Getting help (was Re: FC2 quit connecting)

[David Curry]

Jason Lim wrote:

>>Anybody know where *is* a place to get help with FC versions in legacy
>>status? By the time they're mature enough for me to cope with, they've
>>usually *been* in that status a while. (And yes, I am indeed looking
>>around for some other distro; it'll take a while.) I find
>>    
>>
>fedoraforum.org,
>  
>
>>for instance, inordinately hard to use ....
>>    
>>
>
>I know I won't be popular for mentioning any other distro, but Debian and
>Debian based distros like Ubuntu, Knoppix, and so forth, tend to have long
>version times.
>
>For example, the current Debian version has been released for about 3
>years if I am correct, and all that time, security updates, etc. are
>provided. And even now, although they are releasing a new version, the
>Debain Security Team is going to continue updates for the existing version
>for another 1 to 1.5 years. This makes it excellent for servers and where
>stability counts.
>
>It doesn't have the latest whiz-bang features of Fedora, but it sounds
>like that is not your main focus.
>
>I actually think providing legacy updates for the FC releases is going to
>implode sooner or later, since there are not enough people to keep
>supporting so many releases as they come out and the release maintainers
>and others are going to burn out.. I think focusing on legacy for Redhat 9
>would make far more sense, and seems the main reason the majority are
>using FedoraLegacy.org anyway.
>
>  
>
Beartooth, I hear you loud and clear and the message resonates here.  I 
am looking at shifting from my FC2 installation to a Debian-based 
distribution for some of the reasons Jason identified.  In addition to 
Ubuntu and Knoppix, there is Kbuntu and MEPIS.  (MEPIS is a subscription 
distribution that is available as a LiveCD with an option to easily 
install on the hard disk.)  However, there is also at least one Red Hat 
based alternative.

Centos is a Red Hat Enterprise Linux clone that you might want to take a 
look at.  As I understand it, Centos IS RHEL without the Red Hat 
trademarked items and the project's goal is to parallel support life of 
RHEL which is something like 3 - 5 years.  File structures, system 
utility names, etc. should all be the same.

I think Jason is pretty much on the mark about legacy support of Fedora 
releases if one thinks solely in terms of each and every release.  OTOH, 
I can see people sticking with some versions of Fedora much longer than 
other versions.  And, I can see more people gravitating to fedoralegacy 
as the upgrade cycle continues just as some now lending some supporting 
hands on older releases may bite the bullet, upgrade to the current 
Fedora release, and drop off the legacy list for the official support 
cycle for that release.  BUT, those who are most interested in fedora 
releases mature enough for some production environments could well 
upgrade their systems to a fedora release that are already in legacy 
status and contribute to its continued maintenance.