OK newbie to linux what all am I gonna need?

[tm37]

Heres the deal-

I will be getting a Compaq Desktop Computer-

Here are the stats-

667 Celeron
64 MB RAM (up to 11 Shared) <- Gonna buy more mem and Share 4
20 GB HD
sound
modem
CD Rom

this is a basic Compaq (nothing Fancy)

I am going to use this system for my network server
the tasks I want it to perform are

1. Shared folder for music, downloads and documents.
2. Internet Router/ Firewall for my other two computers to connect to to my DSL
3. It's Possible will need WEB FILTERING in the future.
4. Would Like a GUI to start and get into command lines later at my pace.


What distro and software am I going to need to get?
What software can add to make it meet my needs.

Where is there a place that I can get a good rundown on installing and configuring IF I have never used Linux previously.

I worked on a flight Trainer about 3 and half years AGO that ran on UNIX, But never got into the software end of it other than to run the program. (typing commands)

I get the comp Tommorow, Plan is to Install linux sometime next week, set it up to be a fileserver soon there after and get the internet router working sometime after that (wife will kill me IF the internet is down hen she wants to use it!)

so all you Linux GURUS post where I need to start, and your opinions on what I need to use!




Also my Vacuum died And I am looking at the dirt devil Bagless w/ Hepa Filter at WALMART for $150 is that a good deal?

 

[capybara]

Red Hat Tux 2 is the fastest server in the world but i cant imagine using it without the command line. perhaps you might wanna just get linux up and running on the net first , and get used to that and the command line before you make the jump up to servers.
ps:fwiw, walmart cant be beat imho, if it could, kmart and montgomery wards
would still be in business!
another ps: mandrake 8.1 is great for us newbies, couldnt be easier, all the buttons are in the exact same placre as in windoze.

 

[tm37]

Downloading from HERE

Is this the RED HAT distro I need?

I am Down loading the two bottom ones!

 

[matheusber]

well ... in my opinion any distro could do this ... of course some are easier ...

i use linux for a time and i'd go slack ... but as you are new ... try redhat ... rpms are great for beginning ...

anything you need to know ... see the HOWTO's ... they are great ...

this p200mmx here ... my father's pc ... in my next upgrade for him ... this little one will turn to be a server ... and for my brother learn some linux, i'll install RH 6.1 ( the best RH for me )

i never got mandrake suse and others in my pc ... so i dont know/can say they're easy or not ... i just know RH is great for beginners

matheus

 

[tm37]

In looking around for ISO's though There are about 50 flavors of RED HAT:Q

Which one is the best and what do I look for to get it to run of this compaq.

 

[matheusber]

the newer, the slower RH gets ... ( for my machine )

so take a new one ... for learning ... ( they're easier ) and then if you think its too slow then you change it afterwards

matheus

 

[DaHitman]

Make sure you DONT get a WINMODEM... that will not work in Linux...get a REAL MODEM..

 

[tm37]

<< Make sure you DONT get a WINMODEM... that will not work in Linux...get a REAL MODEM.. >>



Ok I haven't used my modem since I got Broadband, Then I had to BUY a modem When I got Dial-up again!

My Main system is modemless!:Q

Downloading Red HAT 7.2, Disk one still has 1 HR 19 Minutes!

 

[freebsddude]

OK, I am not sure if you have broadband or a modem. The level of frustration with these
things is inversely proportional to your internet connection speed.

If you have a < 33K modem, I would suggest that you get or have someone burn you some
ISO CDs.

I am assuming that you do not have any Unix background. A book that has helped me
tremendously is "Unix Systen Administration Handbook" by SeeBass and Hein (it is
red in color).

I tend to agree with matheusber, Linux is good for beginners.

If you already have a decent Unix background, I would suggest FreeBSD!

Good Luck!!

 

[matheusber]

yeah ... i used first of all a conectiva linux ... 2.0, kernel 2.0.x this is a redhat based distro, nowadays they're more grown ...

freeBSD ... Open ... what is the diference ? ( i really dont know, i tried to install FBSD once ... but failed ... )

i began with redhat ( conectiva ), than got real Redhat, got to know Slack and now just use slack ... 8.0 ...

i'm really courious about FBSD ... but it is really that better ?

when i used RH people used to say that redhat is just a toy, when you learn it, you'll get a real one, and that would be a slack ...

i really like slack best ... faster ... more stable ... more clean ... RH we get too much win-stuff ... slack is much more simple ... ( less GUI's so configuring it is more fun )

so why this ??? just courious ...

now more than ever i really want FBSD

matheus

 

[matheusber]

how does FBSD works ... ?

i use lucent modem in linux ... does it will run in FBSD ?

how about the kernel and net stuff ?

is there howtos and so for it ?

matheus

ps: i'm looking for the iso just right now

 

[freebsddude]

I would be happy to give you my opinion. There is no single right or wrong answer.
Typically the *BSD operating systems have been relatively more mature than
Linux. Linux appears to be more popular since it is being touted as an alternative
to Microsoft Windows. Which is one of the reasons that there is GUI support
and transparency of installation, etc. This can be good or bad, depending on
how you look at it.

FreeBSD has been around longer, IMHO it is catered Unix-centric type people, i.e. people who have a Unix, software development background (C, C++, on unix etc. etc.), or at the very least some decent Unix knowledge. The ports collection builds apps from scratch, i.e. you have to compile them, unlike rpms which are generally binary packaged software.

If you have the willingness & inclination to go through an installation, then FreeBSD may be the OS for you. It can be a cool OS although a lot of people mistakenly want to "look" cool by adopting it. It is a serious OS and can do a lot for you and in return one is expected to put in time to learn it. From a security standpoint too (based on my bias of course!) FreeBSD and OpenBSD have more to offer (of course, you need to know how to secure things, or you would be better off using something else). It is an extremely well rounded and "powerful" OS.

Yes, there are how tos, a lot of documentation. You can start by going to the official FreeBSD site and look under documentation.

The usenet groups also offer a lot of help. Assuming you have a broadband connection,
you should have no problems following directions and quickly downloading things from their web site. I believe most of the modems should work fine, you can find hardware compatibility list here.

And of course, dont forget to visit us here!

Best Wishes