My first successful install of Linux

[networkman]

After some encouragement from local linux users, I decided to give Linux another try - understanding that when I did it last night, I probably had even less experience with Linux than the bottle of beer sitting on the desk.

Anyway, I'll not boar you with all the details(much of which involved confusion and cussing), but I was finally able to get Ubuntu 5.1 installed on an AMD Sempron 2400+ box; more importantly, I was also able to get another Einstein@Home client downloaded, do an "sh" to the file (whatever that stands for.. some kind of uncompress I think), and get it configured and crunching for TeAm AnandTech!

All in all, I call it a success. Now as long as I don't have to do anything else to it..

 

[RaySun2Be]

Congrats!

Wasn't it DanC who proclaimed that installing Linux was like a guy putting on a pair of hose?

I was afraid to ask him how he knew that hose were hard to put on.

I had installed Linux on a box for my daughter a year or so ago. She used it for awhile, but some of her friends convinced her to swithc back to Windows.

I've got the latest Debian Linux distro sitting on my desk, waiting for me to get off my butt, find a working HD, and install it on a P4 cruncher I recently setup. I was using the FreeSCO SETI ON FLOPPY setup, but because of the issues at Berkeley, it crunches a WU, then stops due to a server communication error. Wish me luck!

 

[Pokey]

Originally posted by: networkman
Now as long as I don't have to do anything else to it..

LOL.......
I understand the feeling. I have one box w/Linux. I tried about 65 different distro's before I got one to install (Xandros) and was able to get SetiBoinc running.

Probably won't do another one.

 

[CheesePoofs]

Congrats! Thats quite an accomplishment.

I tried linux a few times, but my home network is wireless and no manufacturers make linux drivers for their wireless cards, so I've never used it as my primary OS, and I've never spent the time to actually get it working properly (as if I was able to do that). I've got a new card that uses a chipset that I believe some people have created drivers for, so I've got to give it a shot again, once I find another HD to use.

 

[mrwizer]

I like Fedora myself. Usually bleeding edge... easy to install too. There is always knoppix for Linux trial runs.

 

[networkman]

I have tried using Knoppix before - the CD executable version.. always had problems with it not picking up a piece of critical hardware in the system, like say the network card. :roll: Anyway, I'm quite happy with last night's install. This will certainly cut down the cost a bunch to add more machines to the fleet! In fact, I may well run out of Goa'uld names for them all. :Q

 

[Wolfsraider]

Congrats networkman, You wrestled the beast and won!


Getting it up and running is about a 5 difficulty (most distros, Ubuntu is about a 3), loading an app is about a 3 to an 8 depending on what it needs. The real pain is when something goes wrong and you have to troubleshoot something you never really understood in the first place lol.


I ran Lifemapper on ubuntu and something else. But I always had to start it up after a reboot using ./lifemapper. they said there was a command that would start it up as a service, but that was way over my head, and I never got an answer (that I understood) how.

Mike

 

[Polo]

Congrats Networkman !!!

My 5 home PCs are running linux (4 are running Mandriva Linux and 1 is running Debian)
It took me 2 years to completely switch from windows to linux.

Welcome to the open world !

 

[bluestrobe]

I'm going to try SuSe on my web server project. I get free copies from Novell every few months. I tried installing Debian and found it to be the worst 5 hours of my life when it was done installing, nothing worked.

 

[scoser]

Originally posted by: networkman
In fact, I may well run out of Goa'uld names for them all. :Q

You'd better hope the 2nd half of this SG-1 season introduces a few more random ones then.

 

[BlackMountainCow]

I envy you networkman. I've been wrestling with Ubuntu and Knoppix on and off for about a year now and never got it working the way I wanted it to. I just don't understand Linux and don't have the time to read all the important stuff. I guess Linux will be as common to my kids on day as Windows is to me now, but sometimes I really feel old already - and I'm only 25 - because I just can't get Linux into my head. One can complain about M$ and Windows as much as one wants, but at the end of they day, I at least know how it works (if it works).

 

[Smoke]

I've dabbled with LINUX in various flavors and have always walked away appreciating M$ all the more. That said, the biggest problem I have with windows is that I believe it should cost about 50% less.

Then again I'm currently pricing out a top of the line 64 X2 DC system that would run close to four grand which makes the cost of the OS seem minisucle. :Q

I recently installed Xandros on an older 1800+ Athlon system making that a dual OS computer. Now when I want to dabble I just boot into Xandros. Maybe if I was younger ....

 

[networkman]

Originally posted by: BlackMountainCow
I envy you networkman. I've been wrestling with Ubuntu and Knoppix on and off for about a year now and never got it working the way I wanted it to. I just don't understand Linux and don't have the time to read all the important stuff. I guess Linux will be as common to my kids on day as Windows is to me now, but sometimes I really feel old already - and I'm only 25 - because I just can't get Linux into my head. One can complain about M$ and Windows as much as one wants, but at the end of they day, I at least know how it works (if it works).

Well, put it this way: It IS possible to teach an old dog new tricks - I'm 36. :Q Now that's not anywhere near as old as Ray but still older than yourself, so it is possible to learn new operating systems. And I don't profess to know alot about Linux - this is just the first one that I've gotten everything to work right in less than 24 hours. Heck, it's the first Linux install I've gotten to work right period.

 

[Pokey]

Originally posted by: Smoke

Maybe if I was younger ....

I hear that.......................

Truth be known, Windows is probably cheaper when oem installed, (I don't know how much). It's just when we go to buy it retail that it gets expensive.
I do like the Xandros idea of buying one license for all the computers you own. (I know a lot of the distro's are free) MS would be a whole lot more attractive for individuals if a license was on a per user basis...............I wouldn't be running old copies of Win2000 and Linux..........

 

[CheesePoofs]

Originally posted by: Smoke
I've dabbled with LINUX in various flavors and have always walked away appreciating M$ all the more. That said, the biggest problem I have with windows is that I believe it should cost about 50% less.

Then again I'm currently pricing out a top of the line 64 X2 DC system that would run close to four grand which makes the cost of the OS seem minisucle. :Q

I recently installed Xandros on an older 1800+ Athlon system making that a dual OS computer. Now when I want to dabble I just boot into Xandros. Maybe if I was younger ....

What are you putting in that thing to make it 4 grand? Dual dual core opterons? *drool*

At 16, I've never got linux 100% working (or even close), although I have encountered some very, very odd things. Like the time I installed it and the computer refused to let my mouse move out of the upper right corner of the screen. Every time I moved it away from there it would just shoot it right back into the corner. Although windoze doesn't make much more sense *cough* win me *cough*

 

[ssvegeta1010]

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs
Congrats! Thats quite an accomplishment.

I tried linux a few times, but my home network is wireless and no manufacturers make linux drivers for their wireless cards, so I've never used it as my primary OS, and I've never spent the time to actually get it working properly (as if I was able to do that). I've got a new card that uses a chipset that I believe some people have created drivers for, so I've got to give it a shot again, once I find another HD to use.

I remember seeing a Foxconn wireless card on NewEgg for a decent price. They had specific Linux drivers up on their page. Ill see if I still have a link.

Here

 

[CheesePoofs]

Originally posted by: ssvegeta1010

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs
Congrats! Thats quite an accomplishment.

I tried linux a few times, but my home network is wireless and no manufacturers make linux drivers for their wireless cards, so I've never used it as my primary OS, and I've never spent the time to actually get it working properly (as if I was able to do that). I've got a new card that uses a chipset that I believe some people have created drivers for, so I've got to give it a shot again, once I find another HD to use.

I remember seeing a Foxconn wireless card on NewEgg for a decent price. They had specific Linux drivers up on their page. Ill see if I still have a link.

Here

cool, thanks for that link. If my the drivers I have for my card don't work, I'll try and pawn it off on somone and grab that.

 

[trevinom]

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs
Congrats! Thats quite an accomplishment.

I tried linux a few times, but my home network is wireless and no manufacturers make linux drivers for their wireless cards, so I've never used it as my primary OS, and I've never spent the time to actually get it working properly (as if I was able to do that). I've got a new card that uses a chipset that I believe some people have created drivers for, so I've got to give it a shot again, once I find another HD to use.

I've got one windoze machine with a bridged wireless card and a network card. I then have a router hooked into that machine's network card, in effect sharing the wireless connection with any machine and any OS that hooks up to the router. This way, I don't have to worry about wireless compatibility issues.
I have successfully installed linux distros, winme, win98SE to my network with internet connectivity not being an issue since all of them support DHCP and standard network cards.

 

[Allio]

Originally posted by: Wolfsraider
I ran Lifemapper on ubuntu and something else. But I always had to start it up after a reboot using ./lifemapper. they said there was a command that would start it up as a service, but that was way over my head, and I never got an answer (that I understood) how.

I know the feeling. Instead of learning how to make it run automatically at bootup I just ended up never turning the thing off

 

[RaySun2Be]

I have used Knoppix, has always worked fine without problems.

I guess that's the advantage of being a year or two (or more) behind on upgrades. No compatability issues.

 

[Ken g6]

Originally posted by: scoser

Originally posted by: networkman
In fact, I may well run out of Goa'uld names for them all. :Q

You'd better hope the 2nd half of this SG-1 season introduces a few more random ones then.

All these names are likely to be Goa'uld names, even if they haven't been used yet.

Edit: more!

 

[networkman]

Fortunately, I'm not restricted just to Egyptian mythology; the show has also introduced figures with names from other religions and cultures. It's just that I'm coming close to running out of the names actually mentioned in the show.