What have you been doing lately with Linux?
I thought I should update this page since it has been a while since I did that. Recently I have gotten a older Sony Laptop, and I wiped it and installed Linux on it. That is the only OS on it. I use it for mainly Webstuff. Surfing, e-mail, and the like. It runs Mandrake 8.2 currently. Actually I just upgraded to 8.2, I originally installed 8.1 on there. I will eventually upgrade to 9.1 once it is out. Why 9.1 and not 9.0, well I think there are some issues that need to be cleared up with 9.0. I have also installed OpenOffice on the laptop and use it to write documents, and make spreadsheets.
Over the weekend I tried once again to install Yellow Dog Linux on my Macintosh 9500. The 9500 won't take OS X, or Jaguar, or whatever you call it. So why not Linux. Well so far I have gotten farther than I did previously. However it still isn't quite installing. It locks up durring install. Now it could be what I had to do to make the CDs. So I might just have to buy a set of CDs to install it. No biggie. Its not like I haven't picked up a few Mandrake CDs over the years (last count I had 5 different boxed versions of Mandrake).
What is Linux?
Linux is a Unix clone that was started by (at the time) a student, Linus Torvalis. Linux is also just the kernel or the main part of the operating system. Everything else is are the utilities that run on the Kernel. At least as I understand it.
Why Linux?
Linux has all the features of the Major versions of Unix do. FTP, Telnet, HTTP (Web Server), and more. Linux is not for everyone. If you are wanting to write a document to share with the world, or want to just play the latest 3D shoot-em-up game, then Linux may not be for you. That is not to say you can not play games or write documents (heck you can play Doom, and Quake under Linux, id software has ported the games over to Linux!), but you may not enjoy Linux. As as side note, I have Quake III for Linux. Linux is a lot like DOS, but it is also like Windows or Windows95. To setup everything is like DOS, but after it is setup you can add in X, as in XWindows, which you can then make look like Windows 3.X, Windows95, the Amiga Workbench, or I have heard rumors that you can make it look and act like a MAC. X is a graphical interface just like Windows, but with X you can change the way things look, act, and work.
What do *YOU* (meaning me) do with Linux?
I mainly play with Linux. But I have a webserver up and running on the Internet, where I run Linux. I also use that server to host my BBS, for mail services, and I host a few other websites too.
My BBS is run off a Linux Machine. Citadel/UX is what I am using for my BBS software. Haven can accept connections by Telnet, Web, or Citadel Client.
I also have a SAMBA server that is sharing home directories for my wife and myself. I am am working on making my main Linux server a gateway to the Internet for my other machines.
What can *I* (meaning you the reader) do with Linux?
You can also use Linux as a server, or as a workstation or both at the same time. As a server, you can run an ISP off Linux, or use it as a print server, or file server, SQL database server or any number of other things.
As a workstation you can access the Internet from it. You can install something like Star Office, Applixware, or WordPerfect and create documents, spreadsheets, graphs, and more. The possibilities are endless. You can play games, like XBill, Quake III, Doom, and some more.
What type of hardware do I need for Linux?
Linux can be run on a 386DX20 with 4MB of ram. But I suggest at least a 486DX2-66 and 16MB of ram, and a minimum of 500MB hard drive space. What do I use as my Linux server? I have a Linux Laptop, it is a Sharp 8650 II, 20MB of Ram, 1.3GB HD, an external Backpack CD-ROM, a PCMCIA Ethernet Card. It works wonderfully. I also have as my main server a Pentium Pro 200, 96MB, 5GB HD, a Intel 10/100 NIC, and U.S. Robotics V.Everything modem. I also have a Cobalt Qube, which is doing file services, and a Pentium 166, 32MB of ram, 5GB HD is my workstation.
Where can I get Linux From?
The easiest way is to buy a CD with the OS on it. You can buy packages at CompUSA, Best Buy, Staples or other fine office supply stores. From places like that you can get Mandrake, The offical Red Hat distrobution, Calandra, or Corel's Distrobution. Another great place to guy Linux distros is Linux Mall, or Linux Central.You can also download the installation off the Internet. Any type of patches, or updates are all found on the internet and sometimes the CDs also.
Where can I get Linux help from?
There are plenty of places to find help on the Internet ranging from Web sites to news groups, to mailing lists.
Some very good sites are Linux.Org, Red Hat, Linux.com, or any number of places on the Internet.
There are a number of books out there such as the Linux System Administration Survival Guide from Sams Publishing, Running Linux from O'Riely, and Unix Unleashed System Administrator's Edition by Sams also.
There are a number of Newsgroups to help also, comp.os.linux.*. There are even magazines that are dedicated to Linux. Linux Journal has been around the longest, and is a very good magazine, it is sometimes hard to find, I keep meaning to get a subscription. Another Magazine I found recently was Linux Magazine, I've only seen the one issue, because that was the first issue, but I liked it.
