Linux "images"

[Colb]

Looking to download and install Rh 7.3 on an old computer I just aquired. I noticed that there are 3 "images" that i need to download. Should i just save each one in a folder and then burn them onto a CD to install in the older computer.

I am a total newbie to the Linux scene. So any help will be progress.

And I also noticed that you can buy 7.3 for $70 on a site I looked at. I thought Linux was shareware.

Thanks.

[homer15]

linux is free... but all of the other stuff bundled with it when you buy it in the store like that is where the money comes from.

download each image to it's own file and make a seperate cd for each image.

[freezinbutt]

Hi there Colb_Dog

You really only need the first image (disk 1) to do a basic install. Disks 2 and 3 have all the extra bells and whistles on them. If you have high speed modem service, I would get all three disks and do a complete install if you really want to see what Linux has to offer. I just installed RH 7.3 and it is really nice.

You can also purchase the Linux distros. With that you get all the documentation and tech support that you will not get when you download them. Linux is open source so it is available for free under the GNU License.

Hope this helps. Post back if you have any other questions.

freezinbutt

[MaXimum SMOKE]

If I got your question correctly, You have to make sure that your cd burning software can handle an iso image. A lot of the comprehensive software for cd burning can, however some of the software that is geared strictly to music cd building, or cd copying, cannot. An iso image is a single very large file, that the burning program converts back into a disk full of multiple folders, and files. The other thing is that Red Hat version 7.2, or 7.3, use the newer X windows system. If you try to use these on an older cpu, like pentiums 100, 133, you will have a bad experience. Not enough horsepower there. RH 6.2, ran acceptable, on an older 133 for me, but you wind up downloading the security fixes for a version this old. Mandrake's older versions like 7.0, or 7.1, also ran ok on old computers, but updating also applies. You see running linux in text mode, like a small server or firewall, doesn't require a lot of resources. Running under the new graphical interfaces, does, however. With regard to purchasing a version from Redhat, more than anything else, you are buying support. Although there are a lot of forums like this to get info on a free product, Redhat isn't obligated to support the version you get for 'free'. Hope this answers some of your questions. Happy Computing.

[freezinbutt]

Wow...that's a really good point that MaXimum SMOKE brought up there....just how old of a computer are we talking about here. Maybe you could post back with some system specs so we can see if RH 7.3 is a bit too much for it.

[Colb]

I am unable to download at redhat.com. Is there other sites that have the iso images?

[christo418]

Try http://www.linuxiso.org/

[freezinbutt]

There should be a long list of download sites at rehat.com but since 7.3 came out, it has been pretty hard to get. The servers are still pretty busy. I just kept going down the list until I found one that was not busy. If I remember right, it was the server in Sweden.

[Colb]

Thanks for the help.

I am currently downloading the 3 files. Now, should I start reading documentation on the installation procedures? Or is it straight forward like windows installation.?(I fear it's not)

[freezinbutt]

The installer is fairly straighforward. Each step is explained as you go.

If you have no experience with Linux though, you might get confused when it asks you where to install it. Keep in mind that Linux sees everything on your computer as a file. Your hard drive will not show up as c:\ . If you only have one HDD, Linux will list your drive as /hda. If you have 2 HDD, they will show up as /hda and /hdb. The number following this is the partition on the drive. i.e. /hda1 and /hda2.

In one of the earlier posts, we were wondering just how old this computer is that you plan on installing Linux. If it is really old, Red Hat might not run on it very well. Post back some system specs or check the Red Hat site to see if they have some minimum system specs listed. I run Linux on mostly newer machines with lots of RAM so I don't have any trouble.

freezinbutt