Why Fedora?
This section is intended to answer some common questions about Fedora to help you decide if it's the right fit for you.
1.] Should I use Fedora or another Linux distribution?
2.] How do I manage software with Fedora?
3.] Should I use Fedora as a server or a desktop?
4.] Why can't I play mp3's or watch DVD's on a fresh Fedora install?
5.] Can I compile and install source code tarballs in Fedora?
6.] What revisions of Fedora are currently supported?
7.] What version of Fedora should I use, there
are so many?
Why Fedora?
1.]
Q: Should
I use Fedora or another Linux distribution?
2.] Q: How do I manage software with Fedora?
3.] Q: Should I use Fedora as a server or a
desktop?
4.] Q: Why can't I play mp3's or watch DVD's on a
fresh Fedora install?
5.] Q: Can I compile and install source code
tarballs in Fedora?
Q: Should
I use Fedora or another Linux distribution?A:
The aim of Fedora is to provide access to the latest stable FOSS
implementations of powerful software solutions created by the Linux
community. Fedora has a very short lifecycle compared to other popular
Linux distributions. Due to the aggressive development schedule you are
more likely to find newer or "experimental" software. If you like a
fast paced operating system and don't mind upgrading every 6 months or
so to keep up then chances are you'll like Fedora.
2.]
Q: How do I manage software with Fedora?A:
Fedora uses rpm/yum to manage
software packages on the system. Any
package available in an official Fedora repo can be rebuilt easily
using the src.rpm to suit your needs. Compiling and installing source
code in fedora in a non-rpm
packaged manner is not
recommended due to
breaking dependencies, installing files in inappropriate locations,
difficulty installing/upgrading or other problems. This can rapidly
lead to broken rpm/yum or other important system packages and extra
tedious work to fix it.
3.
] Q: Should I use Fedora as a server or a
desktop?A:
Fedora or any Linux operating system can be used as a server or a
desktop, however, unless you have physical access to your server, have
the knowledge to upgrade it and don't mind doing frequent upgrades,
then Fedora is not the best choice for a server environment. If you are
an enterprise you may consider a RHEL (Redhat Enterprise Linux) or its
free clone Centos
(Community Enterprise OS). These both have
substantially longer
release cycles and provide less of the "fluff" such as multimedia and
other non mission critical software.
4.
] Q: Why can't I play mp3's or watch DVD's on a
fresh Fedora install?A:
Fedora is a completely FOSS, which
means it does not ship with software that contains restrictive or
patent encumbered code. This does not mean you cannot easily obtain and
install this software. There are several 3rd party
software
repositories that provide this service. You can do just about
anything
in Fedora you can with another distro or other operating systems.
5.
] Q: Can I compile and install source code
tarballs in Fedora?A:
Installing source code in the form of tar.gz, bzip or bin compressed
files or any other non-rpm
packaged form in
Fedora is not
recommended and can break yum and rpm if you don't know
what you're doing and make a habit of this. Installing source will
overwrite files owned by other packages or change directory paths for
important libraries or other files, change permissions and break
dependencies among other things. If you *must*
have a particular software that is not packaged yet and available in a yum repository you have a
few options: you can make
your own rpm, you can volunteer
to package and maintain
the software yourself, you can request
to have the software packaged and maintained by someone else. Maintainers
list
6.] Q: What revisions of Fedora are currently
supported?
A: As a general rule only the current and previous revision of Fedora are supported. This means that ALL other previous revisions are no longer receiving security updates, new packages, or technical support of any kind. Please read the channel /topic in #fedora on Freenode.
7.] Q: What version of Fedora should I use, there are so many?
A: Typically, most users will want the i386 version. Other versions are Respins x86_64, PPC, LiveCD and Test versions. Users of Test or Development versions are expected to provide feedback via email forums and bugzilla to improve the product. There is currently no support channel on Freenode for people who have updated to Development (Rawhide) or who are using Test releases. Don't ask for help with these in #fedora you are expected to know how to handle problems with these versions when they arise. There is enough to do supporting the current and previous releases.
6.
] Q: What revisions of Fedora are currently
supported?A: As a general rule only the current and previous revision of Fedora are supported. This means that ALL other previous revisions are no longer receiving security updates, new packages, or technical support of any kind. Please read the channel /topic in #fedora on Freenode.
7.
] Q: What version of Fedora should I use, there are so many?A: Typically, most users will want the i386 version. Other versions are Respins x86_64, PPC, LiveCD and Test versions. Users of Test or Development versions are expected to provide feedback via email forums and bugzilla to improve the product. There is currently no support channel on Freenode for people who have updated to Development (Rawhide) or who are using Test releases. Don't ask for help with these in #fedora you are expected to know how to handle problems with these versions when they arise. There is enough to do supporting the current and previous releases.
