Linux Distros

[prctr]

OK, I am taking the plunge into Linux. :blink:

I plan to try several of the distributions, such as Fedora Core 2, Mandrake 9.2, and maybe Debian. I already have Knoppix, but admittedly I am not too familiar with it. I am open to suggestions, but here are my several questions:

1. Not having burned a CD or DVD (and I have the machine to burn either), exactly how is this done? I saw Nellie2 has posted a lengthy tutorial on installing Mandrake; if that is sufficient, I'll just refer to that thread.

2. I intend to begin with a 160 GB Maxtor S-ATA drive, which is already split into two 80 GB partitions, designated as separate drives. I plan to use one 80 GB partition for this mission; there will be nothing BUT Linux on this particular HDD partition. My plan is to split THAT partition into smaller ones.

I would like to know what size partitions will be sufficient, since I planned to use a program like Ranish, to create partitions for each Linux distro I install. Can I do it this way? I would have Fedora on one partition, Mandrake 9.2 on another, etc. Would 15GB be enough? 20GB? Is Ranish the program to use for this? Can a newbie do this?

3. Then, there is the difficulty in booting: How will I be able to designate which of the Linux distros I want to boot? Can several distros co-exist on the same HDD, provided they live in different partitions?

4. Which GIU desktop should I use, KDE or GNOME or both? Where do I get them?

5. Since I am installing into a "virgin" drive and/or partitions, there is no need for Back Up, since my Windows drives are not involved, right? If this is wrong, and I do need to back-up, which programs should I use, and how is it done?

I know this is a long one, but I am hoping I will simply be redirected to the WF threads that have already discussed these issues.

Thanks very much, everyone. :whistling:

[Scarecrow Man]

1. Not having burned a CD or DVD (and I have the machine to burn either), exactly how is this done? I saw Nellie2 has posted a lengthy tutorial on installing Mandrake; if that is sufficient, I'll just refer to that thread.

Most distro's install like windows, witha nice GUI. Maybe follow the guide for pointers, but you should be OK.

2. I intend to begin with a 160 GB Maxtor S-ATA drive, which is already split into two 80 GB partitions, designated as separate drives. I plan to use one 80 GB partition for this mission; there will be nothing BUT Linux on this particular HDD partition. My plan is to split THAT partition into smaller ones.

I would like to know what size partitions will be sufficient, since I planned to use a program like Ranish, to create partitions for each Linux distro I install. Can I do it this way? I would have Fedora on one partition, Mandrake 9.2 on another, etc. Would 15GB be enough? 20GB? Is Ranish the program to use for this? Can a newbie do this?

You'll need a few partitions for Linux. Not just one (like windows)

1. You'll need a large partition for the OS itself,

2. You'll need a swap partition (usually the same size as RAM installed seems to work)

3. You may want to set up seperate partitions for /, /user, /home, etc. directories.. I won't go into to much detail, because you'll be asking about this later, and someone can explain better than I.

4. 15GB is fine. It all depends on how much you want to install with it, RPM's, add-ons etc.

4. Which GIU desktop should I use, KDE or GNOME or both? Where do I get them?

KDE (used with knoppix) can be found here

Gnome (Debian, Mandrake I think) can be found here

Mainly, the distro comes with a certain type of GUI, there are also MANY others, about as many as there are distros. some include WhiteBOX, BlackBOX, IceWM etc. There are also text based versions.

. Since I am installing into a "virgin" drive and/or partitions, there is no need for Back Up, since my Windows drives are not involved, right? If this is wrong, and I do need to back-up, which programs should I use, and how is it done?

Yes, as long as your not doing anything to your windows drives, all you need is a boot loader to modify your MBR to accept Linux.

Google it, or watch for user's posting.

[Scarecrow Man]

Oh.

P.S.

Gnome, KDE, etc are know as Window Managers.

You'll learn more about them as you dig into Linux, and eventually you'll find the right one for you :)

[Scarecrow Man]

I'm also installing FC2 (hopefully soon) on my home computer.

I currently am running WINXP Home and WIN2K. I'm scapping 2K, mainly because I don't use it.

Any recomendations for a boot loader for Linux/windows?

I'm sure prctr wants to know as well :D

Edit:

I downloaded FC2 from redhat's FTP servers, but I also got this, FC2-i386-rescuecd.iso

Is this nessescary? I've already made 4 CD's.. I've determined that it's a rescue CD, from the name, but for what exactly?

[prctr]

Scarecrow Man,

Thanks for your quick response; if you are now loading Fedora Core 2, then that is wonderful, because I am downloading the third of the four FC2 ISO disks right now. My next task will be to burn them, and THEN can start the install.

As for the boot loader - ya got me there. No idea what you are talking about.

As for the partitions, I think I'll just make 4 - 20GB partitions for the Linux stuff. Maybe those will be large enough for add-ons. Do you think Ranish is a good partition tool? Other suggestions?

I won't be working on this constantly, but will appreciate it if you check in on me periodically.

Again - thanks !!! :D

[Scarecrow Man]

I use Partition Magic to set up partitions, never used Ranish.

Edit: If your doing a clean install, you can FDISK it, make sure you use FAT32, beacuse Linux does not support NTFS.

Also, I believe Linux will set up partitions for you during install.

As for a boot loader, check out:

LILO

and

GRUB

[Chris]

Also, I believe Linux will set up partitions for you during install.

It does but be careful what options you choose oi else ya'll ZAP! Windows.

[Scarecrow Man]

Good point. Some distro's can be very confusing during set-up. Read carefully, and you should be ok.

[prctr]

This may mean, then, that the partitions I have already created won't be suitable to install Linux to, eh?

I am just wondering if, at install, I will be able to tell the Linux distribution to install onto, for example, Drive M, which I have prepared for it. I know so many applications, as the default, try to install to Drive C. That really would be a mess!

[Scarecrow Man]

This may mean, then, that the partitions I have already created won't be suitable to install Linux to, eh?

They have to be ext2fs or ext3fs or reisfs

I am just wondering if, at install, I will be able to tell the Linux distribution to install onto, for example, Drive M, which I have prepared for it.  I know so many applications, as the default, try to install to Drive C.  That really would be a mess!

Yes, I installed FC2, and it gives you complete control over where the distro goes. Just make sure to do the custom install, or similar.

(be sure to do a full backup to another media first. Not all distros will ask you, they may just start formatting the whole drive)

[catgate]

Well, prtcr, Can I make a suggestion.?

I have played about with several "distros" (as they insist on calling them) and have found that they are all very much the same. (Well they all have the same father and mother, it's just that some have been "fostered" differently). As a consequence, for the first time round, I suggest you just install one distro and get to grips with that. Once you have gone ten rounds with, say Mandrake, you will have got a good feel for the system. You can then put on whatever other distro you want to try, with a lot more confidence.

It sounds as though you have got a big virgin HDD and so I would just let the linux installation routine split it up for you as it wants. You will be guided through the routine so you need have no worries.

The reason that I have tried several distros was because each set of discs that I bought(ebay)/downloaded/ aquired seemed to contain at least one duff file, without which the entire pantomime came to an abrupt halt.

I have Knoppix on a separate machine at present and it seems to be OK. That having been said I do not yet feel confident enough to kick Windows into touch. I need to get a better grasp of the command line language. It is so similar to DOS and at the same time just sufficiently different to cause great damage if wrongly used.

[Scarecrow Man]

This is almost turning into the User Guide you wanted it to be prctr :)

[prctr]

Yes, the thread truly has fleshed out nicely. I am rallying to the point of view advanced by catgate, and am happy to know that there are great similarities among Linux distributions. (I, too, am having trouble with the "distro" thing). B)

I have Knoppix in several versions that boot from the CD. Perhaps I can "adjust" and learn a bit using just those, rather than place my hard drive and what is left of my sanity in jeopardy. I may have absolutely no business mucking around with command line language, especially since my attempts to reformat hard drives actually succeed, on average, 3 of 7 trys ! :D

Although, I must admit, just the sound of "FedoraCore 2" or "Mandrake" suggests the enigmatic confluence of both "geek" and "macho." :blink:

Maybe Amazon is now carrying " Linux for Dummies." In any event, I think I'll proceed with extreme caution, as has been urged. Many thanks for the info and tips.

[catgate]

Re Linux command line language.

As far as I can see, in theory at least, with current GUI "distros" you should not need to use it, just as in Windows you do not need to use DOS commands. However I have found that with Windows, and its quirky little ways, it is sometimes advantagous to be able to "go round the back" and fiddle with it, to get it back onto the right track (this is why I stick to W98SE which still has a good helping of DOS commands available).

I suppose operating a computer, and not knowing command line language, is like being able to drive a car satisfactorily, without knowing how to adjust the ignition timing.

It is worth pointing out that since Windows itself was derived from sources directly decended from Unix, then the GUI similarities are not surprising. In the main it seem like getting to grips with slightly different shaped icons is the major learning process.

Incidentally, have you noticed how learning, these days, is always done in curves???

[Scarecrow Man]

Check out tldp.org It may have some usefull info for you.

*I deleted your first post catgate, the second was the same with more added to it. :)

[catgate]

I tried to stop the first one as it was being sent, and thought I had managed it. Not so!