Re: Downloading Debian CDs or DVD(s)?

"(PeteCresswell)" <x@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Just read their site's page on downloads.
>
> Downloaded JigDo for Windows.
>
> Tried to run it via the .BAT file interface.
>
> Somebody's *got* to be kidding, right?

Pete --

1. I'm a Debian fan myself, but would recommend that someone new to
Linux start somewhere else, e.g., the aforementioned Kanotix, MEPIS,
Kubuntu/Ubuntu. There are a lot of aspects of Debian that are rewarding
to a Linux user who's been around the block a few times, but very opaque
and frustrating -- or are downright pitfalls -- to newcomers.

2. If you're determined to start out with Debian, then using entire
huge CD or DVD images for installation, whether built using Jigdo or
otherwise, is usually a classic case of what we call "solving the wrong
problem". Generally, the most effective general-purpose starting point
for a Debian system is a "netinst" mini-CD image. Please see my page of
Debian installers:

"Installers" on http://linuxmafia.com/kb/Debian/

Why? Because Debian tends to have fairly constant package churn on the
Internet package mirror sites[1], such that almost all of the software on
any CD-ROMs is guaranteed obsolete nearly the moment the disc comes out
-- with the result that you'll be quickly replacing those versions using
the apt-get package-updating tool anyway, so why bother having obsolete
versions on your installation media? (Exceptions include situations
where pulling down packages from the Internet is excessively slow or
expensive.)

Thus, the most popular installation media among experienced Debian
installers is "netinst" mini-CD images, running from about 30MB to 180MB
and installing only the core, with the remainder later pulled down off
the Net.

[BitTorrent:]

> Repeatedly got transfer rates like 4 kbps, 6 kbps.... Finally DL'd
> Knoppix via plain-vanilla HTMO download at about 90 kbps.
>
> What am I missing?

BitTorrent download rates are, well, a function of who else is
participating and seeding the feed. Regular downloads' rates depend in
part on how loaded particular sites are. One of the tricks to the
latter is to sample several mirror sites and find the ones that have
load capacity.


.

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