Author Topic: Installing a *nix OS (Read 11944 times)

Furious · « **on:** October 12, 2005, 11:56:38 am »

I'm not very familiar with the *nix platform, what would you recommend I use, or read up on to familiarize myself with it?

MyndFyre · « **Reply #1 on:** October 12, 2005, 12:19:37 pm »

Fedora Core 4 is fairly straightforward to install and use. From what I've read, Gentoo is the most noob-friendly (or was that Ubuntu?) It's some wacky name.

You'll need some hard drive space somwhere to use Linux. I recommend having at least 6gb free for your main file system (this is installed as the root or / file system), and a 2gb partition for your swap space. Formatting a partition as a Linux Swap partition will automatically cause it to be used as swap space.

Some distributions will auto-detect your Windows partitions and mount them; others, like FC4, require an extra package to be installed to read NTFS drives.

IMO, the best way to do it is to have an extra computer, pop *nix on that, and have your first computer online with AIM and an emergency window with iago or Newby open.

Furious · « **Reply #2 on:** October 12, 2005, 12:22:35 pm »

Heh ok, what about just using a seperate HD on the same computer?

MyndFyre · « **Reply #3 on:** October 12, 2005, 01:20:50 pm »

That would be fine. The installation program will normally take you through partitioning the swap space and the main (root) filesystem.

Ergot · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2005, 06:17:02 pm »

Quote from: MyndFyre[x86] on October 12, 2005, 12:19:37 pm

Fedora Core 4 is fairly straightforward to install and use. From what I've read, Gentoo is the most noob-friendly (or was that Ubuntu?) It's some wacky name.

You'll need some hard drive space somwhere to use Linux. I recommend having at least 6gb free for your main file system (this is installed as the root or / file system), and a 2gb partition for your swap space. Formatting a partition as a Linux Swap partition will automatically cause it to be used as swap space.

Some distributions will auto-detect your Windows partitions and mount them; others, like FC4, require an extra package to be installed to read NTFS drives.

IMO, the best way to do it is to have an extra computer, pop *nix on that, and have your first computer online with AIM and an emergency window with iago or Newby open.

That's how I did it

Gentoo is pretty hardcore @_@... It's probably Ubuntu since Joe uses it ;P

Furious · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2005, 09:54:42 pm »

I have an extra computer available, but my dad uses it in the garage to watch TV on and what not, so it's not readily available, but I do have a couple extra HD's lying around

Joe · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2005, 10:03:27 pm »

Your dad uses your extra computers to watch TV on? Wow, talk about using things efficiently. "I don't want to buy a TV. Lets use Bob's old computer."

But eh. I was introduced to Linux through playing around on darkside (iago's computer) via VNC (back in the pre-Pie days). He mailed me slackware a few weeks in, and I installed it without a single issue, nor doubt that I was doing something right. Maybe something. Yeah, I remember rebooting to ask him. But eh, one thing.

MyndFyre · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2005, 10:09:48 pm »

Heh, I've never had a Linux installation go that smoothly. I have retarded, half bleeding-edge and half 2-year-old hardware in my machine. The older stuff Linux picked up on, but the newer stuff (the Audigy 2 Gamer or GeForce 6800, or wireless PCI or USB adapters) typically aren't autodetected. You can get something for the wireless adapter called NDISWrapper that wraps Windows drivers to be used in Linux, but you have to have an internet connection first. For me, that's fine, unless you're using FC4 and need access to NTFS. It turns out, the NTFS package is only available online and so you have to actually burn NDISWrapper to a CD first. Then you need to get the sequence of commands right.... It's still a hassle on my laptop because I change networks.

Code: [Select]

su

modprobe wlan0
iwconfig wlan0 essid asu
iwconfig wlan0 mode managed
ifconfig wlan0 up
dhclient up

I think.

Furious · « **Reply #8 on:** October 13, 2005, 12:50:45 am »

My dad is an electrican, specializes in MME ( Micro Miniature Electronics ), he tends to use things pretty efficiently, he turned an RC car controller into a controller for his racing games on the computer, he uses our old stereo and huge ass speakers in the garage, but anywho, I will update you all with my problems when I get around to wiping one of the old HD's

iago · « **Reply #9 on:** October 13, 2005, 09:34:07 am »

I recommend Knoppix. It runs straight from the CD without touching the harddrive. It gives you a good feel for Linux without actually installing it or making a commitment.

Blaze · « **Reply #10 on:** October 13, 2005, 06:01:10 pm »

Slax! I used it to get comforable with the enviornment, and If you don't want to use it anymore, take out the CD. I also use it at school lots.

Furious · « **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2005, 04:59:16 pm »

From what some people say, Linux is a waste of time. Should I make a 20g partition and just install it on there, and keep my windows?

Sidoh · « **Reply #12 on:** November 23, 2005, 05:07:10 pm »

Quote from: Furious on November 23, 2005, 04:59:16 pm

From what some people say, Linux is a waste of time. Should I make a 20g partition and just install it on there, and keep my windows?

It completely depends on what you use your computer for. If you're a hardcore gamer, you probably shouldn't be using Linux as your primary OS. However, if you're something like a programmer (or network security specialist!

) and you just play some games on the side, Linux is great.

I would definitely recommend splitting your hard drive into two partitions (or buying another hard drive) instead of trying to replace Windows with Linux.

Furious · « **Reply #13 on:** November 23, 2005, 05:11:08 pm »

Oh, I didn't plan on replacing windows, I'm not that confident ;/ I just want to play with a *NIX OS to broaden my horizons so to speak, just something to occupy my time with in a semi-constructive way

Sidoh · « **Reply #14 on:** November 23, 2005, 05:14:29 pm »

Quote from: Furious on November 23, 2005, 05:11:08 pm

Oh, I didn't plan on replacing windows, I'm not that confident ;/ I just want to play with a *NIX OS to broaden my horizons so to speak, just something to occupy my time with in a semi-constructive way

Hehe. It's definitely far from a waste of time. Having that knowledge under your belt could be very useful some day!

Furious · « **Reply #15 on:** November 23, 2005, 05:22:55 pm »

Yeah, I'd like to be able to say, "Yeah I've had that problem before too, here's what I did..."

Sidoh · « **Reply #16 on:** November 23, 2005, 05:24:18 pm »

Quote from: Furious on November 23, 2005, 05:22:55 pm

Yeah, I'd like to be able to say, "Yeah I've had that problem before too, here's what I did..."

Hehe.

Krazed · « **Reply #17 on:** December 05, 2005, 07:49:42 pm »

You could be like me. I have no specialized subject, I just know a little about a lot.

Joe · « **Reply #18 on:** December 05, 2005, 08:14:02 pm »

Quote from: Krazed on December 05, 2005, 07:49:42 pm

You could be like me. I have no specialized subject, I just know a little about a lot.

You mean hardly useful, no matter what the situation is? =p.

I suggest Slackware as a starters distro, because we're all here to help you. However, asuming we weren't here, I'd suggest ubuntu, because it basically does everything for you. Ease of Windows, stability of UNIX. Win, win.

Sidoh · « **Reply #19 on:** December 05, 2005, 09:35:13 pm »

Quote from: Joe[e2] on December 05, 2005, 08:14:02 pm

You mean hardly useful, no matter what the situation is? =p

That's a very inaccurate portrayal of how dispersed knowledge is useful.

Joe · « **Reply #20 on:** December 06, 2005, 12:04:00 pm »

Quote from: Sidoh on December 05, 2005, 09:35:13 pm

Quote from: Joe[e2] on December 05, 2005, 08:14:02 pm
You mean hardly useful, no matter what the situation is? =p

That's a very inaccurate portrayal of how dispersed knowledge is useful.

Be that as it may, is seemed funny to say at the time.

Sidoh · « **Reply #21 on:** December 06, 2005, 12:58:04 pm »

Quote from: Joe[e2] on December 06, 2005, 12:04:00 pm

Be that as it may, is seemed funny to say at the time.

Whatever floats your boat. :\

Chavo · « **Reply #22 on:** December 06, 2005, 01:47:27 pm »

I've only used a couple distros and even then not very extensively, but I'm enjoying arch linux quite a bit right now not because there is anything particularly amazing about it (yet), but because it allows me to really learn as I go rather than just choosing options and wondering what they do. I've heard its a spinoff of slackware, but I wouldn't know.

TheSickEmpire · « **Reply #23 on:** December 06, 2005, 11:36:13 pm »

Quote from: Joe[e2] on December 05, 2005, 08:14:02 pm

Quote from: Krazed on December 05, 2005, 07:49:42 pm
You could be like me. I have no specialized subject, I just know a little about a lot.

You mean hardly useful, no matter what the situation is? =p.

I suggest Slackware as a starters distro, because we're all here to help you. However, asuming we weren't here, I'd suggest ubuntu, because it basically does everything for you. Ease of Windows, stability of UNIX. Win, win.

Slack instalation wise, is easy as fuck. I didn't get help from any of you assholes while I installed it.

<3

So, yeah, slack is a good choice.

Sidoh · « **Reply #24 on:** December 07, 2005, 12:50:05 am »

Slackware works great. That's what tehserver's running (I didn't copy TehUser, I swear -_-).

Furious · « **Reply #25 on:** December 07, 2005, 09:27:19 am »

You run tehserver?

Sidoh · « **Reply #26 on:** December 07, 2005, 01:03:45 pm »

Quote from: Furious on December 07, 2005, 09:27:19 am

You run tehserver?

No, TehUser runs the one you're thinking of. I named my server tehserver too, but it wasn't inspired by TehUser; I was just in a very non-innovative mood when I named it I guess (it was about two years ago, I've since installed Slackware on it, but I kept the same name).

In other news, I renamed it!

deepthought !

News:

Author Topic: Installing a *nix OS (Read 11944 times)