The week past I have spent my time clearing virues out other peoples computers-- invariably running either XP and/or running Kazza, one computer had
13,000 infected files due to the kaza and other worms.
My machine at home was dual boot NT4 & Linux and has been relatively safe and well protected but an AVG sweep turned up one file infected with
good old Nestsky-B, easy to terminate and cleared out with a couple of clicks but the final straw So I have taken the plunge and went single boot
Mandrake 9.1.
So far everthing works I don't miss NT4, but it will take tinkering to get Spamassasin mail filtering to work as well as K9 did it on the NT
box and I will miss some of the handy network tools I accumulated.
I have dual-boot, but Windoze has been set up so this doesn't have any knowledge of the outside world - no modem set up, no browser or mail
tools, and Zone Alarm blocking every program from dialling out anyway.
I use Linux for everything to do with internet access.
I still get viruses arriving, but now they're meaningless and I just delete their e-mail 'carrier'.
David
I use Mandrake 9.2 on a laptop and on my security camera server and surf on them with Mozilla 1.6. Couldn't get it to talk to my Speedtouch 330
ADSL modem though so they all conect to the 'net via a Win2000 machine 
with ZoneAlarm.
'spose a hardware ADSL/Firewall/Router/Switch thing will do the job.
I think 9.1 came with Mozilla 1.4, but the upgrade's free. The only issue I've had so far is being able to get Real Player working on Linux
so I can listen to Radio 4 on my laptop. I know, I know, I need to get out more, but I think it's solved now.
Cheers,
Neil.
It's worth getting Mandrake 10 (plus update disk!) as it's less buggy than 9.2.
Cheapest place is Budget Linux CDs, at 2$ per disk - a friend's bought a lot of stuff from this place
without any problems. I know it's priced in USD, but it's in France or somewhere - they only charge for the cost of the media itself.
David
David,
I thought ISO's could be downloaded freely for Mandrake 10 or has that changed?
Cheers,
Neil.
p.s. Anyone tried Fedora?
[Edited on 20/5/04 by Noodle]
Yes - if you want to download 1Gbytes or so! 
David
I tried Mandrake 9.2 I also found it buggy so I was reluctant to try Mandrake 10. I found Suse 9 buggy too I got it to work but never quite got rid
of all the error mesages, itvery much depends on the motherboard, sound and video cards. One of the other PCs in the house with a cheap Elite K7SOM
all onbaord Duron motherboard will run just about any Linux distro without any niggles.
For browser I upagrded to Mozilla 1.7 and also Firebird 0.7 --- but for various reasons I can't get the latest version Firefox 0.8 to install.
The worst thing I find with Mandrake Linux is the RPM system -- its better than using the make command but not much. I have Debian Woody installed
on another machine from a Knoppix CD and find the Debian system for installing software much better, but for some reason Knoppix won't do an HD
install on this particular PC although it runs Knoppix nicely fro the CD.
There is an easy install tool availble now for the Speedtouch but to be honest the Speedtouch aint't worth the agro it causes, After going
broadband I went over very quickly to a cheap Conexant Router much superior under Windows and instant connection under Linux.
[Edited on 20/5/04 by britishtrident]
I Quite like Redhat 9
but just an opinion !
i use a ADSLmodem/Firewall/Router/WiFi point
from netgear and a IDS on my local Network
[Edited on 20/5/04 by N*E*R*D]
Never took to Rehats version of Gnome --- not keen on Gnome anyway preffer the more solid look & feel of KDE.
Router-Firewall is the way to go for anybody going broadband, not brave enough to go Wfi to many security problems in anycase my house is pretty
well wired up cat 5 in all the rooms that might need it..
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Never took to Rehats version of Gnome --- not keen on Gnome anyway preffer the more solid look & feel of KDE.
Router-Firewall is the way to go for anybody going broadband, not brave enough to go Wfi to many security problems in anycase my house is pretty well wired up cat 5 in all the rooms that might need it..
We've got 2 computers running 2000 pro and connect through a speedtouch usb modem and internet connection sharing so we have to have one on to connect the other. I would like a router with built in firewall but which one is easiest to set up?
quote:
I feel hurt though. I like Gnome
Cheers,
Neil.