Linux or Windows?

Hi, i am a long time windows user, as is everyone!

I recently spoke to a friend who is cisco certified and strongly recommended linux, also i have read alot about linux being quite good.

I am getting quite involved in NETWORKING and SECURITY. I have taken quite an interest in this field and have been working with windows servers and windows server 2008 for quite some time now. (setting up DNS, IIS, DHCP, etc etc)

I am also quite interested in web hosting, or setting up a small/medium sized web hosting business.

I understand that Linux is more command-line and windows GUI which really doesnt bother me (another learning curve) so decided to give it a go!

My question is......linux or windows?

Thanks!!

I like only windows

If you've got a reasonably powerful machine, it isn't an "or" choice at all.

Choose the one you're most comfortable with as your base OS.
Then install virtualbox and install the other OS as a guest. You can neat things like
- copy/paste between them
- share folders
- setup a network between them
- take snapshots of the guest for very easy roll-back
- and so on...

If you choose windows as your base OS, then another approach is to get vmware player and then grab a pre-built appliance typically built on top of all sorts of Linux distributions. It's an easy way of trying out lots of variations.

If this is about personal opinion, then, I have to say Linux.

I *used* to be a Windows guy that knew pretty much nothing about Linux, but past couple of years it's all I've been using. Like salem said, fire up a virtual machine and test it out - you've nothing to lose!

If you're looking into possibly furthering your career in networking or security, then having Linux knowledge can only boost your CV.

Yes. Both.

I counted up, when windows rolled out it was the 9th different OS I had used with some regularity.

Out of curiosity Doug, what were the 8 before Windows ? (I'm assuming 8 OS's before Windows 3.1 here . . . . . . )

I worked on a lot of DEC systems starting with OS/8, RT-11, RSX-11, VMS, MUMPS-11, DSM 3, whatever the OS was called on IBM Series 1 minis, RDOS, CP/M, DOS, then to Windows 1.0, Windows 286, Windows 3.0 finally the windows that worked WFW 3.11, Bluebird SuperDOS, and probably a couple more I've forgetten.

I remember the fun of using Trumpet Winsock from a motel room trying to get Netscape 2.0 to work, from my first laptop a Toshiba 1960cs with a $200.00 28.8 baud pcmcia modem.

Oh yeah, and the Navy's custom os on these: http://ed-thelen.org/comp-hist/univac-ntds.html

I was mostly a hardware guy, not a programmer, but I had to operate all these machines on occasion, load software, find files, etc.

The internet is run by computers that run linux. Linux is built on networking. TCP/IP and FTP were designed on computers running UNIX.

Can you tell I'm a linux fan? I use linux exclusively.

BTW, I run GUI all the time under linux. The main difference between Windows and Linux.....you can run a different GUI (called Window manager in linux speak) if you don't like the one that came pre-configured with your linux distribution.

Except for the very large number of internet servers running other operating systems.

Hi,
I used the long windows and I was satisfied. A few months ago I was recommended to the Linux operating system. First I had problems with the command line, but now I'm very satisfied. I have installed both Windows and Linux but I use Linux only. It is faster and works with it suits me.
My answer: clearly linux

If you're working with Windows servers then by all means use Windows, but if you want to know more about security, then knowing Linux is certainly very useful as a large portion of hackers use Linux. Knowing what you are up against is the first part of defending yourself. Check out Backtrack to see a wide variety of Linux security tools.

So i want to install linux on an HP dv6-3019ax laptop for testing and network troubleshooting and getting familiar with it etc.

Which version is reccomended?

HP has a linux that they distribute, but i cant find where to download it?

Thanks guys

I personally prefer Debian on servers and either Debian or Ubuntu for GUI environments.

There is an ever-growing list of ditros which for novice users will all feel pretty similar... Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, Fedora, Linux mint etc etc etc.

Debian, Ubuntu and Linux mint are all quite similar, and CentOS and Fedora are quite similar also.

I would recommend playing with both Ubuntu and (Fedora or CentOS) and get a feel for them and pick the one that suits you and your needs the best. You should also use the command line (terminal) as much as possible also. Learn what actually goes on behind the scenes. If you want to be using Linux in a commercial environment (eg hosting industry) then there is a good chance that there will be no Gnome or KDE on there, it'll be command line only. The command line is also much more powerful than doing a lot of things in the GUI.

Well, that's my 2 cents.

EDIT: links to get the above mentioned distros:
ubuntu.com
debian.org
centos.org
fedoraproject.org
linuxmint.com

Try a few different distros before you install. Many distros have live cds available.
Personally I use Fedora as my main install but I have been running Mint in VirtualBox and I really like it

hey guys,

ive now got a desk in my room, a old P4 screen mouse and keyboard and didnt know what to do with them

So i made a desktop lol, and decided to stick ubuntu on it! all went well

Installed Win7 mainly as a backup, then used the windows installer to install ubuntu (32bit) as its a 32bit processor i386.

My issue is, its extremely slow. Or actually not hugely slow all the time, but if i open terminal it takes around 10-20 seconds to load. Same goes for safari and everything else really. Ive installed ubuntu alot, and had this problem everytime and then uninstalled it due to lack of interest/time

but im pretty keen to get it going, it looks nice but its too slow.

Any ideas?

Thanks heaps!

PS. i would post specs but im so new i dont even know where to find the **device manager** HAHA!