Linux

[AdamST]

I know this must have been asked 1000's of times but i searched it and really could find much.

I'm looking at getting a linux OS, which one i do not know, i realy dont know anything about them. I searched on google but i get about 100 diffrent sites with about 100 diffrent types of linux. Along with all diffrent ways to install them, dual OS, no instalation blah blah.

Questions

- What version of linux is the best/should i use

- Whats a good site that can walk me through the instalation.

- Is linux worth getting

- I here people talking about using duel OS. How is this posible, how does it work?

[r8500]

Adam, the best I can suggest is get a book and read up on it. Thats what I am doing now. The book I am reading is called Linux Complete, by Sybex publishing. Its cheap, and should help you out a lot.

[richard_cocks]

try slackware (slackware.com) there's a nice guide on the site (slackware.com/book) and the install (a quick guide to it at slackware.com/install) program is easy as hell for a complete linux newbie (as I was when I installed it).

It's dead easy to dual boot too, just do "expert" (it's not really that expert heh) setup and then "expert" setup of lilo (linux loader) and chose the partitions you want to boot.

It all basically follows easily though from typing setup at the prompt you get after sticking in the install CD.

as I said, I managed the installation no problem as someone who'd never seen a linux OS before or knew what to expect, so it was pretty easy.

as for whether it's worth getting, I think it's important to know a little about what people use and work with to gain a little bit more understanding of why we use our computers in the way we do etc. If you just want a windows alternative from linux, well i'd question why you want an alternative or what you expect/hope of gaining from linux instead of windows, but hopefully that's something you'll discover by using it and reading about it.

[AdamST]

I read your message while listening to Ave Maria, kinda felt like god was talking to me :x

[rusty4x4]

"Adam, the best I can suggest is get a book and read up on it...."

"...If you just want a windows alternative from linux, well i'd question why you want an alternative or what you expect/hope of gaining from linux instead of windows, but hopefully that's something you'll discover by using it and reading about it."

Well put, gents. Adam, when you do get into Linux, read up on the funadamentals first, like process control ("kill" is very important), command line editing (e.g., vi), and the usefulness of man pages. Take notes - it simplifies the memorization of the key commands.

Realize that this OS has its roots in UNIX, where the simple tasks are performed elegantly but monomaniacally well.

Given the above, I suggest Knoppix to get your toes wet - it runs from CD, so you don't have to commit, and it's easy to back out. If you want something more involved, then in addition to Slackware, consider Mandrake.

The ISOs for a bunch of the distros can be obtained here:

http://www.linuxiso.org/

[bob05]

If you just want to try Linux, try a "live" version of Linux that runs off the CD (like Knoppix or Lindows). It doesn't need to be installed at all. :t

[richard_cocks]

I tried a "live" CD but it was all too easy and didn't 'do it' for me, I fired it up, got into KDE, thought "what now?" and then booted back into windows none the wiser of what it was all supposed to be about.

[bob05]

Originally posted by richard_cocks
I tried a "live" CD but it was all too easy and didn't 'do it' for me, I fired it up, got into KDE, thought "what now?" and then booted back into windows none the wiser of what it was all supposed to be about.

I guess installing Linux without a purpose (either to use as a server or a new main operating system) is not really good. That's why I haven't gotten into Linux, there's no reason for me to do it.

[rusty4x4]

"I guess installing Linux without a purpose (either to use as a server or a new main operating system) is not really good. "

Too true. For me, it's to indulge my occasional appetite in experimenting with numerical methods (free compilers in Linux), creating clever scripts (choose thy shell), and of course, game server administration (Half-Life, naturally).

The last of course takes the most time. It's easier dealing with code than with people.

Spoken like a true geek! :D

[AdamST]

Well i was on the slackware site looking at how to install it. Anyways it might as well be writen in German.

for example

Command (m for help):n
Command action
e extended
p primary partition (1-4)
p
Partition number (1-4):1
First cylinder (0-1060, default 0):0
Last cylinder or +size or +sizeM or +sizeK (0-1060, default 1060):+64M

ah..what?

from HERE (http://www.slackware.com/book/index.php?source=x209.html)

[rusty4x4]

Adam,

Believe it or not, that's actually a fairly good tutorial for installing Linux. I'd made a previous comment elsewhere that while GUI-based OSs are great, its user loses a lot of depth of understanding what's behind an operating system.

So with Linux, a certain level of proficiency with computers is presumed. If you do not have this proficiency, it's a good idea to acquire it by reading (IMO, the Dummy series is a good start - not too many assumptions are made), and then by doing.

Linux is not mystical - but it is not for everyone. Simple commands comprise it, and from these basic commands, complex solutions can be built.

[richard_cocks]

Originally posted by AdamST
Well i was on the slackware site looking at how to install it. Anyways it might as well be writen in German.

for example



ah..what?

from HERE (http://www.slackware.com/book/index.php?source=x209.html)

Don't worry you can always partition using cfdisk which is a gui based partition tool simialr to fdisk in dos.

Or even using partition magic from within windows :x

[AdamST]

Yeah seeing i dont even know what a partition is iill have to sick with xp for now. But ill keep reading up on it. and thanks for all the help.