Back when I first started using Linux, PulseAudio was not yet a thing. Back then I was using Mandriva/Mandrake and Redhat (prior to switching to Enterprise).

Hard to believe it’s been that long already. Linux has come so far. I remember fighting with audio issues. The most frequent issue I remember having is not being able to have two different programs use the sound card at the same time. Haha. So no system sounds while listening to music.