~Installing Linux~

Hi all,

Well the time has come for this dog to learn a few new tricks. I'm gonna dive into installing Linux on my box. So I have a few questions.

If possible ~Please~ provide the What, why, how's etc. (links too)​

1. Which version should I use? (I'm looking for one with a good Graphical Interface)

2. What's a good open source software site, for Linux Apps?

3. As far a security goes ... what are some of my options? (Av's, FW's, etc.)

4. In regards to Dual Booting Windows & Linux ... What should I know?

5. Are there any ~quirky~ things about Linux in general I should know about?

6. What's a Good Support Forum?​

TIA,

Steve

Ps. If I missed anything at all, and you have info regarding it. Post away, I'd like to learn everything I can.

 

I' would suggest either SuSE Personal or Fedora Core 3 I have used them and liked them. However, I placed them on an old PC instead of the main PC.

Jimbob

 

Have you checked out Knoppix? It just runs from a CD, so until you can get some real answers, it would at least let you get familiar with the UI. As far as which distro to use, my knowledge is limited but what I've gleaned so far is that Mandrake is one of the more user friendly "out of the box", but Debian is more well organized and easier to use after you've got the hang of it all (more to learn in the beginning, though.)

 

Hi Dog!

I can advise you SUSE Linux Professional 9.2

Why?

Take a look at the review here, is very complete.

 

Steve, are you planning to pay any money or are you looking for a free version? as SuSE pro will have a price right?

Jimbob

 

Also a free distro gives you the freedome to change around and have a play with the different distro's available.

Jimbob

 

Hi Guys,

So far I've Dl'd Ubuntu ~warty~ (Live & Install), SuSE Personal 9.1, and Knoppix 3.7.

I'll have to burn the .iso's, and test them out.

Boy, there sure is a lot of stuff to learn ... I "googled" my way to tons of resources.

I'll hit the books, if I run into trouble ... but other than that ... I'm diving right into it ... No better way to learn other than "Trial & Error" ~I love trouble~

Steve

 

Update:

Well ... I backed up everything nessecary (a few hours work ). Then re-sized a few partitions and created a new bootable partition on one of my secondary physical drives to install Linux on.

Now, I've just to ~flip~ a coin and pick which one.

 

I'd choose SuSE.

Jimbob

 

Both, Suse and Ubuntu are great distro's. Installing should give you no headaches.
As far as I can see there are two major differences between them:
Ubuntu is a Debian based distro. That means that the software distribution is based on APT (Advanced Packaging Tool). This is a great resource management tool. Suse is based on RPM (red hat package management). Both tools aid in installing software and manage dependencies between the different components and versions. APT seems more adequate for this purpose. Synaptic is the graphical interface to help apt users.
Suse on the other hand has it's own tools, YAST being the most advanced.

Ubuntu defaults to the Gnome window manager, Suse defaults to KDE. I prefer Gnome: KDE definately has a MS Windows style, but since I decided to defect, I preferred another look and feel as well. Gnome is nice.

There are more differences, though. If you plan to use a laptop with all kinds of power saving functions, then there is no good alternative for Suse (I believe Xandros is close).
Ubuntu is very much APT based. Although you can use all .deb packages, in order to stay close to ubuntu versions, you better not install non ubuntu packages, apt might get confused. No big deal, but I'm still on firefox 0.9.3. Waiting eagerly for the new ubuntu release in april.

I prefer ubuntu at this time, apt and gnome are big selling points. Besides, the community is very helpfull. But you can't go wrong with either of them.

 

Thanks Guys,

LOL ... I've finally decided ... I'm gonna install Mandrake, at first at least.

It'll be a couple of days before I have time to install it, but I'll report back how it goes and what I think of it.

If anyone wants to see/learn more about Mandrake Linux. Here's their Homepage: http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en-us/

Steve

ps. I found a pretty fast FTP ... it's pumping it a 290kbs ~Sweet~ ... Large DL though 2GB and change.

 

LOL ... Dog needs help!!!

I tried to install ... SuSE 9.1 (because I had issues DL'ing Mandrake) ...

& I've got a small problem.

My PC won't boot ... the default SuSE boot loader just hangs like this ...

Code:

GRUB_

I tried the LILO boot loader but I get nothing but errors.

So I need some help and advice ... ~Please~ (I'm only currently online because I'm using Ubuntu Live)

What do I need to do?

Steve

 

LOL ... a bump for LWM & BigC

~Dog needs help~ ~Bail Me Out~

Pretty Pretty Please.

Steve

Ps. I'm gonna hit the sac, and get some rest ... but I'll be back tonight.

 

I fixed it!!!!!!!

I'm on with XP ATM.

Changed two settings in the bios - Fast Boot ... switched to off, and Second HHD to Auto (which was off) ... I'm not sure which one did it ... I'll check around later

Thanks So Much for all your efforts Ron. ~ I owe you big~ ~Breakfast on me!~

Thanks My Friend.

Steve

LOL ... My No Fear - Never Give Up Attitude is turning me into a little bit of an Expert ... and YES ... ~I Love Trouble~

 

Have you set up one PC to dual boot steve?

Jimbob

 

Yup ... it's up and going now. I'll have to post a couple of screenies ... later ... I've got to hit the sac, and get some sleep, before I head to work tonight.

Graphically, it looks Pretty Sweet. (SuSE 9.1)

Steve

 

I know, I have it myself on an old PC. Thought I would have a play and placed it on there a few months ago. Its a nice Operating System to play around with. Who knows, you might find you prefer it to XP.

Jimbob

 

I am reading this thread with special interest and have one question. There is an upgrade from 9.1 to 9.2 (Suse), is this a free upgrade?
TIA,

Gerard

 

You can update using a similar method to windows I think.

Jimbob

 

And you can download the full version, it will do an upgrade (although you only reach the upgrade option a few screens in the install process.

Alternative: the upgrade via APT

 

Thanks Andre.

Maybe this link is something for our DOG and others who are interested.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Installing_Linux

 

Thanks Gerard, ... Nice Link.

It does have an update step, while installing. I skipped it though as I was pressed for time. I'll have to go back and look at it.

Thanks Again for Everyones help.

Steve

 

I just received a three disc set of Novell Linux Desktop version 9.-- powered by suse linux It looks pretty good and it is a full version ready to go. I think I will install it and give it a try.

bigc

 

Hey BigC,

Mandrake looks pretty good too. It was the one I had the intention to install (3 CD/ 1 DVD), the DL is 2 GB and change ... I found a couple of pretty fast FTP's (ave. 300kbs) but they all crapped out @ just over a gig I couldn't ever resume the DL ... I tried 4 times total (2 different FTP's) without any luck ... I will still continue to try and DL it. LOL, that is after all why I spend the bucks on the extra bandwidth.

There's a link in a post above if you want to check it out.

Steve

 

Since we're at it: hundreds of distro's for all kinds of purposes, there's more than the big three or four