Linux Applications

[MSIuser]

I'm going to install Linux on a seperate partition on my PC, what I want to know is what applitcations do I need to download in order to carry out basic practices like email, web browsing and word processing. What price would these applications.

I'm going to be using Mandrake 8.2 and so far I'm only downloading the first disc, would it be worth downloaidng the second disc which includes the extra software?

[freezinbutt]

Disk one should have everything you need. Disk 2 and 3 just have some extra bells and whistles on them. I started out by installing only disk one and then later I added some of the stuff from 2 and 3. Mandrake 8.2 has everything you need to get going. You will be amazed what you get. The Micorsoft equivilent would cost you many, many $$$.

Welcome to the good side,
freezinbutt

[MSIuser]

I'm currently on a dial up networking connection to the internet what do I need to download (other than drivers for the modem) in order to be able to get back onto the internet or will Mandrake have the stuff I need on disc one?

[freezinbutt]

Mandy should have everything you need. If your modem is a winmodem.........that could be a problem. Winmodems are a real problem with Linux. I had some problems with my wife's computer. Her sound card was not supported. Go to the Mandrake website and check out the, "supported hardware," section. You can do a search for all of your hardware to see if it is supported.

Hope that helps.
freezinbutt

[freezinbutt]

Addition to last post:

Everything you need is on disk one. All the drivers and such are on that disk.

freezinbutt

[MSIuser]

Right well I got a WinModem, U.S. Robotics one and their website has no mention of possible linux drivers, so there goes that idea. What would be a good modem for use in both windows and Linux? Does Linux support USB (external modem)?

[freezinbutt]

Hi MSIuser,

Sorry to take so long to reply. I was installing some software and had some problems.

I no longer use dial up (cable modem now.........yeeee haaaaa) so I don't know how to advise you here. Maybe someone else with dial up could advise you better. You could do a search for Linux supported modems at the Mandrake site. Go to:

http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/hardware.php3

Scroll down the page a bit and you can enter what hardware you are looking for. Hit submit and you will get a list of all the hardware in their database, and whether it is supported.

Years ago, I had a Winmodem. I had very poor luck using it so I switched to a hardware driven modem. It worked a lot better. I have noticed that almost all of the posts on this site that are related to modem problems, are Winmodems.

Hope this helps,
freezinbutt

[freezinbutt]

Addition to previous post.

From what I have read about USB modems, I think you should avoid them. This goes for both Windows and Linux.

freezinbutt

[Streams]

Get a good external serial modem and linux will be very happy with that.

[MSIuser]

Well maybe, I'm thinking of just leaving windows to handle my internet access for a little while, because after doing a little research there only seem to be a few mobems working in linux, so I might just wait for a while till I get used to linux then go for the ELSA Performance Pro modem.

Is there any Office software included in Mandrake?

Is there any need for Anti Virus software in Mandrake?

[OOPS!]

Hi,

For office stuff you will get KOffice (MS Office type clone), I don't know if OpenOffice comes with the download version (Star Office). Plus there is Abbiword, and of course for all your super heavy duty text work, LaTeX. If you don't have them they are all available for free download.

Anti-virus software isn't normally used with *nix (except with mail servers to screen for Winboxes). So don't worry about it. It's generally way beyond the script-kiddies.

OOPS!

[freezinbutt]

Don't give up on the modem quite yet. I have read some things where some people manage to get their modems working in Linux. Just requires a bit of tweaking. I'm sorry I can't give a bit more advise here, but I went to broadband about a year-and-a- half ago. Sure don't miss that dial up stuff.

Yes there is an office suit built into Mandrake, and it is pretty nice. I just downloaded and installed Star Office 5.2 so that I could import all of my Microsoft Office stuff. It works with everything but Publisher files so I'm working on a fix for that. You will be impressed with what comes with Mandy. It is all there for you. Some really nice email programs too.

As far as anti-virus goes, there is none that is built into Mandrake that I've seen. Not much need for it in the Linux world because most of the viruses are written for Windows and exploit the weeknesses in Outlook, Outlook Express and IE. The file structure in Linux is different than Windows. It is much more secure becasue you need, "Root," privilage to mess with anything critical to the system. In order to get "Root" privilage, you have to log in as "Root." You must supply a username and password to get in. This might seem a bit intrusive at first, but once you see the beauty of this it really make sense. A virus would have to know your username and password in order to damage the files. In Windows, everyone has "Root" privilages. I have seen some anti-virus software out there, but I think it mostly looks for Windows type viruses in order to weed them out of your system. I personally don't run any so I'm not sure here.

Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help.
freezinbutt

[MSIuser]

OK Thanks for the reams and reams of information. I take it you pretty pleased with your linux system? What sort of hardware are you running it on?

I can't wait to get broadband, but at the mo there is no chance of it because I live in Northern Ireland (you may or may not have heard of it but it's part of the UK) and I have basically no chance of broadband internet access at the moment. the only chance I would have would be if I could afford Satalite access but not on my budget! What's it like in the world of high-speed internet access? Can't wait to join you.

[freezinbutt]

Yes, I am very pleased since I switched over to Linux. I am in the process of getting everything set up so I can wean our system of Microsoft products. I'm actually pretty new to Linux but I have totally immersed myself in it. It's not like Windows when it comes to downloading and installing software (it's a bit more involved) but it is much more flexible. There are so many options available in the Linux world that just don't exist in the Windows world. I think you should install it (preferably on a seperate partition, or another hard drive) and try it out. When you run into a problem, you can tackle it once you have it installed. Kinda hard to tell exactly what will work on your system untill you install it. I have it running on several computers in my house (from P2's to P4's) with all sorts of different hardware. I have had a few issues with it, but I handled them once I had it up and running. Sound isn't a real big issue if it doesn't work. You can fix that later. Same goes for your modem. One thing you might want to check before you install is your video card. Mandrake comes with a wide variety of drivers to support most hardware out there. I have heard of a few people who installed it and then could not get there video to work in "X" which is the Linux GUI. During the install, Mandy will configure and test your video. When you test the video, it will show a screen with a bunch of the Linux Penguin's on it and ask you if this is the setting you want. If it is, just click ok and move on. If your screen goes black during the test and you can't see anything, don't panic. It will go back to the setup after about 5 or 10 seconds and ask if it worked. You can tell it that the test failed and select a different setting or video card. Mandy should detect your card for you, but just in case you should know what it is and what it is capable of doing so you can choose it from the list and select your settings.

As far as your question about broadband goes; it is really nice. I will never go back if I can help it. You really get spoiled with it. I hope that some day you are able to enjoy it there. I live in Alaska and had to wait for it here while most of the rest of the United States had it. I know how you feel, believe me. Alaska is always behind the technology curve and we have to wait for things to be available up here.

Best of luck to you,
freezinbutt

[MSIuser]

Thanks! I know annoying waiting ain't it! Can't wait to get this thing downloaded, think about 6 nites dwnloading mite finish it!!

I ave already sorted out my video card drivers, downloaded ones from the manufacturers website just incase. I'm pretty fluent (is I may say so myself) with PC's I'm always pretty up-to-date in the world of technology (when I'm at home), just haven't ever thought much about Linux because I've been busy fixing my Windows! Also because I didn't know you could download it for free and until I got unmetered net access never had time to search!

My PC is pretty decent too I'll post specs at the bottom and I have a seperate partition prepared and reinstalled my boot-manager software in anticipation of installing Mandy.

Any tips for the installation sequence as to what to choose?

[bosco]

Linux friendly external modem

[freezinbutt]

You will be given two choices; standard and expert mode for install. The first time I installed it I picked the standard method but since then I always choose expert. Expert just gives you more choices to custom configure your install. With each choice you are given during the install process there is a pretty detailed description at the bottom of the screeen. Take the time to read it before making a selection and you'll be fine. And hey, if you screw it up, you can always reformat and start again.

What bootloader are you using? I use System Commander 7 on one of my machines. All of the others are set up using the Windows bootloader. During the Linux install, you will be asked where to install LILO. LILO is the linux bootloader. If you are not using a bootloader and install LILO to the MBR, it will do a fine job of allowing you to boot into either Linux or Windows. You can also install LILO to the first sector of the partition where Linux resides. Read your documentation for your bootloader to know where to install this. With my System Commander program, I installed LILO into the MBR but then had to run a utility to check the MBR so that System Commander knew what operating systems were installed. Using the Windows bootloader with W2K, I installed LILO on the first sector of the Linux partition. Then I copied the LILO config file to the Windows root directory and edited the boot.ini file to recoginze Linux and LILO. One of the neat things about Linux is that it recognizes Windows and the Windows partitions. Windows does not recognize anything related to Linux (gee, I wonder why......competition maybe?).

Let me know if you need anything else. I'm happy to help if I can.
freezinbutt

[freezinbutt]

Also wanted to mention that the Linux Links Statica put at the beginning of this forum are a great. You can link to it here:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...threadid=20687

I also like www.linuxquestions.org

freezinbutt

[MSIuser]

Yeah I've been to a few of em! I just can't wait to get this thing loaded up!!!

I use Acronis OS Selector, it's pretty good and has a nice graphical interface. Even better I got it for FREE!!! Recognises most OS's too.

I was looking at drivers for my NIC and the driver disc that came with it have drivers for RedHat Linux, will these work in Mandrake? Or would I be better going to the site and downloading new ones?

[freezinbutt]

Not really sure on that NIC driver question. I use three different types of NIC's here and Mandrake found, and installed a driver for each of them. Like I said, Mandy has a lot of driver support built into it so I don't think you'll have much trouble. Mandrake was really designed for the newbie. It installs a lot like Windows does. The installer does most of the work for you.

freezinbutt