Subj : Re: *nix iso's query
To   : comp.os.linux
From : ritchie_s01
Date : Thu Jul 01 2004 12:04 pm

> I think you need to be more careful with your terminology. Linux is just a
> kernel - not a whole operating system in itself. Mandrake/Redhat/Debian
> are GNU/Linux distributions (often abbreviated to just "Linux
> distributions"). Solaris and the BSD flavours each run different kernels
> and should not be called "Linux" in any context (what they all have in
> common is that they are UNIX-like operating systems).

I know what you mean by this.  
I just wanted to get more experience with using different "UNIX-like"
operating systems.

> 
> So you need to decide if you require Linux, or if any other UNIX-like
> system is sufficient. All of the systems that you mentioned above will run
> on IBM-PC compatible hardware (ie. Intel i386 and above). That includes
> Solaris, which has an i386 version as well as sparc.
> 
> On any given FTP server, there may be several options for each
> distribution. Let's use an imaginary Debian mirror as an example:
> 
> ftp.mirror.debian.wonderland.wo/pub/Debian:
> 
> ./source		(the source code for the software - needs compiling)
> ./i386		(binary version that works on Intel 386 and up)
> ./i586		(binary version that requires Pentium class or better)
> ./sparc		(binary version for sparc architecture - mostly SUN)
> ./ppc		(binary version for PowerPC arch - mostly Apple)
> 
This is where I was getting a little confused before.  
Thanks for the help with this.

> 
> So, if you're using a standard PC and don't have the expertise to compile
> your OS from scratch, you should choose i386 or i586.
> 
> Cheers,
> Minderbinder.

Thanks to Minderbinder and all who helped me with this.

Thanks again,
Ritchie

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