BigMac Posted December 8, 2006 Report Share Posted December 8, 2006 I'm about to dual boot my laptop with a linux distro, but I'm not sure what I should install. I'm relatively new to the GUI side of linux (been using redhat/debian on servers for quite some time), and I know for sure I don't want gay *** mandrake. I'm leaning toward Debian or Ubuntu. Are there any linux fans/users here who could tell me what they would prefer? I'm installing it because I want to do some research with network security. I've been learning how to hack wireless networks, and successfully cracked my first one (it was my own, I'm not engaging in illegal activity for you mods) a week or so ago. I'm highly interested in the world of network security, and I run BackTrack, which is a modified version of Knoppix (cd bootable distro very similar to debian) with a bunch of neat tools installed...but I'm looking to install something faster..something that is harddisk-bootable. So...debian or ubuntu? Or something else, and why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a-guitarist Posted December 8, 2006 Report Share Posted December 8, 2006 I've never used Debian, but I have putzed around with Ubuntu. But, to be perfectly honest, I only know a little about linux. What I do know about Ubuntu, though, is that it is very easy to install and use, and has a very large support network (which I'm sure you've already learned, 'cause you're a smart guy and have done your homework.) I loved Ubuntu, the only reason I stopped using it was because my laptop died. But it was well past the age were that should have happened. This thing was ancient. In summary, go Ubuntu... because I don't know squat about Debian. a-g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMac Posted December 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2006 I looked into it, and it comes with so much software preloaded that I've decided to go with ubuntu. I hope it comes with ndiswrapper. I've already got my leet drivers for my broadcom nic downloaded and ready to go. ndiswrapper -m modprobe ndiswrapper leetsauce! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobo Posted December 8, 2006 Report Share Posted December 8, 2006 ubuntu should be known as a quite easy approach distribution but why are you going for one with a gui? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy Posted December 8, 2006 Report Share Posted December 8, 2006 I'm installing it because I want to do some research with network security. If you are interesting in researching network secruity specifically for linux then ubuntu is a good choice, but if you are looking for ultimate network secruity then you should look at BSDs instead, specifically openBSD, its privilege separation is currently unmatched right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorCleric Posted December 8, 2006 Report Share Posted December 8, 2006 If you are interesting in researching network secruity specifically for linux then ubuntu is a good choice' date=' but if you are looking for ultimate network secruity then you should look at BSDs instead, specifically openBSD, its privilege separation is currently unmatched right now.[/quote'] At work at the Uni's Residence Halls IT we're using openBSD for some of our work. And by we, I mean the bosses, but I am still part of the team! WC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corpsestomp Posted December 8, 2006 Report Share Posted December 8, 2006 At work at the Uni's Residence Halls IT we're using openBSD for some of our work. And by we, I mean the bosses, but I am still part of the team! WC Does that mean they let you look at the screen every once in a while? If you're a good boy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorCleric Posted December 8, 2006 Report Share Posted December 8, 2006 Boy I wish, for right now they've got me climbing all over the server room's shelves looking for leaks in all the venting and piping that runs through there. That and answering phones. Someday though... someday... WC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMac Posted December 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 The ndiswrapper module won't load my wlan drivers into the OS correctly. A linux nerd friend of mine and I worked on it for about 6+ hours today and it just wouldn't work. I tried three different versions of ndiswrapper (1.18, 1.29, and 1.31) and none of them would load the damn drivers into the OS. The debian/knoppix based security suite distro called BackTrack comes with ndiswrapper preinstalled and I can load the drivers like a champ with three commands: ndiswrapper -i bcwml5.inf (or whatever the driver file is) ndiswrapper -m modprobe ndiswrapper I'm looking at SUSE now...but I've got to go pick up some DVD-Rs tomorrow. If that doesn't work, I'm going to go straight debian.....'cause I've had the best luck and I have the most experience with debian. I like Gnome a ****load more than I like KDE too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talcian Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 If you haven't already heard of it, netstumbler is a good program for you're wireless needs . I'm sure there is something similiar or just alike to it for linux- I use it with windows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMac Posted December 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 So I've tried: Debian Knoppix (debian based) BackTrack (debian based) Ubuntu Xubuntu (ubuntu based, of course) and I just installed SUSE. Only Backtrack seems to work right with my wlan card. I think I'm going to buy a new one. Probably a USB plug-n-play device. Does anyone know of any chipsets that work well with Linux? (preferably SUSE). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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