new exploits on O/Ss

[Linus]

Dear experts,
I have always relied on Windows, not because I like them, or because of quality, but because I didn't have the time to look elsewhere and was afraid another O/S might compromise my PC. Now, with a spare PC, I am thinking of devoting it to experimenting with other O/Ss. It is a pentium 200 mmx with 32MB RAM. What are your suggestions pertaining to hardware and which kinds of O/S are suitable for a guy bred on Winwoes. Thanks

[revelation]

Other than the P200 you did not mention the other hardware that is in your spare machine. There are many sites that you can go to to see if your hardware is suited for Linux. Most of the distros have a link to this right on their site. I am using Mandrake 7.0, and just last night ordered Mandrake7.1 from Linux Central. Redhat 6.2 is great as well. I also have a machine here with SuSe 6.4, but I am partial to Mandrake.

[revelation]

OOPPS, You said "experts". I am not an expert. I would be the first to admit that. Although, if a "newbie" like myself can do it, you should have no problems (or very few).

[Linus]

Oops, My dad wants the old PC to surf the net and check his mail. So I guess there goes my spare PC.

However, I am very interested in trying out unix O/S and I intend to set up another computer, I am thinking of going for duron. Please advise me on the hardware requirements other than mobo cpu setup I need for redhat. Don't need performance stuff, just most bang for buck. Thanks.

It may seem kinda stupid to set up another PC just for experimenting O/S, but I can't risk anything happening on my present PC. Anyway, at least I have another toy to tinkle with.

[Linus]

I managed to check and all my parts are mandrake ready. I changed to mandrake cause I kind of like the sound of it. anyway I will try out redhat and probably others in time to come.

However, Is there anywhere else other than the mandrake website i can get helpful user guides for absolute beginners?

[Linus]

forgot to add a detail, I am using the old pentium 200 mmx in the end cause I am on the unpriviledged side, can't afford to spend on impulse.

[Toaster]

I would advize that you make certain that the "Duron" will be supported. I`m sure it will but one should be safe then sorry.
Linux "likes" ISA modems, most sound cards, most "nics" and almost any video adaptor with the exception of some "SIS" type vid-cards.
The P-200 would be a great Linux system and would out perform Micky$oft in almost any area. 32MB of ram is adaquate and 64MB is even better. Count on 2.0+GB of HDD and have fun.

[Linus]

Thanks for the info toaster. Duron is still unavailable on these shores unfortunately, and the 0.18 celerons are being sold by a handful of shops in the infamous Sim Lim square(Singapore) for above market prices because of its scarcity. Ridiculous, but I guess everyone has to make a living. Even the RAM has increased by 10 dollars for 64MB.
Lastly, do you have any linux websites or books to recommend other than the official ones of redhat and mandrake? Thank you again

[Statica]

Hi Mr.Trovalds:

As Toaster said a P200 is rather ideal for a Linux box, because (a) its hardware will pretty much be to Linux' liking and (b) It will counter the frustrations laid upon by today's modern day superbloatware.
RedHat 6.2 would be my distrib of choice. If you have to buy Linux, and there are no discount CD's available in S'pore, I'd suggest waiting for kernel 2.4.xx
Among other things the new kernel will have native support for 7th generation processors [Athlon, Duron etc], alongwith instruction support for 3D-Now and a variety of others that have crept up with newer processors.
www.linuxdoc.org is a fairly well organized repository of documentation. For apps goto www.freshmeat.net .. for absolute bleeding edge [some of them are in pre-alpha etc.] check out www.sourceforge.net

Other than, if you wanted to guage the popularity of Linux documentation do a google search for any topic that is remotely connected to Linux and you will get pages of hits. Be warned though, read the date of documentation if any before you begin; not so much cos of incompatibilities but cos newer releases of Linux will probably have all that u are looking for natively.

& I cant stress enough, if you are a newuser, make sure you install ALL documentation related to the packages u put in, then take the time and go through them.

Good luck.

[Linus]

Thanks exstatic. By the way, my name is really Linus. Ironic huh, I haven't even tried Linux.

I will get the Mandrake first. I will get back on my progress. Probably a weeks time, I am having exams next week. Just out of curiousity what drives you guys to give free and helpful help? I really admire all the guys who do it.. really, didn't knoew it existed, free advice. Forgive me for my cynism, I am a political science student after all. And lastly should anybody want to know the prices in Sim Lim (SIngapore's infamous electronic centre) on any product, will be happy to give free information. Got the habit of window shopping there.

[Junkman]

Linus, I will keep an eye out on your learning as I am going to embark on your journey in the future.
I have heard that you can run fast and plenty using a 486 older machine with Linux...
Does anyone know if that would be true ?

[Toaster]

Due to the graphical nature of Linux now days, it`s hard to recommend using a 486 class system. Under Linux and "typical" hardware such as IDE, Linux runs well but performs best with SCSI. A 486-100 would run Linux fairly well but with the pricing of Pentium 100+ systems, why bother.
Prior to Linux 6.0, a 486 would have been fine. However, folks clammored for better hardware support and video support. All this extra support bloats the code and impacts on performace. So...I can`t suggest a 486 class system. However, I am *very* performance orientated and demand great results because I give Linux what it wants to give me that performance.
A P-90 or higher is my suggested minimum for a reasonably fast Linux box as well as 32MB of ram as a minimum.
Linux uses memory very unlike of Micky$oft winderz. Linux loads as much as it can into "ram disks" and this increases performance markedly. While Linux will run with as little as 16MB in the graphical mode, performance suffers.
The user wanting to try Linux on a P-200 will be rewarded with good performance and virtually no limitations.
Look at it this way...if you tried Micky$oft winderz on a 386, you would have thought twice in getting it over Win3.xx, same goes for Linux. Give it a fair fighting chance and i`m sure you will be quite impressed.

Welcome back Mr. Cling.

[Statica]

Hi all...

Linus .. oops .. thats your name?

Yeah as Toaster said, all that native and "automatic" support is whats doing Linux in, in terms of size and to a large extent versatility. Linux 2.0.36 [RedHat 5.2 which is one of my FAVOURITE builds] is marvellous even on 486. If you want Linux on a 386 go for a LOAF. Its amazing.

But then again whatever Linux does it does better than any of that Microcrap... so am really excited about the new kernel coming up.


On another note: its disconcerting the level of support for Mundrake I seriously think that it is a distrib that is definitely not fit for a critical linuxbox, and yet ppl jump to it, even though its all in that minor release of kernel that they go to.

[Linus]

hi,

I just finished my exam and just got redhat standard 6.2
It is unfortunately a second hand copy i got from a school mate. It comes only in a disk and simple installation guide. It does not contain stuff like how to use redhat and commands. Is there anywhere in the net that i can get these info?

Linus

[Xayd]

Well, assuming the install worked ok and the video drivers are ok, just login for the first time and...

>startx

That'll launch the default desktop, whichever one you installed. If you installed both gnome and kde, it'll prolly start gnome.

From inside of one of the desktops, it'll start to become familiar to you. The mauals that come with the distribution are in HTML format, so you just view them in Netscape. They're all hyperlinked as well.

Of course you don't *have* to have a desktop, but it helps to have a Windows type layout for the first few months to get used to things.

I'd still recommend a book, though. My first stab at Linux was with Red Hat 5.1, and a book called "Teach Yourself Linux", that's organized around Red Hat and the gnome desktop. The book comes with Red Hat 6.1 now I think, so you'll have a backup copy if you screw up bad enough to warrant a reinstall.

The book itself is about 30 bucks.

The man pages are fine for quick reference, but you'll be better off with a "beginner's guide" until you get a feel for where things are and how they work.

Xayd

[This message has been edited by Xayd (edited 07-04-2000).]

[Linus]

Erm,
got a slight problem. I reformatted my HDD. How do i load redhat? By using a startup disk? I don't have one. I have a fresh second hand PC for linux.

Linus

[Xayd]

You can boot from a Windoze floppy and start that way.

Just boot to a Windoze floppy with CD ROM drivers...

>E:\ (e:\ being your CD ROM)
>cd dosutils
>autoboot

Away and off you go.

You can also boot to the CD if that machine's bios allows you to do so. Check in your bios, and change the boot sequence to CD ROM first, then after the install, change it back.

Xayd

[This message has been edited by Xayd (edited 07-08-2000).]