedback"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-latest" rel="section" title="16.3 Availability"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-docformat" rel="section" title="16.4 Document format"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.1" rel="subsection" title="3.1.1 You asked me to install stable, but in stable so and so hardware is not detected/working. What should I do?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.2" rel="subsection" title="3.1.2 Will there be different different versions of packages in different distributions?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.3" rel="subsection" title="3.1.3 The stable distributions really contains outdated packages. Just look at Kde, Gnome, Xorg or even the kernel. They are very old. Why is it so?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.4" rel="subsection" title="3.1.4 If I were to decide to change to another distribution, Can I do that?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.5" rel="subsection" title="3.1.5 Could you tell me whether to install testing or unstable?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.6" rel="subsection" title="3.1.6 You are talking about testing being broken. What do you mean by that?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.7" rel="subsection" title="3.1.7 Why is it that testing could be broken for months? Wont the fixes introduced in unstable flow directly down into testing?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.8" rel="subsection" title="3.1.8 From an administrator's point of view, Which distribution requires more attention?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.9" rel="subsection" title="3.1.9 What happens when a new release is made?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.10" rel="subsection" title="3.1.10 I have a working Desktop/cluster with Debian installed. How do I know which distribution I am running?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.11" rel="subsection" title="3.1.11 I am currently tracking stable. Can I change to testing or unstable? If so, How?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.12" rel="subsection" title="3.1.12 I am currently tracking testing (lenny). What will happen when a release is made? Will I still be tracking testing or will my machine be running the new stable distribution?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.13" rel="subsection" title="3.1.13 I am still confused. What did you say I should install?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.1" rel="subsection" title="3.2.1 I know that Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... is Debian-based. So after installing it on the hard disk, can I use 'apt' package tools on it?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.2" rel="subsection" title="3.2.2 I installed Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... on my hard disk. Now I have a problem. What should I do?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.3" rel="subsection" title="3.2.3 I'm using Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... and now I want to use Debian. How do I migrate?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-oldcodenames" rel="subsection" title="6.2.1 Which other codenames have been used in the past?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sourceforcodenames" rel="subsection" title="6.2.2 Where do these codenames come from?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-frozen" rel="subsection" title="6.5.1 What about "testing"? How is it `frozen'?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg" rel="subsection" title="8.1.1 dpkg"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-apt-get" rel="subsection" title="8.1.2 APT"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-aptitude" rel="subsection" title="8.1.3 aptitude"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-synaptic" rel="subsection" title="8.1.4 synaptic"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-tasksel" rel="subsection" title="8.1.5 tasksel"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-extra" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6 Other package management tools"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dselect" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.1 dselect"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-deb" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.2 dpkg-deb"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-split" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.3 dpkg-split"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-aptitude-upgrade" rel="subsection" title="9.1.1 aptitude"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-apt" rel="subsection" title="9.1.2 apt-get, dselect and apt-cdrom"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-update_aptitude" rel="subsection" title="9.1.3 aptitude"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-mirror" rel="subsection" title="9.1.4 mirror"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-dpkg-mountable" rel="subsection" title="9.1.5 dpkg-mountable"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.1" rel="subsection" title="12.2.1 Mailing lists"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-mailinglistconduct" rel="subsection" title="12.2.1.1 What is the code of conduct for the mailing lists?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.2" rel="subsection" title="12.2.2 Web forums"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.3" rel="subsection" title="12.2.3 Wiki"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.4" rel="subsection" title="12.2.4 Maintainers"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.5" rel="subsection" title="12.2.5 Usenet newsgroups"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-SPI" rel="subsection" title="13.3.1 Software in the Public Interest"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-FSF" rel="subsection" title="13.3.2 Free Software Foundation"> + +</head> + +<body> + +<p><a name="ch-choosing"></a></p> +<hr> + +<p> +[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">previous</a> ] +[ <a href="index.en.html#contents">Contents</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html">1</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">2</a> ] +[ 3 ] +[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">4</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">5</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html">6</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">7</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">8</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-uptodate.en.html">9</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">10</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">11</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-support.en.html">12</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">13</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-redistrib.en.html">14</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-nexttime.en.html">15</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">16</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">next</a> ] +</p> + +<hr> + +<h1> +The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ +<br>Chapter 3 - Choosing a Debian distribution +</h1> + +<hr> + +<p> +There are many different Debian distributions. Choosing the proper Debian +distribution is an important decission. This section covers some information +useful for users that want to make the choice best suited for their system and +also answers possible questions that might be arising during the process. It +does not deal with "why you should choose Debian" but rather +"which distribution of Debian". +</p> + +<p> +For more information on the available distributions read <a +href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dists">How many Debian distributions are there?, +Section 6.1</a>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s3.1"></a>3.1 Which Debian distribution (stable/testing/unstable) is better for me?</h2> + +<p> +The answer is a bit complicated. It really depends on what you intend to do. +One solution would be to ask a friend who runs Debian. But that does not mean +that you cannot make an independent decision. In fact, you should be able to +decide once you complete reading this chapter. +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +If security or stability are at all important for you: install stable. period. +This is the most preferred way. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +If you are a new user installing to a desktop machine, start with stable. Some +of the software is quite old, but it's the least buggy environment to work in. +You can easily switch to the more modern unstable once you are a little more +confident. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +If you are a desktop user with some experience in Linux and does not mind +facing the odd bug now and then, use unstable. It has all the latest and +greatest software, and bugs are usually fixed swiftly. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +If you are running a server, especially one that has strong stability +requirements or is exposed to the Internet, install stable. This is by far the +strongest and safest choice. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<p> +The following questions (hopefully) provide more detail on these choices. +After reading this whole FAQ, if you still could not make a decision, stick +with the stable distribution. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.1.1"></a>3.1.1 You asked me to install stable, but in stable so and so hardware is not detected/working. What should I do?</h3> + +<p> +Try to search the web using a search engine and see if someone else is able to +get it working in stable. Most of the hardware should work fine with stable. +But if you have some state-of-the-art, cutting edge hardware, it might not work +with stable. If this is the case, you might want to install/upgrade to +unstable. +</p> + +<p> +For laptops, <code><a +href="http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/">http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/</a></code> +is a very good website to see if someone else is able to get it to work under +Linux. The website is not specific to Debian, but is nevertheless a tremendous +resource. I am not aware of any such website for desktops. +</p> + +<p> +Another option would be to ask in the debian-user mailing list by sending an +email to debian-user@lists.debian.org . Messages can be posted to the list +even without subscribing. The archives can be read through <code><a +href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-user/">http://lists.debian.org/debian-user/</a></code> +Information regarding subscribing to the list can be found at the location of +archives. You are strongly encourage to post your questions on the +mailing-list than on <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/support">irc</a></code>. The mailing-list messages +are archived, so solution to your problem can help others with the same issue. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.1.2"></a>3.1.2 Will there be different different versions of packages in different distributions?</h3> + +<p> +Yes. Unstable has the most recent (latest) versions. But the packages in +unstable are not well tested and might have bugs. +</p> + +<p> +On the other hand, stable contains old versions of packages. But this package +is well tested and is less likely to have any bugs. +</p> + +<p> +The packages in testing fall between these two extremes. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.1.3"></a>3.1.3 The stable distributions really contains outdated packages. Just look at Kde, Gnome, Xorg or even the kernel. They are very old. Why is it so?</h3> + +<p> +Well, you might be correct. The age of the packages at stable depends on when +the last release was made. Since there is typically over 1 year between +releases you might find that stable contains old versions of packages. +However, they have been tested in and out. One can confidently say that the +packages do not have any known severe bugs, security holes etc., in them. The +packages in stable integrate seamlessly with other stable packages. These +characteristics are very important for production servers which have to work 24 +hours a day, 7 days a week. +</p> + +<p> +On the other hand, packages in testing or unstable can have hidden bugs, +security holes etc., Moreover, some packages in testing and unstable might not +be working as intended. Usually people working on a single desktop prefer +having the latest and most modern set of packages. Unstable is the solution +for this group of people. +</p> + +<p> +As you can see, stability and novelty are two opposing ends of the spectrum. +If stability is required: install stable distribution. If you want to work +with the latest packages, then install unstable. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.1.4"></a>3.1.4 If I were to decide to change to another distribution, Can I do that?</h3> + +<p> +Yes, but it is a one way process. You can go from stable --> testing --> +unstable. But the reverse direction is not "possible". So better be +sure if you are planning to install/upgrade to unstable. +</p> + +<p> +Actually, if you are an expert and if you are willing to spend some time and if +you are real careful and if you know what you are doing, then it might be +possible to go from unstable to testing and then to stable. The installer +scripts are not designed to do that. So in the process, your configuration +files might be lost and.... +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.1.5"></a>3.1.5 Could you tell me whether to install testing or unstable?</h3> + +<p> +This is a rather subjective issue. There is no perfect answer but only a +"wise guess" could be made while deciding between unstable and +testing. My personal order of preference is Stable, Unstable and Testing. The +issue is like this: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Stable is rock solid. It does not break. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Testing breaks less often than Unstable. But when it breaks, it takes a long +time for things to get rectified. Sometimes this could be days and it could be +months at times. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Unstable changes a lot, and it can break at any point. However, fixes get +rectified in many occasions in a couple of days and it always has the latest +releases of software packaged for Debian. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<p> +But there are times when tracking testing would be beneficial as opposed to +unstable. The author such situation due to the gcc transition from gcc3 to +gcc4. He was trying to install the <code>labplot</code> package on a machine +tracking unstable and it could not be installed in unstable as some of its +dependencies have undergone gcc4 transition and some have not. But the package +in testing was installable on a testing machine as the gcc4 transitioned +packages had not "trickled down" to testing. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.1.6"></a>3.1.6 You are talking about testing being broken. What do you mean by that?</h3> + +<p> +Sometimes, a package might not be installable through package management tools. +Sometimes, a package might not be available at all, maybe it was (temporarily) +removed due to bugs or unmet dependencies. Sometimes, a package installs but +does not behave in the proper way. +</p> + +<p> +When these things happen, the distribution is said to be broken (at least for +this package). +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.1.7"></a>3.1.7 Why is it that testing could be broken for months? Wont the fixes introduced in unstable flow directly down into testing?</h3> + +<p> +The bug fixes and improvements introduced in the unstable distribution trickle +down to testing after a certain number of days. Let's say this threshold is 10 +days. The packages in unstable go into testing only when there are no RC-bugs +reported against them. If there is a RC-bug filed against a package in +unstable, it will not go into testing after the 10 days. +</p> + +<p> +The idea is that, if the package has any problems, it would be discovered by +people using unstable and will be fixed before it enters testing. This keeps +the testing in an usable state for most period of the time. Overall a +brilliant concept, if you ask me. But things are alwasy not so simple. +Consider the following situation: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Imagine you are interested in package XYZ. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Let's assume that on June 10, the version in testing is XYZ-3.6 and in unstable +it is XYZ-3.7 +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +After 10 days, XYZ-3.7 from unstable migrates into testing. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +So on June 20, both testing and unstable have XYZ-3.7 in their repositories. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Let's say, The user of testing distribution sees that a new XYZ package is +available and updates his XYZ-3.6 to XYZ-3.7 +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Now on June 25, someone using testing or unstable discovers an RC bug in +XYZ-3.7 and files it in the BTS. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +The maintainer of XYZ fixes this bug and uploads it to unstable say on June 30. +Here it is assumed that it takes 5 days for the maintainer to fix the bug and +upload the new version. The number 5 should not be taken literally. It could +be less or more, depending upon the severity of the RC-bug at hand. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +This new version in unstable, XYZ-3.8 is scheduled to enter testing on July +10th. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +But on July 5th some other person, discovers another RC-bug in XYZ-3.8 +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Let's say the maintainer of XYZ fixes this new RC-bug and uploads new version +of XYZ after 5 days. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +So on July 10, testing has XYZ-3.7 while unstable has XYZ-3.9 +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +This new version XYZ-3.9 is now rescheduled to enter testing on July 20th. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Now since you are running testing, and since XYZ-3.7 is buggy, you could +probably use XYZ only after July 20th. That is you essentially ended up with a +broken XYZ for about one month. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<p> +The situation can get much more complicated, if say, XYZ depends on 4 other +packages. This could in turn lead to unusable testing distribution for months. +The above scenario which is artificially created by me, can occur in the real +life. But such occurrences are rare. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.1.8"></a>3.1.8 From an administrator's point of view, Which distribution requires more attention?</h3> + +<p> +One of the main reasons many people chose Debian over other Linux distributions +is that it requires very little administration. People want a system that just +works. In general one can say that, stable requires very little maintenance +while testing and unstable require constant maintenance from the administrator. +If you are running stable, all you need to worry about is, keeping track of +security updates. If you are running either testing or unstable it is a good +idea to be aware of the new bugs discovered in the installed packages, new +bugfixes/features introduced etc. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.1.9"></a>3.1.9 What happens when a new release is made?</h3> + +<p> +This question will not help you in choosing a Debian distribution. But sooner +or later you will face this question. +</p> + +<p> +The stable distribution is currently etch; The next stable distribution will be +called as lenny. Let's consider the particular case as to what happens when +lenny is released as the new stable version. +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +oldstable = sarge; stable = etch; testing = lenny; unstable = sid +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Unstable is always referred to as sid irrespective of whether a release is made +or not. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +packages constantly migrate from sid to testing (i.e. lenny). But packages in +stable (i.e. etch) remain the same except for security updates. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +after sometime testing becomes frozen. But it will still be called testing. +At this point no new packages from unstable can migrate to testing unless they +include release-critical (RC) bug fixes. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +When testing is frozen, all the new bugfixes introduced, have to be manualy +checked by the members of the release team. This is done to ensure that there +wont be any unknown severe problems in the frozen testing. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +RC bugs in 'frozen testing' are reduced to zero. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +The 'frozen testing' with no rc-bugs will be released as the new stable +version. In our example, this new stable release will be called as lenny. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +At this stage oldstable = etch, stable = lenny. The contents of stable and +'frozen testing' are same at this point. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +A new testing is forked from the current stable. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Packages start coming down from sid to testing and the Debian community will be +working towards making the next stable release. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.1.10"></a>3.1.10 I have a working Desktop/cluster with Debian installed. How do I know which distribution I am running?</h3> + +<p> +In most situations it is very easy to figure this out. Take a look at the +<code>/etc/apt/sources.list</code> file. There will be an entry similar to +this: +</p> + +<pre> + deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ unstable main contrib +</pre> + +<p> +The third field ('unstable' in the above example) indicates the Debian +distribution the system is currently tracking. +</p> + +<p> +You can also use <code>lsb_release</code> (available in the +<code>lsb-release</code> package). If you run this program in an unstable +system you will get: +</p> + +<pre> + $ lsb_release -a + LSB Version: core-2.0-noarch:core-3.0-noarch:core-3.1-noarch:core-2.0-ia32:core-3.0-ia32:core-3.1-ia32 + Distributor ID: Debian + Description: Debian GNU/Linux unstable (sid) + Release: unstable + Codename: sid +</pre> + +<p> +However, this is always not that easy. Some systems might have +<code>sources.list</code> files with multiple entries corresponding to +different distributions. This could happen if the administrator is tracking +different packages from different Debian distributions. This is frequently +referred to as apt-pinning. These systems might run a mixture of +distributions. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.1.11"></a>3.1.11 I am currently tracking stable. Can I change to testing or unstable? If so, How?</h3> + +<p> +If you are currently running stable, then in the +<code>/etc/apt/sources.list</code> file the third field will be either etch or +stable. You need to change this to the distribution you want to run. If you +want to run testing, then change the third field of +<code>/etc/apt/sources.list</code> to testing. If you want to run unstable, +then change the third field to unstable. +</p> + +<p> +Currently testing is called lenny. So, if you change the third field of +<code>/etc/apt/sources.list</code> to lenny, then also you will be running +testing. But when lenny becomes stable, you will still be tracking lenny. +</p> + +<p> +Unstable is always called Sid. So if you change the third field of +<code>/etc/apt/sources.list</code> to sid, then you will be tracking unstable. +</p> + +<p> +Currently Debian offers security updates for testing but not for unstable, as +fixes in unstable are directly made to the main archive. So if you are running +unstable make sure that you remove the lines relating to security updates in +<code>/etc/apt/sources.list</code>. +</p> + +<p> +If there is a release notes document available for the distribution you are +upgrading to (even though it has not yet been released) it would be wise to +review it, as it might provide information on how you should upgrade to it. +</p> + +<p> +Nevertheless, once you make the above changes, you can run <code>aptitude +update</code> and then install the packages that you want. Notice that +installing a package from a different distribution might automatically upgrade +half of your system. If you install individual packages you will end up with a +system running mixed distributions. +</p> + +<p> +It might be best in some situations to just fully upgrade to the new +distribution running <code>apt-get dist-upgrade</code>, <code>aptitude +safe-upgrade</code> or <code>aptitude full-upgrade</code>. Read apt's and +aptitude's manual pages for more information. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.1.12"></a>3.1.12 I am currently tracking testing (lenny). What will happen when a release is made? Will I still be tracking testing or will my machine be running the new stable distribution?</h3> + +<p> +It depends on the entries in the <code>/etc/apt/sources.list</code> file. If +you are currently tracking testing, these entries are similar to either: +</p> + +<pre> + deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ testing main +</pre> + +<p> +or +</p> + +<pre> + deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ lenny main +</pre> + +<p> +If the third field in <code>/etc/apt/sources.list</code> is 'testing' then you +will be tracking testing even after a release is made. So after lenny is +released, you will be running a new Debian distribution which will have a +different codename. Changes might not be apparent at first but will be evident +as soon as new packages from unstable go over to the testing distribution. +</p> + +<p> +But if the third field contains 'lenny' then you will be tracking stable (since +lenny will then be the new stable distribution). +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.1.13"></a>3.1.13 I am still confused. What did you say I should install?</h3> + +<p> +If unsure, the best bet would be stable distribution. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s3.2"></a>3.2 But what about Knoppix, Linex, Ubuntu, and others?</h2> + +<p> +They are not Debian; they are <em>Debian based</em>. Though there are many +similarities and commonalities between them, there are also crucial +differences. +</p> + +<p> +All these distributions have their own merits and are suited to some specific +set of users. For more information, read the information of <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/misc/children-distros">software distributions based +on Debian</a></code> available at the Debian website. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.2.1"></a>3.2.1 I know that Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... is Debian-based. So after installing it on the hard disk, can I use 'apt' package tools on it?</h3> + +<p> +These distributions are Debian based. But they are not Debian. You will be +still able to use apt package tools by pointing the +<code>/etc/apt/sources.list</code> file to these distributions' repositories. +But then you are not running Debian, you are running a different distribution. +They are not the same. +</p> + +<p> +In most situations if you stick with one distribution you should use that and +not mix packages from other distributions. Many common breakages arise due to +people running a distribution and trying to install Debian packages from other +distributions. The fact that they use the same formatting and name (.deb) does +not make them inmediately compatible. +</p> + +<p> +For example, Knoppix is a Linux distribution designed to be booted as a live CD +where as Debian is designed to be installed on hard-disk. Knoppix is great if +you want to know whether a particular hardware works, or if you want to +experience how a linux system 'feels' etc., Knoppix is good for demonstration +purposes while Debian is designed to run 24/7. Moreover the number of packages +available, the number of architectures supported by Debian are far more greater +than that of Knoppix. +</p> + +<p> +If you want Debian, it is best to install Debian from the get-go. Although it +is possible to install Debian through other distributions, such as Knoppix, the +procedure calls for expertise. If you are reading this FAQ, I would assume +that you are new to both Debian and Knoppix. In that case, save yourself a lot +of trouble later and install Debian right at the beginning. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.2.2"></a>3.2.2 I installed Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... on my hard disk. Now I have a problem. What should I do?</h3> + +<p> +You are advised not to use the Debian forums (either mailing lists or IRC) for +help as people might advise you thinking that you are running a Debian system +and the "fixes" they provide might not be suited to what you are +running. They might even worsen the problem you are facing. +</p> + +<p> +Use the forums of the specific distribution you are using first. If you do not +get help or the help you get does not fix your problem you might want to try +asking in Debian forums, but keep the advise of the previous paragraph in mind. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s3.2.3"></a>3.2.3 I'm using Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... and now I want to use Debian. How do I migrate?</h3> + +<p> +Consider the change from a Debian-based distribution to Debian just like a +change from one operating system to another one. You should make a backup of +all your date and reinstall the operating system from scratch. You should not +attempt to "upgrade" to Debian using the package management tools as +you might end up with an unusable system. +</p> + +<p> +If all your user data (i.e. your <code>/home</code>) is under a separate +partition migrating to Debian is actually quite simple, you just have to tell +the installation system to mount (but not reformat) that partition when +reinstalling. Making backups of your data, as well as your previous system's +configuration (i.e. <code>/etc/</code> and, maybe, <code>/var/</code>) is +still encouraged. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">previous</a> ] +[ <a href="index.en.html#contents">Contents</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html">1</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">2</a> ] +[ 3 ] +[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">4</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">5</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html">6</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">7</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">8</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-uptodate.en.html">9</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">10</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">11</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-support.en.html">12</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">13</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-redistrib.en.html">14</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-nexttime.en.html">15</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">16</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">next</a> ] +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ +</p> + +<address> +version 4.0.3, 6 August 2008<br> +<br> +Authors are listed at <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors">Debian FAQ Authors</a><br> +<br> +</address> +<hr> + +</body> + +</html> + |