SuSE v RedHat - DO NOT turn this into a flame war
Hello, everyone. It seems that I will be taking care of a RedHat based web server for a client in the not too distant future, so this set me on to looking at purchasing a copy of RedHat to practice on. We already have SuSE8 Pro in the office, so I looked into getting RH Pro. The price of it seems a bit steep, at $180-$200. Does anyone know how RedHat can justify that kind of price tag when compared to the fairly reasonable $80ish for SuSE Pro ? What does the extra $120 get me that I don't get with SuSE ? Part of my curiosity is that if I can get a good list of differences/similarities together, I may be able to influence future clients to try SuSE instead of RH, which I would obviously prefer since I am far more familiar with SuSE's distro. By the way, I'm not especially interested in hearing about what other distros have to offer by way of comparison; I'm trying to focus on just SuSE and RedHat for now. Thanks, Stuart.
On June 20, 2002 08:28 am, Stuart Powell wrote:
Hello, everyone.
It seems that I will be taking care of a RedHat based web server for a client in the not too distant future, so this set me on to looking at purchasing a copy of RedHat to practice on. We already have SuSE8 Pro in the office, so I looked into getting RH Pro. The price of it seems a bit steep, at $180-$200. Does anyone know how RedHat can justify that kind of price tag when compared to the fairly reasonable $80ish for SuSE Pro ?
They charge what they can get away with. Nothing unusual there. I think you might actually be getting less then SuSE Pro. I haven't looked at redhat in awhile but last time I looked the big package was more in line with the basic SuSE. Nick
On Thu, Jun 20, 2002 at 07:28:40AM -0500, Stuart Powell wrote:
Hello, everyone.
It seems that I will be taking care of a RedHat based web server for a client in the not too distant future, so this set me on to looking at purchasing a copy of RedHat to practice on. We already have SuSE8 Pro in the office, so I looked into getting RH Pro. The price of it seems a bit steep, at $180-$200. Does anyone know how RedHat can justify that kind of price tag when compared to the fairly reasonable $80ish for SuSE Pro ? What does the extra $120 get me that I don't get with SuSE ? Part of my curiosity is that if I can get a good list of differences/similarities together, I may be able to influence future clients to try SuSE instead of RH, which I would obviously prefer since I am far more familiar with SuSE's distro.
The last Pro version of RH I used was 7.1. At that time, there was about a 90% overlap between the packages in SuSE and RH. I doubt if that has changed. Best Regards, Keith -- LPIC-2, MCSE, N+ Right behind you, I see the millions Got spam? Get spastic http://spastic.sourceforge.net
On Thu, 2002-06-20 at 20:28, Stuart Powell wrote:
Hello, everyone.
It seems that I will be taking care of a RedHat based web server for a client in the not too distant future, so this set me on to looking at purchasing a copy of RedHat to practice on. We already have SuSE8 Pro in the office, so I looked into getting RH Pro. The price of it seems a bit steep, at $180-$200. Does anyone know how RedHat can justify that kind of price tag when compared to the fairly reasonable $80ish for SuSE Pro ? What does the extra $120 get me that I don't get with SuSE ? Part of my curiosity is that if I can get a good list of differences/similarities together, I may be able to influence future clients to try SuSE instead of RH, which I would obviously prefer since I am far more familiar with SuSE's distro.
By the way, I'm not especially interested in hearing about what other distros have to offer by way of comparison; I'm trying to focus on just SuSE and RedHat for now.
Thanks, Stuart.
I run Redhat on my laptop, SuSE on my desktop, so perhaps my input will be of some use. I don't think you need Redhat Professional. It's almost the same as Redhat Personal, the main difference being in support (Professional gets you telephone support, 90 days Email support, plus an extra Reference manual). In contrast to SuSE, Redhat support is really good - actually, selling support is where Redhat makes its money. In terms of the software, SuSE has more packages, especially SuSE Professional. Redhat is Gnome-centric, SuSE is KDE-centric. Redhat comes with one really good documentation CD-ROM - basically it's the whole Linux Documentation Project, but with a Redhat orientation. Redhat doesn't have an exact equivalent to Yast2 - rather, the system administration utilities are divided between a number of utilities. Redhat is weak on package management (Yast2 does a much more thorough job of resolving dependencies). Redhat's kudzu utility is uniquely good at plug'n'play - automatically detects hardware changes and reinstalls drivers every time you boot up just as easily as Windows, maybe better. Redhat does not support ReiserFS, XFS, or JFS. So, as for which is the best distro - no opinion. Redhat and SuSE are both good, but each has some minor advantages/disadvantages. Some say that Redhat is better as a server, SuSE is better as a desktop - that's sort of true, but in fact with some tweaking, both do a proper job of desktop and server. I actually enjoy switching off between the two distros, seeing how each takes its own approach at solving the same set of problems. - Robert Storey
Thanks, Robert. This is a unique insight that I was looking for and, along with the other responses, more than adequately answers my question. It seems to me that most of the distros are mature enough now to do most tasks comfortably, with final choice coming down to the preference of the admin. My original question was more concerned with the added cost of RedHat Pro, and what the extra money got me that I didn't get with SuSE Pro. The answer seems to be "Not a lot". I used to subscribe to the RedHat equivalent of the SLE list, many many moons ago, and they seemed like a good crowd, too. However, I must admit to having developed a particular soft spot for the SuSE distro and the members of the SLE list. With a resource this good, I have NEVER felt the need to contact SuSE support directly. SLE and the SDB have answered all my important questions over the last couple of years. Let's keep it up for the good of us all. Bye for now, Stuart. <snip> I run Redhat on my laptop, SuSE on my desktop, so perhaps my input will be of some use. </snip> So, as for which is the best distro - no opinion. Redhat and SuSE are both good, but each has some minor advantages/disadvantages. Some say that Redhat is better as a server, SuSE is better as a desktop - that's sort of true, but in fact with some tweaking, both do a proper job of desktop and server. I actually enjoy switching off between the two distros, seeing how each takes its own approach at solving the same set of problems. - Robert Storey
I have Creative Sound Blaster AudioPCI64V sound card and Philips PCVC690K webcam. The webcam has a built-in microphone. By default the USB sound module (I think) is loading. I heard somewhere that with this particular webcam (and Logitech Webcam Pro 3000) there are problems when the USB sound module loads. This causes KDE3 to disable all sound---I can't even play wav and mp3 files. The only way I know how to fix this is to remove audio.o from /lib/modules/2.4.18-64GB-SMP/kernel/drivers/usb. If I do this, then sound in KDE3 comes back to normal. Is there another cleaner way to do this? I know I must be doing something wrong because doing this would not allow me to use the mic on the camera. Also, can someone please cut'n paste me the lines from their modules.conf file that are specific to this camera? I downloaded the philips driver from a website but all the instructions that I followed did not automatically cause the driver to be loaded. I had to put some statement that forced the module to be loaded once the ethernet modules were loaded. I certainly did not like this approach and would like a solution from someone who has more experience in this. Also I am getting errors from usbdevfs. I am posting sections from my /var/log/messages. Could someone please help me with all these other errors/warnings? Dell Dimension 8100, SIIG NV2614 Firewire, no other USB devices, nVidia GeForce 2 MX. /var/log/messages Jun 21 17:29:37 linux syslogd 1.4.1: restart. Jun 21 17:29:37 linux insmod: insmod: a module named sg already exists Jun 21 17:29:37 linux insmod: insmod: insmod char-major-21 failed Jun 21 17:29:37 linux insmod: insmod: a module named sg already exists Jun 21 17:29:37 linux insmod: insmod: insmod char-major-21 failed Jun 21 17:29:40 linux insmod: Using /lib/modules/2.4.18-64GB-SMP/kernel/drivers/media/video/videodev.o Jun 21 17:29:40 linux insmod: Symbol version prefix 'smp_' Jun 21 17:29:40 linux insmod: Using /lib/modules/2.4.18-64GB-SMP/kernel/drivers/usb/pwc.o . . . . . . Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb.c: registered new driver usbdevfs Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb.c: registered new driver hub Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb-uhci.c: $Revision: 1.275 $ time 14:22:59 Mar 27 2002 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb-uhci.c: High bandwidth mode enabled Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: PCI: Found IRQ 11 for device 00:1f.2 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: PCI: Sharing IRQ 11 with 02:0a.0 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: PCI: Setting latency timer of device 00:1f.2 to 64 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb-uhci.c: USB UHCI at I/O 0xff80, IRQ 11 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb-uhci.c: Detected 2 ports Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb.c: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 1 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: hub.c: USB hub found Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: hub.c: 2 ports detected Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: PCI: Found IRQ 9 for device 00:1f.4 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: PCI: Setting latency timer of device 00:1f.4 to 64 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb-uhci.c: USB UHCI at I/O 0xff60, IRQ 9 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb-uhci.c: Detected 2 ports Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb.c: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 2 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: hub.c: USB hub found Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: hub.c: 2 ports detected Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb-uhci.c: v1.275:USB Universal Host Controller Interface driver Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: VFS: Disk change detected on device sr(11,0) Jun 21 17:29:42 linux last message repeated 7 times Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: hub.c: USB new device connect on bus1/2, assigned device number 2 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb.c: USB device 2 (vend/prod 0x471/0x30c) is not claimed by any active driver. . . . . . . Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb_control/bulk_msg: timeout Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbdevfs: USBDEVFS_CONTROL failed dev 2 rqt 128 rq 6 len 18 ret -110 . . . . . . <the above message repeats multiple times> Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: isapnp: Scanning for PnP cards... Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: isapnp: No Plug & Play device found Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: Linux video capture interface: v1.00 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: pwc Philips PCA645/646 + PCVC675/680/690 + PCVC730/740/750 webcam module version 8.5 loaded. Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: pwc Also supports the Askey VC010, Logitech Quickcam 3000 Pro, Samsung MPC-C10 and MPC-C30, the Creative WebCam 5 and the SOTEC CMS-001. Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb.c: registered new driver Philips webcam Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: pwc Philips PCVC690K (Vesta Pro Scan) USB webcam detected. Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: pwc Registered as /dev/video0. Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb.c: registered new driver audio . . . Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: PCI: Found IRQ 11 for device 02:0a.0 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: PCI: Sharing IRQ 11 with 00:1f.2 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbaudio: device 2 audiocontrol interface 1 has 1 input and 0 output AudioStreaming interfaces Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbaudio: device 2 interface 2 altsetting 0 FORMAT_TYPE descriptor not found Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbaudio: valid input sample rate 44100 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbaudio: device 2 interface 2 altsetting 1: format 0x00000010 sratelo 44100 sratehi 44100 attributes 0x00 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbaudio: valid input sample rate 22050 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbaudio: device 2 interface 2 altsetting 2: format 0x00000010 sratelo 22050 sratehi 22050 attributes 0x00 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbaudio: valid input sample rate 11025 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbaudio: device 2 interface 2 altsetting 3: format 0x00000010 sratelo 11025 sratehi 11025 attributes 0x00 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbaudio: valid input sample rate 8000 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbaudio: device 2 interface 2 altsetting 4: format 0x00000010 sratelo 8000 sratehi 8000 attributes 0x00 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbaudio: registered dsp 14,3 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbaudio: constructing mixer for Terminal 3 type 0x0101 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbaudio: warning: found 1 of 0 logical channels. Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbaudio: assuming the channel found is the master channel (got a Philips camera?). Should be fine. Jun 21 17:29:42 linux insmod: Using /lib/modules/2.4.18-64GB-SMP/kernel/drivers/sound/soundcore.o Jun 21 17:29:42 linux insmod: Symbol version prefix 'smp_' Jun 21 17:29:42 linux insmod: Using /lib/modules/2.4.18-64GB-SMP/kernel/drivers/usb/audio.o Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbaudio: registered mixer 14,0 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb_audio_parsecontrol: usb_audio_state at c2052f60 Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: audio.c: v1.0.0:USB Audio Class driver . . . . . . Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usb_control/bulk_msg: timeout Jun 21 17:29:42 linux kernel: usbdevfs: USBDEVFS_CONTROL failed dev 2 rqt 128 rq 6 len 486 ret -110 . . . . . . <the above one also is repeated a lot of times> . . . Jun 21 17:29:47 linux kernel: usb_control/bulk_msg: timeout Jun 21 17:29:47 linux kernel: nvidia: loading NVIDIA NVdriver Kernel Module 1.0-2960 Tue May 14 07:41:42 PDT 2002 Jun 21 17:29:47 linux kernel: usbdevfs: USBDEVFS_CONTROL failed dev 2 rqt 128 rq 6 len 486 ret -110 Jun 21 17:29:47 linux kernel: VFS: Disk change detected on device sr(11,0) Jun 21 17:29:47 linux kernel: VFS: Disk change detected on device sr(11,0) Jun 21 17:29:48 linux kernel: Linux agpgart interface v0.99 (c) Jeff Hartmann Jun 21 17:29:48 linux kernel: agpgart: Maximum main memory to use for agp memory: 203M Jun 21 17:29:48 linux kernel: agpgart: Detected Intel i850 chipset Jun 21 17:29:48 linux kernel: agpgart: AGP aperture is 128M @ 0xe8000000 Jun 21 17:29:48 linux kernel: NVRM: AGPGART: Intel i850 chipset Jun 21 17:29:48 linux kernel: NVRM: AGPGART: aperture: 128M @ 0xe8000000 Jun 21 17:29:48 linux kernel: NVRM: AGPGART: aperture mapped from 0xe8000000 to 0xd288c000 Jun 21 17:29:48 linux kernel: NVRM: AGPGART: mode 4x Jun 21 17:29:48 linux kernel: NVRM: AGPGART: allocated 16 pages Jun 21 17:29:50 linux /etc/hotplug/net.agent[715]: No HW description found ... exiting Jun 21 17:29:51 linux kernel: eth0: no IPv6 routers present Jun 21 17:31:37 linux kdm[983]: pam_unix2: session started for user salman, service xdm Jun 21 17:32:07 linux kernel: usbaudio: dma timed out?? Jun 21 17:32:22 linux kernel: usbaudio: dma timed out?? Jun 21 17:33:11 linux last message repeated 3 times Jun 21 17:34:10 linux kernel: usbaudio: dma timed out?? Jun 21 17:35:45 linux kernel: usbaudio: dma timed out?? Jun 21 17:36:53 linux kernel: usbaudio: dma timed out?? Jun 21 17:37:12 linux last message repeated 2 times Jun 21 17:37:13 linux su: (to root) salman on /dev/pts/2 Jun 21 17:37:13 linux su: pam_unix2: session started for user root, service su Jun 21 17:37:13 linux su: pam_unix2: session finished for user root, service su Jun 21 17:37:13 linux su: (to root) salman on /dev/pts/2 Jun 21 17:37:13 linux su: pam_unix2: session started for user root, service su Jun 21 17:37:19 linux kernel: usbaudio: dma timed out??
participants (5)
-
Keith Winston -
Nick Zentena -
Robert Storey -
Salman Khilji -
Stuart Powell