Arch sighting in Linux Format!

barebones · 2009-05-10 18:18:00

I was walking through Barnes and Noble yesterday and I saw this issue of Linux Format. It's a bit hard to see, but the arch logo is actually on the cover there near the end of the spiral-o-distros. I didn't actually buy the magazine (since they cost an arm and a leg), but it was cool to see that arch made it to the cover. Anybody know what they had to say about arch?

buttons · 2009-05-10 19:25:08

The entire article was reprinted in tech radar: http://www.techradar.com/news/software/ … ?artc_pg=1

stefanwilkens · 2009-05-10 20:53:28

Best for the sysadmin - Arch Linux
In the 21st century, there can't be many Linux distributions left that drop the user into a command line prompt rather than a Gnome or KDE graphical login screen. But this is the approach taken by Arch Linux, a distribution that's unashamedly built for reconfigurability and gaining geek credentials.
Arch Linux: Yep, there really is nothing to see. The whole point of Arch is that you only add what you need, and many sysadmins only need the command line
It's a distro for experienced Linux users who aren't afraid of getting their hands dirty. That's because you're not going to get a workable configuration out of Arch without editing configuration files and adding the packages you need by hand.
This is a good thing, especially for system administrators, as it means that Arch features none of the distractions you'd find on a standard distribution. But that doesn't mean you're stuck with the command line either.
Thanks to an exceptional package repository, you can quickly build exactly the system you need – even if that means installing KDE 4.2. Arch doesn't make any assumptions about what packages you might want to install.
Logging into live CD-based system, you're invited to run the install script from a specific directory, and installing Arch is like stepping back into 1999. It feels a little like playing an interactive adventure game, and you need to be proficient at both Linux and the command line to make sense of most options.
The base install is a frugal 160MB file that becomes a 390MB installation after you've been through the download and configuration process. An optional FTP based installer is tiny, and offers all the base packages through an FTP server. This is a great option if you need to install Arch on several machines at once, but either way, after installation you're still going to need to construct your own working environment.
That includes manually partitioning your drive and assigning those partitions to points on your filesystem, configuring the network interface and selecting which standard packages to install, as well as editing the Grub boot menu and making sure it's placed on your disk's MBR.
Say no to Windows
The default installation includes no X Window System package, so while the command-line is supremely capable, most users will want to install a graphical environment of some sort. This brings us to the best thing about Arch, and the reason why it's so suitable as an administrators – a tool called Pacman.
Rather than being an insanely addictive gobbling game, Pacman is Arch's package manager, and was developed by the the creator of Arch Linux. Pacman can resolve dependencies automatically, and install packages with a single command. You can install just about anything using just a few key strokes.
X is a single line away, as are both Gnome and KDE, and any number of other window managers, and another command will keep all packages synchronised with those on the server, updating those that are necessary.
From the solid foundation of Arch's base installation, you can build an administrator's toolkit that will only include the applications and the tools for your working environment. This will save system resources on the machine, and your mental resources when you need to get a job done quickly.
Arch includes all the packages you'll ever need, especially when it comes to useful command line tools you'll find more effective at system administration

kensai · 2009-05-10 21:03:26

couldn't people just have read it from the website? why the redundancy? This cries in the face of nerds.

robmaloy · 2009-05-11 06:22:14

kensai wrote:

couldn't people just have read it from the website? why the redundancy? This cries in the face of nerds.

if either the forum or techradar.com dies, we still can read the article!
raid0 online

Mr Green · 2009-05-11 08:00:10

a distribution that's unashamedly built for reconfigurability and gaining geek credentials.

That is why I use Ubuntu

Xyne · 2009-05-11 08:56:47

Mr Green wrote:

a distribution that's unashamedly built for reconfigurability and gaining geek credentials.
That is why I use Ubuntu

psssssh lil' punk ass biatch all up on ubizzle
best improve yo cli skillz n start reppin a to da r c to the hizzle
GEEK4LIFE
RECONIZE!

Allan · 2009-05-11 09:24:04

Yep, I'm an awesome linux user...
http://glitchtown.com/comics/2009-03-20.png

Xyne · 2009-05-11 09:33:16

Allan wrote:

Yep, I'm an awesome linux user...
http://glitchtown.com/comics/2009-03-20.png

s/linux/mac/g

stefanwilkens · 2009-05-11 12:21:53

kensai wrote:

couldn't people just have read it from the website? why the redundancy? This cries in the face of nerds.

The original article featured some drivel covering other distros, I simply quoted the most notable section. Feel free to remove my posts though ^_^

Last edited by stefanwilkens (2009-05-11 12:27:26)

schivmeister · 2009-05-13 17:09:19

Ohoh so does that mean now I can tell people I know what "linux" is?

If so, we shall begin our campaign NOW:

scv5 · 2009-05-13 18:14:25

any particular reason the site uses the Ubuntu screenshot for recommending Ubuntu, then uses it again for recommending Arch?

rson451 · 2009-05-13 18:31:56

Because arch is running in a VM in the screenshot.

JonathanArcher · 2009-05-13 19:53:28

So on that cover, which distribution is actually below Arch in the spiral?

rson451 · 2009-05-13 19:55:10

CentOS. http://tuxradar.com/files/wallpapers/lxf118.jpg

Arch Linux

#1 2009-05-10 18:18:00

Arch sighting in Linux Format!

#2 2009-05-10 19:25:08

Re: Arch sighting in Linux Format!

#3 2009-05-10 20:53:28

Re: Arch sighting in Linux Format!

#4 2009-05-10 21:03:26

Re: Arch sighting in Linux Format!

#5 2009-05-11 06:22:14

Re: Arch sighting in Linux Format!

#6 2009-05-11 08:00:10

Re: Arch sighting in Linux Format!

#7 2009-05-11 08:56:47

Re: Arch sighting in Linux Format!

#8 2009-05-11 09:24:04

Re: Arch sighting in Linux Format!

#9 2009-05-11 09:33:16

Re: Arch sighting in Linux Format!

#10 2009-05-11 12:21:53

Re: Arch sighting in Linux Format!

#11 2009-05-13 17:09:19

Re: Arch sighting in Linux Format!

#12 2009-05-13 18:14:25

Re: Arch sighting in Linux Format!

#13 2009-05-13 18:31:56

Re: Arch sighting in Linux Format!

#14 2009-05-13 19:53:28

Re: Arch sighting in Linux Format!

#15 2009-05-13 19:55:10

Re: Arch sighting in Linux Format!

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