Libranet 3.0 out

[Jason Shein]

On April 21, 2005 01:27 pm, Lennart Sorensen wrote:
> On Thu, Apr 21, 2005 at 02:05:56AM -0400, Franco Saliola wrote:
> > On 4/20/05, Steve Brown <steve-UptpDeB91zClXJ0OY9NZ9g at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> > > I'm trying to decide whether to try Arch or Ubuntu. Probably both...
> >
> > I'm looking at some distros as well, and I'll probably install early
> > next week, so I'd like to hear about your decision and experience.
> > Ubuntu and Gentoo are on the short list. Both are attractive. I
> > haven't looked at Arch yet. I'll look it up. Okay, looked it up. It
> > has some interesting aspects as well.
> >
> > So many good choices these days. I've got choice paralysis.
>
> Out of curiousity: Since you are considering Gentoo, I would love to
> know why you are considering it.  I personally don't understand the
> point of its existance so I figure I must be missing something (or am
> just not at all the intended target), so perhaps someone who is
> considering it can explain what makes it attractive to them.
>
> Lennart Sorensen

I think this will sum it up quite well. I am Pro-Debian AND Pro-Gentoo. Each 
has it's time and place. Gentoo is definitely my preferred server environment 
and Debian ( unstable ) for desktop use. For server use there are numerous 
specialty programs that are not available for debian. 

Fine. Install from source you say. No problem. 

But wait..  

Deploy this kind of server to your clients / friends. Try and keep on top of 
security updates. Mailing lists, visiting the software developers web site. A 
real pain and a potential security nightmare if you do not keep on top of it. 
Try selling / Deploying 30 servers, each customized for that particular 
purpose with Debian and custom packages. Either you spend you days looking 
for updates "just to be safe" or find a better method.

Enter Gentoo - The better method

Benefits of Gentoo:

-Everything is compiled from source
-You're in control
-Powerful ports-based package manager
-Easy package format
-Centralized internet repository of packages
-Intelligent and dependency-based init scripts

Everything is compiled from source

-Optimized for your hardware
-Packages are built from the original sources
-Fast package updates when new version appear
-Can be turned into binary packages during or after package installation

You're in control

-Minimal installation
-No services are activated by default
-No configuration is done automatically
-Default configurations are available but have to be  performed explicitly
-Your configurations are protected and will never be overwritten

Powerful package manager

-Packages are first installed in a staging directory, are only then merged
 into your live system
-Performs installations in a protecting sandbox
-Safe library updates on a running system
-Resolves dependencies automatically
-Keeps you informed about new updates
-Updates your repository from the internet
-Allows you to safely remove outdated packages
-Can create and use binary packages
-Low-level (developer) tool : ebuild
-High-level (user) tool : emerge
-System-wide configuration of your usage preferences (use-flags)
-Virtual packages

Easy package format

-Closely mimics the bash commands you'd execute to install manually
-Clearly separated installation phases : unpack, compile, install, merge
-Pre and post actions for each installation phase
-Additional configuration is done through the definition of variables :
 description, homepage, download url, dependencies, binary compatibility

Centralized internet repository of packages

-Immediate access to new versions
-Intuitive synchronization of your local package tree
-Direct access by developers to the same repository

Intelligent and dependency-based init scripts

-Not numbered
-Scripts use or need each-other
-Stopping a service auto-stops all services that need it
-Services can be paused (stop function in other distributions)
-Services can't be started or stopped multiple times
-Easy tool to manage services



-- 
Jason Shein
Director of Networking, Operations and Systems
Detached Networks
jason-xgs8i/e9EeWTtA8H5PvdGCwD8/FfD2ys at public.gmane.org
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