Is Gentoo as easy as Mandrake

hollwood63 · n00b Joined: 22 Feb 2003 Posts: 2

I just noticed some talk about Gentoo and would like tro try it out. Is it as easy to setup and use as mandrake 9. Right now I have Mnadrake on a 10 gb partition can I just install Gentoo over the top on that patition? Does it install simaliar to Mandrake which is pretty straight forward.
Thanks, Art

bsolar · Bodhisattva Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 2764

It's strightforward if you know what to do...

You find the x86 installation guide here.
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BillyD · Guru Joined: 05 May 2002 Posts: 323 Location: Australia

I think there is a thread somewhere about installing Gentoo from withing Mandrake - there are also lots of threads comparing other distro's to Gentoo. I have never installed Mandrake, but from what I have heard it is a very straightforward process and mostly automated. Gentoo is probably more difficult in the respect that it requires quite a bit of input and configuration from you during the install, only leaves you with a barebones system. It is up to you to configure it how you like. The portage system makes that very pain free.

There have been a few problems noted with the install docs lately, so if you want to give it a go, do a bit of reading on the forums about common problems people are experiencing, read through all of the Docs, and utilize the Search feature of the forums to gather info on things you are unclear of.

It might take you a few goes to get a system up and running correctly, but it is worth the effort in my opinion (though other would disagree :wink:

).
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Roguelazer · Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2003 5:09 pm Post subject:

It's not too bad. Mandrake was my old distro (8.1, 8.2 and 9.0). I managed to get gentoo installed without too much of a problem, and I even managed to get cfdisk to work for me. Just read the install docs VERY well and read the forums. If you have a problem, just post. ;-)

hollwood63 · n00b Joined: 22 Feb 2003 Posts: 2

Thanks for the input I think i will stick with Mandrake for now the post down a few from here makes it sound like there are some major installation issues that I don't beleive I am sharp enough to get through.
Thanks agian

gilesjuk · Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2003 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: Is Gentoo as easy as Mandrake

jgmcbride · n00b Joined: 16 Feb 2003 Posts: 27 Location: New York NY

A one work answer

No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!

Mandrake is a close your eyes and blink install. Gentoo is a "hope and pray" install.

Dragon561 · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 25 Oct 2002 Posts: 112

Extremely good description! Lol

RobertTheBruce · n00b Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 41

As a former Mandrage/RedHat user I have to say the install for Gentoo is really different from the GUI type install that you get with a RPM based system. Some advice that I can pass on is that before you start the install print out the x86 install doc from the webpage because it is the mort correct one that I have seen. I looked at the install doc on the LiveCD but some of the steps were really messed up and wouldn't work.

After you get Gentoo installed I find it better than Mandrake/RedHat because things are not hidden from you. Portage is the best software system that I have seen other than the Ports system on BSD. One thing you will not have to worry about is dependancies like you would on a RPM system because Portage automatically solves them for you.

Support for Gentoo is great, this forum, the IRC channel & the webpage are excallent sources of support before, during and after the install.

Sargonas · Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2003 12:05 am Post subject:

alienhazard · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 16 Jul 2002 Posts: 91

i have probly tried 20+ distros of linux, and this is what i have found to be true:

the ones like gentoo and slackware require more work on your part, but in the end are usually faster, stabler, and more tuned to ur purposes.

the ones like redhat and mandrake are easy to install but are slower and/or make it harder to configure stuff fix stuff that it cant fix itself. and often (but not always) they arent quite as stable.

so you have to take your pic. if you are patient and dont mind reading a lot of directions, gentoo is for you. if you are impatient and dont feel like learning much, and dont mind a slightly slower system, etc. then mandrake and such are for you.

matosale · Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:14 am Post subject:

The Shadow Surfer · Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2003 11:36 am Post subject:

I my self comes from Mandrake, I havn't tried out the new ones (9.x)...

Gentoo is NOT as easy to install, BUT when installed, you just love it... Doing the installation of Gentoo, you get to know portage, it's (ones you get to know it) just as easy to use as rpmdrake :!:

You have to read alot more docs on linux to get Gentoo to work, then what you need to get Mandrake to work.... But this way you feel like THIS IS YOUR OS... NOT SOME CROP'S... I know that this ofcause, is some thing that can be don on a Mandrake too, but some have it not the same :!:

trie it out, and you won't go back to mandrake :!:

-JeaN- · Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2003 12:00 pm Post subject:

Of course mandrake is easier to install, it's just click and reboot. Gentoo in the other hand offers much more, you can optimize everything for your own cpu, you can install ONLY the software you want, and you can chose the dependancies you want with the USE variable.

Also, using linux without being able to understand the gentoo installation is in my opinion a contradiction. When you install mandrake ok, it's easy, but then you will always be dependant on how mandrake behaves, and not on how linux behaves. With gentoo you have a little longer learning curve, but in the end you have power over your linux, and you enjoy much more having a customized/optimized linux just for you than having the usual mandrake everypeople has

My opinion

gilesjuk · Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2003 12:03 pm Post subject: