Linux Distribution Roundup
The table below shows how each of the distributions stack up against each other. The table also shows some of the options and differences you would find in these versions of Linux. Compare for your self how these stackup.
| Caldera OpenLinux | Corel Linux | Debian Linux | Linux Mandrake | Redhat Linux | Slackware Linux | Storm Linux | SuSE Linux | Turbo Linux | |
| Version | 2.4 | 2nd Ed | 2.2r2 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 2000 | 7.0 | 6.1 |
| Number of CD's | 2? | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2? |
| Boot CD To Install? | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Retail Price | $34.95 | $14.99 | $14.95 | $29.95 | $29.95 | $39.95 | $69.95 | $39.95 | $79.95 |
| Kernel Version | 2.2.14 | 2.2.16 | 2.2.18 | 2.2.17 | 2.2.16 | 2.2.16 | 2.2.16 | 2.2.16 | 2.2.16 |
| SMP Support? | X | ||||||||
| USB Support? | X | ||||||||
| Kernel Sources? | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Graphical Installer? | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Ease Of Installation | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Auto X Setup? | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| X Login by Default? | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Sound Detected/Setup? | X | X | X | ||||||
| Automatic | X | X | |||||||
| Manual | X | X | X | ||||||
| NIC Detected Setup? | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| DHCP Network Setup | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| SCSI Detected Setup? | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Partitioning Tool | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| RAID | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| ReiserFS | X | ||||||||
| Default Desktop | |||||||||
| Fvwm2 | X | ||||||||
| KDE | X | X | X | ||||||
| KDE2 | X | ||||||||
| Gnome | X | X | X | ||||||
| Afterstep | X | ||||||||
| Boot Loader | |||||||||
| LILO | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Grub | X | ||||||||
| Sets Up Other OS's? | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Graphical Admin Tool? | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Webmin? | X | ||||||||
| Text Based Admin? | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Network Services Tool? | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Package Manager | |||||||||
| RPM | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Deb | X | X | X | ||||||
| Other | X | ||||||||
| Internet Dialup Tool? | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Office Applications? | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Graphics Applications | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Development Tools? | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Overall Score | 5 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
About Author
Stew Benedict is a systems administrator for an automotive manufacturer in Cleveland, Ohio. He also is a freelance consultant, and runs AYS Enterprises, which specializes in printed circuit design, Microsoft Access solutions for the Windows platforms, and utilizing Linux as a low-cost alternative to commercial operating systems and software. He has been using and promoting Linux since about 1994. When not basking in the glow of a CRT, Stew enjoys time with his wife, daughter, and two dogs at his future (not too much longer!) retirement home overlooking Norris Lake in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.Page 4 of 4
This article was originally published on January 24, 2001