New to Linux

[Felipe Rodriguez_1]

Hi! Sorry if this is long, I just want to be clear.

I want to install a reasonably popular version of Linux (if that makes any sense) on my PC as a dual boot system. Whatever version I choose needs to be as close as possible to what big businesses are, or will be using.

My objective is to become familiar with the OS and practice commands, shell scripting, etc. And eventually get a job that would put me in line for a System Administror's role.

I have looked around and have seen free and comercially available versions. The Red Hat Enterprise for example is around $179.

I don't want to spend that kind of money unless this is THE verion I should have. What are my options?

[Derek Whigham_1 · Accepted solution]

I am a fan of knoppix from www.knoppix.net

It is a Linux Live CD or DVD (700Mb/3.5Gb) and boot directly fromm the CD/DVD on your PC. It is fully functional with serious amounts of software included, It also support many wireless adapters.

Give it a go , I love it. and use it when I can.

[Ivan Ferreira]

Install Fedora Core 4. It's almost the same thing that RHEL.

You can also use CentOS, that is based on RHEL source.

[Rick Garland]

My vote is Fedora. Fedora is a free download.

My opinion is that RedHat and SuSE are the 2 major players for production right now. This can change at any time.

If you can get another system, do so. Learning the OS and shell scripting is good but networking is a big part of the job as well. Could be the biggest part.

[Felipe Rodriguez_1]

Thanks to all.

Do you need to modify the bios to boot the OS from CD or deos it do an auto detect kind of thing?
I like the idea of booting from CD, but is that going to slow the operation?

Good idea about the networking stuff.

What are the differences, besides boot method, from Fedora and Knoppix?

Is Fedora going to be a pain to install as dual boot on my laptop? Can you point me to the download site(s)?

[Rick Garland]

If you are set to boot from CD then no need to modify the BIOS. I velieve most PCs are set that way already, to boot from CD, then from floppy, the HD.

If making dual boot system, load winbloz 1st. This will take take care of the Master Boot Record (MBR) then you can load the Linux after that.

If you are motivated, look at Crossover Office, Wine, or VMWare. This will aloow you to run the multiple OSs simultaneously as opposed to one at a time with a dual boot methodology.

[Derek Whigham_1]

You will have to tell the system to boot from CD first in the BIOS, The performance is not bad at all, If you are using knoppix type "knoppix dma" when booting, If you have some free disk space you can create a permanent config/swap space filesystem. Which helps the performance

[Felipe Rodriguez_1]

Rick, assuming all three tools are reliable; which has the best cost-to-function ratio? Remember I'm a newbie here :-).

What is "winbloz" and how doea it work?

[Felipe Rodriguez_1]

Derek, where do I get Knoppix and how much is it?

[Rick Garland]

winbloz is UNIX-speak for windows. In these UNIX forums you will find alot of us UNIX-bigots.

Crossover and Wine are relatively cheap ($39 I believe) and they allow you you run a windows application, or multiple apps. You do not get the windows environment.

VMWare is some $200 but it allows you to run the entire windows environment and the apps that are with it - Virtual Machine. Load additional win apps (MSOffice, Intuit, Visio, etc) and you can run these apps in a windows environment.

Virtual Machine - like having 2 separate systems but you are actually working on 1 physical machine.

[Derek Whigham_1]

Knoppix is free and can be downloaded from www.knoppix.net

Have Fun..

[Felipe Rodriguez_1]

LOL! Ok, I already have winbloz installed.

I'm not willing to pay extra for the capability to run both OS at the same time, so if I go with Fedora I'll need another alternative.

So I download knoppix, copy the download to CD and boot it that way?

[Derek Whigham_1]

Yes that's the Idea. There are two version the CD version is enough to get started with 700Mb

[Felipe Rodriguez_1]

OK. The CD version is what I need? Whats on the DVD version?
I just saw these at a place for sale, $11 for both. If I can get it for free, even better.

[Derek Whigham_1]

The DVD version has a lot more software , that you will probably never use? Download the CD version from www.knoppix.net for free then burn it. You will be up and running in an hour.

[Felipe Rodriguez_1]

Do I need ALL OF THIS?

09/24/2005 02:07AM 36,435 KNOPPIX-CHANGELOG.txt
10/20/2004 12:00AM 9,339 KNOPPIX-FAQ-EN.txt
03/20/2005 12:00AM 9,742 KNOPPIX-FAQ-ES.txt
10/20/2004 12:00AM 11,000 KNOPPIX-FAQ-FR.txt
10/20/2004 12:00AM 10,751 KNOPPIX-FAQ-IT.txt
10/20/2004 12:00AM 9,735 KNOPPIX-FAQ-NL.txt
07/12/2003 12:00AM 11,786 KNOPPIX-FAQ-PL.txt
10/20/2004 12:00AM 10,354 KNOPPIX-FAQ.txt
05/09/2005 07:13PM 727,289,856 KNOPPIX_V3.8.2-2005-05-05-EN.iso
05/11/2005 07:13PM 67 KNOPPIX_V3.8.2-2005-05-05-EN.iso.md5
05/13/2005 10:18AM 303 KNOPPIX_V3.8.2-2005-05-05-EN.iso.md5.asc
05/11/2005 07:15PM 75 KNOPPIX_V3.8.2-2005-05-05-EN.iso.sha1
05/13/2005 10:18AM 311 KNOPPIX_V3.8.2-2005-05-05-EN.iso.sha1.asc
06/01/2005 08:17AM 729,694,208 KNOPPIX_V3.9-2005-05-27-EN.iso
06/01/2005 11:12AM 65 KNOPPIX_V3.9-2005-05-27-EN.iso.md5
06/01/2005 11:14AM 301 KNOPPIX_V3.9-2005-05-27-EN.iso.md5.asc
06/01/2005 11:13AM 73 KNOPPIX_V3.9-2005-05-27-EN.iso.sha1
06/01/2005 11:14AM 309 KNOPPIX_V3.9-2005-05-27-EN.iso.sha1.asc
09/24/2005 12:58AM 728,190,976 KNOPPIX_V4.0.2CD-2005-09-23-EN.iso
09/24/2005 03:37AM 69 KNOPPIX_V4.0.2CD-2005-09-23-EN.iso.md5
09/24/2005 03:59AM 305 KNOPPIX_V4.0.2CD-2005-09-23-EN.iso.md5.asc
09/24/2005 03:38AM 77 KNOPPIX_V4.0.2CD-2005-09-23-EN.iso.sha1
09/24/2005 03:59AM 313 KNOPPIX_V4.0.2CD-2005-09-23-EN.iso.sha1.asc
08/18/2005 01:51AM 267 README
08/28/2005 11:41PM Directory contrib
08/28/2005 11:41PM Directory docs
10/09/2005 02:06AM Directory dvd
08/16/2005 02:59AM 9,656 knoppix-cheatcodes.txt
08/28/2005 11:41PM Directory knoppix-cover
08/28/2005 11:41PM Directory knoppix-customize
09/28/2005 12:00AM 3 knoppix-dvd
08/28/2005 11:41PM Directory knoppix-vortrag-als2000
08/28/2005 11:41PM Directory md5-old
09/24/2005 02:12AM 262,968 packages-dvd.txt
09/24/2005 02:12AM 118,733 packages.txt

[Derek Whigham_1]

Just this

09/24/2005 12:58AM 728,190,976 KNOPPIX_V4.0.2CD-2005-09-23-EN.iso

Download the iso then burn to CD

[Rick Garland]

Just download the CD version. Has everything you need to get started. If in the future you find you want something else, lots of places to get new applications. Just google.

Examples, SourceForge & FreshMeat to name a couple.

Lots of choices to download free Linux distros. Fedora, Knoppix, Ubuntu, Suse (there is an abbreviated free version), etc...

[Felipe Rodriguez_1]

I will download. It will take me a bit because I will have to downlad at work, faster connectio, but then need to find a way to burn since I don't have the capability. It may turn out that I will have to do it from home via dial-up.

Anyway, thanks a bunch. You guys have been great. I'll go with the live CD first (you can't beat "free") and see how that goes.

[Felipe Rodriguez_1]

I'm up and running! can't believe how easy that was.

Now, if I only knew what I was doing...any manuals, tutorials, etc. out there?

[Felipe Rodriguez_1]

One more thing, does the software do anything on my hard drive? Is it possible to overwrite, change, or delete anything on my hdd?

[Derek Whigham_1]

Knoppix does not touch you hard disk unless you create a persistant home or swap directory. Which you specifically have to ask for in the knoppix windows

[Rick Garland]

Some web sites to help with the documentation.

www.tldp.org (The Linux Documentation Project)
www.linuxquestions.org
www.linuxforum.com

As always, www.google.com
(Try http://www.google.com/linux)

Lots of info out there on any distro...

[Sorrel G. Jakins]

Another Linux HowTo: site:
http://www2.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en_US&admit=-1335382922+1129051632102+28353475&docId=200000065020644