On 30-Jan-99 Kaare Rasmussen wrote:
>
>> This is what the Linux Standard Base (LSB) project is aiming to, and
>> we are working on this together with the other distributors. It just
>> takes some more time, it's a huge project. Have a look at
>> http://www.linuxbase.org/ for further info.
>
> LSB is a nice effort. It may or may not succeed. What I'm worrying
> about is that for the average person, Linux == RedHat and more so if it
> comes preinstalled. Who will you sell an upgrade to if the people only
> knows another distro?
I hope LSB (or equivalent) will be achieved. I think it is essential at
this stage of Linux evolution for there to be a standard which everyone
can expect, no matter what distribution they choose to install.
At present "Linux", by definition, simply means a Linux kernel plus
whatever else you decide to bundle with it. Contrast it with FreeBSD,
where this is defined by what is one the FreeBSD ftp site.
What is required is a definitive file-system structure (including config
files), a definitive configuration procedure, a definitive installation
and upgrading mechanism, etc, and an absolutely standard linux "base"
system. This should apply to different distributions (though any
distribution is of course free to set itself aside but then must accept
the consequences) and, as far as possible, should apply to any one
distribution consistently over time.
Now that Linux is being adopted by enterprises and institutions, and other
setups whose primary interest is in getting work done, such people will
want assurance that their choice of distribution will continue to be
upgradeable and usable. They do not want to fear that their distribution
may go out of date or have to be changed for another distribution.
They do not want to lose days of productivity time while they move from
distribution to incompatible distribution, or upgrade from version to
incompatible version.
At present, you cannot expect to safely install a new distribution with a
different distribution in place. Even though Red Hat and SuSE both use
RPM and are in many ways similar, there are enough basic differences for
this to be very risky. The only safe way to move from one to the other is
to back up everything you want to keep, and install the new one from
scratch. Still less could you expect to safely install Debian or
Slackware over an existing RH or SuSE (or vice versa).
I remember (with reasons) the sequence of distributions I have been
through since 1992. First, SLS 0.99 (good for its time, but it
disappeared). Then MCC-Interim 1.0: good; but limited: so I moved to
Slackware-1.0 (also good), but this became obsolete (a.out->ELF) after a
couple of years, by which time Slackware was almost out of sight (Patrick
Volkerding had quit). Debian has not quite reached 1.0 then, so I moved
to RedHat-3.1. Then it was RedHat-4.1 which required a complete
re-install because RPM ws upgraded to an incompatible version (which was
what forced the upgrade anyway: it was no longer possible to install RH
packages on RH-3.1 if they had been packaged with RPM for RH-4.1). Of
course, RH-4.1 would only work properly if the many "upgrades" were
installed to correct the bugs on the primary distribution. I might have
gone on to RH-5, but this was late, and SuSE-5.0 came out: I looked at
this, liked it, and then installed SuSE-5.1 definitively (I have been
pretty pleased with this so far). Since then, SuSE-5.2 and 5.3 have come
out. Since YaST upgraded incompatibly between 5.1 and 5.2, I have not
upgraded yet: I might have gone for 5.3 but by then the libc5->glibc wave
was breaking, so I'm waiting to see what will happen with SuSE-6.0.
Since I use Linux to get work done, I shall be watching the experiences
of the more adventurous: let others find the crevasses before I step on
the glacier.
Meanwhile, although RedHat-5.1 was apparently issued in too much of a
hurry, people are saying good things about RH-5.2; indeed, I have a few
friends who have been disappointed with SuSE-5.3, and have gone over to
RH-5.2. And RH-5.2 is already glibc. So who knows what I shall be using
in 6 months time?
Now that is all very well for an individual running a small bunch of
machines, prepared to "wait and see" and put up with limitations while
doing so, and willing to get involved in the hassle of trying different
distributions and putting right the problems with the chosen
distribution. However, it is NOT going to appeal to businesses,
institutions and enterprises.
Quite recently, Linux is attracting a LOT of interest from these sectors,
and they are going to favour any distribution which looks as though it
has a large following, will continue to work reliably, will not
fundamentally change, will continue to be straightforwardly ugradeable,
and does NOT look as though it may -- at some unpredictable time --
become obsolete so that they have to strip everything out and install a
different and incompatible distribution or alternatively upgrade their
distribution from its current version to a newer incompatible version.
So, in my book, the sooner the major distributions agree on what the core
of a Linux system should consist of, the better. Otherwise, a
distribution may be excellent but it will have only a minority following.
On these grounds, though SuSE has many good features, on present trends
it looks as though it may continue to lose ground to Red Hat. I could
stick with it personally; but I would feel wary of recommending it to
enterprises. (I hope SuSE are giving thought to making YaST more friendly
to the new user, and less liable to plant traps for the unwary).
And, by the way, am I not also hearing some good things about Slackware
recently ... ??
Best wishes to all,
Ted.
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E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: 01-Feb-99 Time: 15:41:50
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