Unadorned installation
Turbolinux is the only major Linux vendor that still offers only a text-based installation routine. Linux veterans may not mind the spartan interface, but if you're new to Linux you should take note that the installation guide specifically says that installing Workstation Pro 6.1 requires some familiarity with Linux. If you're still undaunted, the installation process is reasonably well-documented, with step-by-step instructions as well as pictures and descriptions of installation screens.

Turbolinux also marches to its own drummer when it comes to configuration utilities. Instead of standard graphical configuration tools such as Linuxconf or Webmin, Workstation Pro 6.1 offers a disparate array of configuration tools unique to Turbolinux. The toolkit includes graphical and text-based versions of TurboNetCfg (network identification), TurboTimeCfg (system clock settings), TurboPrintCfg (local and remote printer setup), TurboService (configuration of services and deamons), TurboPortCfg (inetd and tcpd configuration), and TurboTboot (floppy boot disk creation). Two text-based tools, turbopkg (package management) and turboxcfg (display settings), also are included. The text-based configuration tools work reasonably well for remotely configuring client machines via a Telnet or SSH session, but we hope that future versions of Turbolinux will add centralized and easier-to-use tools such as Linuxconf, Webmin, or Caldera's upcoming Volution management software.

The PartitionMagic Linux Prep Tool, a version of PowerQuest's popular partitioning software, is included to make it easy for you to set up a dual-boot system with Windows 95, 98, or NT. (It also lets you dual-boot with Windows 2000 if FAT is the Windows file allocation format.) But there's no mention of the PartitionMagic utility in the installation guide. In fact, the guide suggests that you use the far less intuitive FIPS partitioning utility to nondestructively partition your hard drive. We also ran into some difficulties setting up a dual-boot system when we discovered that the usual LILO setup screen doesn't appear during Workstation Pro 6.1's installation, so we weren't offered the option of booting into Windows once the installation completed.

We decided to call tech support (you get 30 days of telephone support for installation help), but couldn't find the telephone number in the box. So, we registered the product at Turbolinux's Web site and emailed to request the phone number; three business days later, we received a response (despite an automated email reply promising a response within 24 hours). After some confusion about the AWOL LILO setup screen, the tech support representative offered a fix that required manually editing the /etc/lilo.conf file. Apparently, a LILO setup screen has been omitted from Workstation Pro 6.1's installation routine, even though it was in previous Turbolinux versions.

Solid development tools
Workstation Pro 6.1 provides a solid set of commercial IDE tools that are well designed for developing and deploying Web-based applications. Borland's popular Java development tool, JBuilder Foundation 3.5, is included, although a serial number registration key (not provided) is needed to install it. However, we were able to install Sun's freely available Forte for Java without a hitch. IBM's Developer Kit for Linux Java and trial versions of WebSphere Homepage Builder and the Apache-powered, JSP- and XML-enabled WebSphere Application Server are included for Web developers building dynamic, database-driven sites.

Bottom line
Given its less-than-friendly installation, we don't recommend Turbolinux Workstation Pro 6.1 for newer Linux users or those inexperienced with setting up a dual-boot system. The trial versions of enterprise-worthy commercial software bundled with Workstation Pro 6.1 also are available for download from Borland's, IBM's, and Sun's Web sites. Given these factors, there's little compelling reason to purchase this version for nearly $80--unless, of course, you need to test applications on a variety of platforms or require comprehensive Japanese language support. For most desktop users, however, Caldera OpenLinux, Corel Linux, or Linux-Mandrake would be a better choice.

The Linux lineup

Contents
	1. The Linux lineup 3. Debian GNU/Linux 2.2 5. Red Hat Linux 7.1 7. Turbolinux Workstation Pro 6.1	2. Caldera OpenLinux eServer 2.3 4. Linux-Mandrake 8.0 6. SuSE Linux 7.2 Professional

Visit the Linux Update Center

[an error occurred while processing this directive]