Linux mandrake 9.1

When it comes to individual distributions of the Linux operating system, the rising tide of open-source software and components has lifted all ships.

However, although advances in software such as KDE (K Desktop Environment), the Mozilla Web browser and the OpenOffice.org productivity suite are equally accessible to every flavor of Linux, plenty of opportunity remains for Linux distributors to differentiate their offerings through skillful integration of these pieces.

eWEEK Labs tested two such well-crafted Linux distributions: SuSE Inc.'s SuSE Linux 8.2 and MandrakeSoft S.A.'s Mandrake Linux 9.1. These distributions would be as good as Mac OS X as alternatives to Windows.

SuSE Linux 8.2 and Mandrake Linux 9.1 compare well with Red Hat Linux 9, the latest release from Linux heavyweight Red Hat Inc., particularly in the range and the quality of the system administration tools that ship with both products.

The biggest stumbling block to replacing Windows with another operating system—particularly on the desktop—continues to be Windows' application compatibility, although SuSE and Mandrake each do a good job of assembling a lineup of open-source software that's functionally equivalent to what's available for Windows.

Whether individual companies find these lineups compelling enough to replace Windows depends on the company, but these distributions deliver everything required for an effective mainstream corporate desktop.

SuSE 8.2, which shipped last month, is available in a $40 Personal Edition and an $80 Professional Edition. The Professional Edition, which we tested, comes with a longer installation support period, more printed documentation and additional bundled software.

Mandrake 9.1, which shipped in March, is available in a $40 Standard Edition, a $70 PowerPack Edition and a $200 ProSuite Edition. As with SuSE, the differences among the three editions involve support, bundled software and included documentation.

Mandrake Linux 9.1 is available for free download from Mandrake's Web site or one of its mirrors. SuSE Linux 8.2, on the other hand, is not available for free download. SuSE may, however, be freely installed over ftp—an option that's less convenient than having CD images available, but that works well for trying out the product.

Both systems include XFree86 4.3.0, KDE 3.1, GNOME (GNU Network Object Model Environment) 2.2, OpenOffice.org 1.0.2 and Mozilla 1.3. Mandrake Linux 9.1 ships with Version 2.4.21 of the Linux kernel, while SuSE Linux 8.2 includes Version 2.4.20 of the kernel.

Some of the more interesting new features of SuSE and Mandrake, such as remote desktop sharing and kiosk-style lockdown support, come along with the KDE desktop environment that's available with both distributions.

SuSE's and Mandrake's latest versions each include major system library changes—along the same lines as those in Red Hat 9. Upgrading users may experience software compatibility issues, if only in the short term.

It's been about a year since we reviewed Mandrake Linux, which we last evaluated in its 8.2 incarnation. Since that time, Mandrake Linux has grown considerably sharper looking. We've reviewed a couple of SuSE updates in that time (SuSE Unlocks Opteron's Potential, Revisions Extend Linux's Reach, SuSE 7.1 Professional Still in Minor Leagues, ), but SuSE 8.2 distinguishes itself with the best selection of bundled software we've seen among Linux distributions.

We were particularly impressed with Mandrake Control Center, which compares very favorably with SuSE's excellent YaST2 (Yet Another Setup Tool) system setup utility. In fact, we found Mandrake Control Center to be better organized and more accessible overall than the configuration facilities in Red Hat 9 or SuSE 8.2 (see screen).

However, we found puzzling inconsistencies in Mandrake Control Center that we'd like to see fixed in the next version. For instance, while setting up our network preferences, we had to resize one of the tool's dialog windows to reveal the "next," "previous" and "cancel" buttons needed to move through the utility.

SuSE and Mandrake include very useful facilities for installing themselves, and both allowed us to use their online update and system configuration tools at the final stage of installation—resulting in systems that were fully configured from the first boot.

Being able to access SuSE's online update system came in handy during our tests because we were able to download the Nvidia driver we needed but that didn't ship, for licensing reasons, with the rest of the distribution.

SuSE Linux 8.2 is the first distribution we've seen that includes a high-quality video editing application: MainActor.

SuSE now offers support for encrypting directories and partitions and ships with a system hardening utility that boosts security through setting restrictive systemwide file permissions.

Senior Analyst Jason Brooks can be reached at jason_brooks@ziffdavis.com.

Executive Summary: Mandrake Linux 9.1

Usability Good Capability Good Performance Fair Interoperability Good Manageability Excellent Scalability Fair Security Good

MandrakeSoft's Mandrake Linux 9.1 boasts perhaps the best set of configuration tools of any Linux distribution we've tested, despite the few rough spots we noticed in them. Add to this a sharp look and a good sampling of bundled software, and Mandrake Linux is well worth the $70 that its PowerPack Edition costs. More information is available at www.mandrakesoft.com.

(+) Wide range of good configuration tools; tight-looking interface.

(-) Minor interface inconsistencies.

EVALUATION SHORT LISTRed Hat's Red Hat 9 Microsoft Corp.'s Windows XPApple Computer Inc.'s Mac OS XSuSE's SuSE Linux 8.2

Executive Summary: SuSE Linux 8.2

Usability Good Capability Excellent Performance Fair Interoperability Good Manageability Good Scalability Fair Security Good

SuSE's upgrade is the latest version in a line of well-made Linux distributions, distinguished in large part by its useful and well-organized system configuration tools—access to which SuSE helpfully provides both during installation and normal use. The $79 SuSE Professional Edition features a good variety of open-source software, all integrated into a solid desktop-ready system. SuSE can be reached at www.suse.com.

(+) Great installation tool; good bundled software selection.

(-) No free download is available.

EVALUATION SHORT LISTRed Hat's Red Hat 9Microsoft's Windows XPApple's Mac OS XMandrakeSoft's Mandrake Linux 9.1

Copyright ?? 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in eWEEK.