Tired question: Ubuntu 12.04 or 12.10 performance

[mwpowellhtx]

Hello,

Bearing in mind I am somewhat of a Linux newbie when it comes to sifting through distribution hell.

I want to decide between Ubuntu distributions which one to go with, or possibly abandon Ubuntu altogether for something like Mint (so I'm told).

I have discovered to my chagrin that 12.10 server with Gnome UI installed performance is abysmal! I've tried the things that are recommended, installed Guest Additions, enabling/disabling 3D Acceleration, but it doesn't help.

I've installed 12.04 on another system and its performance seems acceptable, but is 12.04 and not 12.10 as it matters when identifying backwards compatible install packages.

It's also been mentioned find a ready-built distribution for what I want to do: host Redmine and Git (or other) repositories on it. Which would be fine, but if I'm going to jump in right, I may as well have full control over the entire process beginning to end.

Would someone recommend how to overcome the performance issues with 12.10? Or a "better" distribution? Perhaps Mint is better? I'm not too particular about UI aesthetics, that sort of thing, I'll adjust to that. However, performance issues must be handled.

Or perhaps VMware is a better choice than VB for that matter?

Thank you...

Best regards,

Michael

[Perryg]

I suspect you have encountered the (LLVM) issue and this should be fixed in the next maintenance release. Seems Ubuntu 12.10 decided to remove the fallback and started using software acceleration instead making the desktop really slow. https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/11107 As for Gnome3 it sucks IMHO but Unity is acceptable if 3D is enabled and actually works. Linux Mint is acceptable as well but I use the cinnamon desktop instead of mate as it just feels better.

One thing you did not mention is whether hardware virtualization is available on your PC and that it is enabled. This is a must.

Lastly, do yourself a favor and install it yourself. You learn more and don't have to worry what little extras might have been planted in the guest.

[mwpowellhtx]

I suspect you have encountered the (LLVM) issue and this should be fixed in the next maintenance release.

Yes I believe so. Question: next maintenance release of what? Ubuntu? VB? I'm gathering Ubuntu from the context.

Linux Mint is acceptable as well but I use the cinnamon desktop instead of mate as it just feels better.

I'll check it out.

One thing you did not mention is whether hardware virtualization is available on your PC and that it is enabled. This is a must.

Check: hardware acceleration. Got it.

Lastly, do yourself a favor and install it yourself. You learn more and don't have to worry what little extras might have been planted in the guest.

Yessir, I expect I will.

Thanks, and one last open question for you or anyone else who might have wisdom. It's a VM of course, but planning for Redmine / Git (or other SCM) growth: how much hard drive to give it? I started with a 20 GB for test purposes. Will wipe that out and start from scratch. Kind of a subjective question I know.

As SATA and not SCSI if possible?

Thanks...

[Perryg]

It is fixed in the next release of VirtualBox. Due any day.

If you keep the drive set to dynamic (not fixed) you can always increase the size of the drive as long as your real hard drive has the space. I usually set the size to minimum of 20GB but if I know before hand the size needs to be more I adjust accordingly. As for sata scsi. Use the default sata usually for Linux.

[mwpowellhtx]

Possibly back to Linux distro hell for me... I started a VB Linux Mint 14 Cinnamon install going. Hard drive set for 120 GB differencing. Then the installer crashed part way through the process.

Can you recommend a Linux distro; Ubuntu earlier flavors? Mint possibly not 14, since it's fresh?

Obviously installable through VB if possible.

[Perryg]

What is the host?
Post the specifications of the host.

[mwpowellhtx]

Ah! So after Googling for details, apparently you open a terminal window and run: sudo apt-get remove ubiquity-slideshow-mint. Don't know why that is. When you do that, the install runs a bit quicker I think and runs to success, you restart, and voila! You have a Linux Mint to work with upon restart.

[mwpowellhtx]

And I think VERY responsive; much more so than Ubuntu, but is probably a function of I don't have the Gnome interface getting in the way.