Gentoo Linux
Gentoo Linux is a great distribution often characterized as for advanced users. Gentoo focuses on being an optimized and customized distribution.
What is Gentoo Linux?
Gentoo Linux is a distribution that can be customized for many different usages. Current projects include support for desktop usage, servers, virtualization, scientific usage, and others. Every little detail in Gentoo Linux can be configured to the user’s choice.
Installation
Gentoo currently provides two installation methods: a graphical installation present on the LiveCD and a manual installation. Yes, manual, as in having to type every single command yourself. Obviously that the community provides a great handbook with step-by-step instructions on how to do it. Manually installing Gentoo Linux is the default and recommend way, as the user can customize many details, including kernel configuration and compilation, not to mention how much one actually learns by using this method. It might take a few hours, even a few more if you are new to Gentoo. Oh, and a few more if you want X and a fully-blown desktop system.
Security
There is a Hardened Gentoo project for those who need security, are paranoid or just want to learn a bit more. Any Gentoo installation can be converted to hardened and back, no reinstallation required. This project consists of several subprojects that bring the following technologies to Gentoo:
- SELinux
- RSBAC
- PaX/Grsecurity
- Hardened Toolchain, Kernel, GCC and several other packages
- Bastille
Portage
Portage is the default package management system for Gentoo Linux. Portage fetches, configures and compiles software for you. A few bigger packages can also be installed from pre-compiled binaries. Compiling your own software makes it right for your system and gives you the possibility to customize the features you want. The user ends up with faster and smaller software.
Every package is customizable by the selection of USE flags. For example, if you are installing VLC and don’t need support for X and AAC, you can disable them easily and the package will be configured and compiled without support for the disabled features. USE flags can be defined for specific packages or for the whole system, where the package specific USE flags will override all others.
Stability
Gentoo is often accused for being too cutting edge, which, according to some people, makes it unstable. And they couldn’t be more wrong. First of all, not updating is the opposite of stability and security. Besides, Gentoo packages are divided into 3 branches: stable, unstable and hardmask. If one chooses to run a system with only stable packages, then it is stable. Unstable are usually new packages, either with a few bugs (that may or may not affect you), or packages that just need more testing. Hardmasked packages might contain serious bugs and should be used carefully (always read the Gentoo Bug List before trying unstable or hardmasked packages).
One other thing to consider is that most of the software that the user runs is not created by the Gentoo developers, so, unstable software will remain unstable. For many packages though, the Gentoo community provides patches, including patches to the kernel itself (gentoo-sources, the recommended kernel to use with Gentoo Linux).
As a personal note, I run Gentoo in my home server (mainly file server) and on a Virtual Private Server (VPS) and never had any stability issues. I tend not to run any unstable software, unless I really need it.
Want to try?
As said before, installation might not be so easy for newcomers, but, contact me (through the contact page) and I’ll be glad to help you out, even in person if you study at HAAGA-HELIA and we can arrange some time.