   Getting started with Linux?
  Alright, so I just got back from college orientation, and learned (as one might suspect) that most comp sci, comp sci & engineering (my major), etc... use Linux on their computers.  Personally, I have never used Linux, and am not really interested in it either.  However, if that''s what most people will be running, I guess I don''t have much of a choice.  I have nothing against Linux, just that all my software is Windows based, and I have ZERO experience with Linux.Any advice for a beginner?  One thing I want to do is to set up a dual boot system on my laptop somehow.  I asked someone who may or may not have known what they were talking about, and they advised I set up a partition on my drive, to enable me to dual boot Linux and Windows XP.  Any thoughts on that?  Also, I''ve been told there are Linux "install-fests" for new students on campus -- if I want to get a headstart and learn the OS a bit, is there a particular, easy to use, free version of Linux that is recommended.  I''ve heard of a few (Mandrake and Redhat come to mind) but I really have no idea how they differ in terms of usability and the like.Peon 
  I use Redhat Peon and it works out fine for me. The only complicated issue I've run in with it after about 2 1/2 months using it was hunting down a good third party sound driver and going through a cryptic installation process. But its good for you, it'll build "character" or something. I most recommend a dual boot for you Peon, because I still cannot live without windows. Perhaps one day I'll make it to that higher plane that xaxa is at and feel willing to commit to Linux, but I'm a bit a ways from that. Lastly, this is what I did to dual boot. I had windows already installed, so I used Partition Magic to repartition my hard drive creating a 10 GB space for Linux. The good part was that I didn't have to format or reinstall windows as that is the beauty of the software's capability to rearrange and partition. However, anyone will tell you that if you did use that software, to back up critical software first in case it craps out on you during partitioning. After creating the space I just installed from the CD's but for some strange reason I had to create additional partitions manually within the new partition. Normally the installation does this automatically, but not that time. Linux requires at least three partitions: One is a swap partition which can be usuallly up to twice the size of ram, as its used for virtual memory like windows. The second is /boot which according to my manual should be up to 75 MB, and "/" which can be the remaining space. That is the most basic partitioning scheme. The boot manager will install (GRUB with redhat by default) and things should run smoothly. Remember this finally: You must have windows installed first before installing a linux distro. A must! KTHXBYE!~~11!!    [edited by - nervo on August 15, 2003 9:00:29 PM];  I use Debian full-time on my machine. Couldn''t be happier.Couple of pitfalls: Debian''s not for newbies. Although it has a great package system you can probably use Mandrake with no problem (although at the cost of much derision from your Debian and Slack peers).Oh, and make sure you know exactly what the hell all of your hardware is before you start running it. For my machine, I had to know the type and IO address of my ethernet card amongst some other teeny details.And you''ll love it if you can get past the initial hurdles of getting used to it. ;  I personally would, recommend, if you have a decent internet connection, getting SuSE linux, and installing it via FTP, because I personally think it is the best distro for beginners. As far as having to use it for your CS department, I use it because I like the environment, I also have an OS X computer that can do everything my linux computer can, plus run some of the windows/mac only apps that linux will probably not get anytime soon. Although it is a good idea to find out what programming language your CS stuff will be in. If it is in C++, then I would install a good linux distro in a dual boot config, using grub as the bootloader, and allowing windows to boot off of it, windows won't know that linux exists, so that is fine, because unless you have a fat32 partition that your windows resides in, I would say it is better to keep them as separate entities.Or split your HDD into 3 parts, 1. NTFS windows system 2. Linux system 3. FAT32 shared stuff, in case you want to work on code, or want your music/movies/whatever to be shared between the two operating systems. If you can, find a local LUG, they would be hopefully more than willing to help your computer in person, and if not, you can post in the forums, or online at linux fourm sites as well. Sorry for the long post, and hopefully the info is useful.EDIT: Oops, I forgot, if your coursework is in java, it doesn't matter what OS you use, and you can still use the environment you are most comfortable in. At least until you get into Upper-Division, then it may vary.   [edited by - bastard2k5 on August 15, 2003 9:49:13 PM];  Thanks for the advice so far.  AFAIK most of the programming done is in C++, which is a little surprising.  I''m happy, because that''s the only language I currently "know", but also a bit surprising since I thought everything was taught in Java now (And I really like the new MS VC++.NET).  It really doesn''t matter I suppose, as my university, (University of California Davis; UC Davis) is bigger on theory, as opposed to applications (like the CSUs; California State Universotyoes, if anyone is familiar with those)I''ll have to read up on partioning a bit I guess, though I may just wait to ask people who know what they''re doing at the "install-fest" to help me out, and just look at some tutorials or grab a book on Linux, just so I''m not a complete newbie when I get started.quote:Oh, and make sure you know exactly what the hell all of your hardware is before you start running it. For my machine, I had to know the type and IO address of my ethernet card amongst some other teeny details.This is exactly why I''m a little worried about Linux, and why I want to keep Windows as well.  If I need a driver, it''s easy to find one.  New software?  Probably Windows based.  Tech support / message boards?  Mostly Windows users.  It''ll take some getting used to, I''m sure Oh, and a little sub question... what kind of support does Linux have for, say, USB devices?  One of my favorite things about XP that aren''t true on my / family old Win98 machine, is that I can plug in pretty much any USB device, and use it, without installing any CD it came with.  Case in point: I purchased a 64mb USB memory stick and plugged it into my XP laptop and used it right away.  My 98 machine had to have the drivers from the included CD installed, which isn''t too bad; I just don''t like to install anything on my system that I don''t really need to use.  I''m guessing Linux doesn''t have such support, but I''d be interested in hearing about it.;  Every modern linux distro has fairly good USB support, so you should be fine there, usually with something like RedHat, SuSE, mandrake, etc, you don''t really have to worry too much about what hardware you have, just make sure that you can use their GUI tools, and perhaps if you are brave, some CLI tricks to get the system working. That pretty much means that if they use any custom header files, that probably ties you to GCC(the GNU Compiler Collection), and potentially *nix libraries for graphics, if ever done. Linux has something in its kernel known as modules, if you don''t have the hardware, you don''t have to load the module in the kernel, and usually if you install a new piece of hardware, the distribution can usually find the right driver for it, well, unless you do either a monolithic kernel(meaning you compile your own, and no modules) or the device is newer than the Distro that you are using. ;  Linux Newbie Distro:  Redhat with "apt4rpm" installed (helps if the InstallFest ppl help you with this)This is the best compromise between having the luxury of automatic installation found on Debian and Gentoo (that is, typing a single command at a command prompt to get stuff installed without any manual downloading or answering of stupid questions) and having a very newbie friendly distro (RH, Mandrake, SuSE).Some other tips:1)  Get some Linux apps that have been ported to Windows.  You can''t be expected to completely switch overnight but while you''re running for safety to Windows (hah), it''s good to not be completely isolated from learning Linux stuff.  I recommend trying: Mozilla - Best web browser available anywhere IMO.  You may already be using it, who knows.  A tad slow loading but has features coming out its ears.GAIM - Excellent AIM client and you will never find better on Linux or Windows.  Tons of plugins and documentation.  My roommate wrote a text->speech plugin in Perl using ViaVoice that reads IM''s.MinGW or Cygwin - Compiler + toolsGimp - Photoshop replacement2) Set goalsIt''s hard to learn if you don''t have a reason to poke around.  Back when I started (4 years ago), those reasons mostly seemed to revolve around getting your stuff to work efficiently.  Since things have gotten much better, here''s some suggestions* Recompile your kernel - there''s no actual need to do this but you learn a whole hell of a lot* Set up IPMasquerade - aka Internet Connection Sharing, probably only worthwhile if you have another computer* Set up a webserver/ftp server - Don''t use wu-ftpd, go for proftpd or vsftpd and disable all those unnecessary Apache modules (edit apache.conf, probably in /etc/apache/ or /etc/httpd/, and scroll down until you see a lot of LoadModule lines, remove anything you don''t think you need like mod_ssl).  After the security angle has been taken care of, have fun.* Explore different window managers and desktop environments - there is a huge number of choices for how your desktop looks and acts.  My preferred setup is Fluxbox because it''s extremely slim and fast, both in CPU usage and how fast I can get stuff done.  Try GNOME (starting to lean towards Mac-ness), KDE (kind of Windowsy), Enlightenment (crazy special effects and eye candy), Fluxbox (speed speed speed), and Windowmaker (a cult, as far as I can tell) for a good broad overview.  Others include XFce, Sawfish (standalone), IceWM, Blackbox (Flux split off of this), FVWM, FVWM2, and Afterstep.  There''s probably more that I''ve forgotten.  The configurability is amazing.* Go play Enemy Territory - it''s Wolfenstein 2 (or maybe 3, I guess), it''s free, and I''m really addicted to it.3) Secure your computerLinux has a reputation for security.  Partially because it has fewer (not none, which is impossible) vulnerabilities and partially because its users learn the value of having a safe computer.  It''s not really all that hard, especially with apt4rpm which can update any affected packages for you.  Subscribe to your distro''s security mailing list, check their bulletin page, setup a firewall, and turn off unnecessary network services.  If your new to whole security thing, "remote root exploits" == really nasty, "local root exploits" == meh, and "DOS" == annoying but not all that bad.4) Google is your friendIf you get stuck, Google is probably your fastest answer.  Otherwise, try IRC on openprojects ;  I recommend you some reading Gentoo install manual this is a good resource even if you are not installing this ;  If you use debian or slackware you too can become as cool as these people.;  Yeah man!   ********I am not the Iraqi information minister.RESIST! 