[Jim Z]

Jason-

Is FreeBSD easy to set up on a system, or can it get hairy? I was thinking about installing either BSD or Linux on an extended partition (using NT's boot manager). I had to install NT using FAT16, so C: has a 600 MB partition that I'm not using.
In case you're wondering, I just want to do this for the heck of it. Sitting up at 3:00 am trying to get your computer working again is FUN, don't you know.


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Jim Z
1984 F-250 Std. Cab 6.9 236k and counting

 

[Shawn]

I can tell ya any *nix or *bsd install can get hairy if you don't have the right drivers or what not. I can't tell you a whole lot about *bsd but I can tell ya a little about Linux.

First, make your all your hardware can be run under linux. That means make sure you video card is supported, your sound card can work, and pretty nice to have is the modem since if you can get a basic video and modem box up and running, you can connect to the net for any other downloads you may need.

Second, pick your distrobution. Red Hat, SuSE, Caldera, and Mandrake all make good "newbie" packages. If you are looking for a little more of a challenge, Slackware or Debian is for you.

Third. Just do what the nice instructions tell you. Split off that 600mb chunk and partition it into at least two partitions, One for most stuff and a smaller one for the swap partition. Then choose your packages and finish the install. The hardest thing for newbies to do is probably the XServer install and config. The XServer is what runs the "Windows" like aspect of Linux. If you can ge that running, I suggest KDE as your first windowmanager. It has a bunch of neat apps that make your life a little easier.

I can't think of anything else right now.

SP

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Shawn Pryde
Ford-Diesel.Com Moderator
[email protected]
Have you seen the 1999 Faq?
1999.5 F250 PSD CC 4x2 LWB Black over Tan, 3/23/99

 

[JLester]

I wouldn't suggest FreeBSD for someone new to unix-type operating systems. After trying them all, I believe it is the most stable (this server hasn't been rebooted in 128 days) and secure free unix OS out there, but useability leaves something to be desired.

For a newbie install, Caldera Linux v2.2 is the best of the Linux installers. It will run from Windows, partition your drive, detect all your hardware, and do a graphical install. That being said, I prefer RedHat v5.2 for Linux-based servers and RedHat v6.0 for desktops. My DEC laptop runs RedHat 6.0 with no problems. Suse is also good.

Contrary to what Shawn says above, I wouldn't wish Slackware or Debian on ANY first-time installer

Good luck if you try it.

Jason

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Ford-Diesel.Com Webmaster
1997 F-250 PSD 5-speed Banks Stinger-Plus
Driving a Power Stroke means never having to say you're sorry.

 

[Shawn]

Hehehe. I said if he wanted a challenge

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Shawn Pryde
Ford-Diesel.Com Moderator
[email protected]
Have you seen the 1999 Faq?
1999.5 F250 PSD CC 4x2 LWB Black over Tan, 3/23/99

 

[Jim Z]

Don't think I'm up to it... not even Linux. Just a nagging fear that I'll end up trashing both NT and 98- that'll take a couple days to set up again :O


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Jim Z
1984 F-250 Std. Cab 6.9 236k and counting