LQWiki - User contributions [en]

Talk:LinuxIntro

2008-12-17T18:19:29Z

OuI: New page: Regarding your [http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/OuI Contributions], I think Slackware and Debian should not be named as first distros to a newbie, because they ar...

Regarding your [http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/OuI Contributions], I think Slackware and Debian should not be named as first distros to a newbie, because they are hard to install, just not the typical beginner distros. What do you think? --[[User:ThorstenStaerk|ThorstenStaerk]] 07:28, December 16, 2008 (UTC)

Hi Thorsten, I find, that this opinion is today completely wrong: The actual concept from Slackware is to install all the complete distribution, it is very as easy as a baby would do it! and you get a complete Linux with best and highest performances. All people can do that... really. The actual concept from Debian is to install from web without any difficulty the most actual highly stable system you want, "tasksel" gives the choice between different main goals. The starting ISO is of only 35 Mb ... But I see and understand, that you prefer commercial Linux's (::) ! [[User:OuI|OuI]] 18:19, December 17, 2008 (UTC)

LinuxIntro

2008-12-15T20:58:54Z

OuI: /* Choose a Linux Distribution */

This article is an introduction to Linux. If you are already familiar with [[Windows]], you can read [[migrating to Linux from Windows]] instead.

== Getting Help ==

You learn a lot when reading and writing into forums like http://www.linuxquestions.org. You can also ask questions and give answers in a [[chat]]. e.g. if you have a question regarding [[KDE]], point your [[xchat]] to irc.kde.org, port 6667, channel #kde and start asking. If you have a question regarding [[Suse]], just join channel #suse and so on.

== Your lessons ==

As a beginner you might want to experience how to...

=== Choose a Linux Distribution ===
Main article: [[Choosing a Linux distribution]]

It is a good idea to use the [[distribution]] your guru next door uses, or, if you do not have a personal guru, start with a wide-spread distro like [[Slackware]], [[Debian]], [[SUSE]], [[Ubuntu]] or [[Fedora]]. You can just click on [[SUSE]] or another link here to find out where to get it.

=== Install Linux ===
Main article: [[Linux installation]]

You can install Linux for [[dual-boot]] so that you can choose between Linux and another operating system when you start your computer. Or you can install Linux into a [[VmwAre]] virtual machine. In this case, you can have two operating systems running at the same time. Anyway, installing Linux is basically following the install screens and answering the questions that are asked there.

=== Install Software ===
Main article: [[Installing Software]]

As opposed to other operating systems, the easiest way to install software is not to download an installer from the web. Instead, you should use the [[system management]] tools from your [[distribution]] to do this. So, [[find out your distro]] and install the software by its installation measures. E.g. to install [[firefox]] in [[SUSE]] [[Linux]], you use
yast -i firefox
You can find a complete listing for all distributions at [[installing softwAre]].

* [[Pack and unpack files]]
* [[Browsing tasks|Surf the web]]
* [[Burn a CDROM]]
* [[Scan]]
* [[Print]]
* Do [[Office tasks]] - word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, image manipulation and other
* Get help with [[Networking]]
* [[Configure]] [[Sound]]
* [[Make]] [[backup]]s
* Play [[Games]]
* Do [[Multimedia tasks]] - listen to music, extract CDs, watch videos and DVDs
* [[Use Digital Cameras and Linux]]
* [[Use Camcorders and Linux]]
* [[Use Webcams and Linux]]
* [[Talk to friends online]] - how to access common instant messaging networks, see also [[IM]].

== Tips ==

[[Tips]] are clever solutions to questions that did not even come to your mind. For tips, see our [[:Category:Tips]]. Here are some examples:

* [[KDE specific tips]]
* [[Distribution-specific tips&tricks]]
* [[Programming tips & tricks]]
* one-[[klik]]-[[install]]s
* [[Passwordless logins]]

== Applications ==

See [[Applications]].

== [[Command]]s ==

* [[ls]]|[[dir]] : show a directory listing
* [[df]] -h : show how much disk space is left
* [[du]] -csh ''myfolder'' : show how much space is in use by the folder ''myfolder''
* [[cd]] : change [[directory]]
* [[cp]] -r : copy a [[file]]
* [[rm]] -r : delete a file
* [[mkdir]] : make a [[directory]]
* [[chmod]] : change the file [[permissions]]
* [[pwd]] : show current working directory
* [[whoami]] : show your user name
* [[hostname]] : show your host's name
* [[uptime]] : show the uptime of your host
* [[top]] : show the top [[CPU]] consuming [[process]]es

=== [[Hard drive]]s ===

You can find out your hard disk controller with the command [[hwinfo]] --storage-ctrl. You can find out what disks you have with <tt>hwinfo --block</tt> and what [[partition]]s you have using <tt>hwinfo --[[partition]]</tt>. When you found out, divide your disk [[device]]s into partitions using [[fdisk]].

=== [[NetWorKing]] ===

* [[hwinfo]]<tt> --netcard</tt> : find out your [[NIC]]'s type and abilities
* [[ethtool]] : find out if a cable has been plugged in (link detection)
* [[ping]] : find out if a computer is reachable
* [[ifconfig]] : set your [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP-Address IP-address]
* [[route]] : set your default [[gateway]]
* [[nmap]] : find out about ports information on a computer

== See also ==

* [[A useable example desktop]]
* [[Linux_Newbie_FAQ]]

LinuxIntro

2008-12-15T20:57:18Z

OuI: /* Choose a Linux Distribution */

This article is an introduction to Linux. If you are already familiar with [[Windows]], you can read [[migrating to Linux from Windows]] instead.

== Getting Help ==

You learn a lot when reading and writing into forums like http://www.linuxquestions.org. You can also ask questions and give answers in a [[chat]]. e.g. if you have a question regarding [[KDE]], point your [[xchat]] to irc.kde.org, port 6667, channel #kde and start asking. If you have a question regarding [[Suse]], just join channel #suse and so on.

== Your lessons ==

As a beginner you might want to experience how to...

=== Choose a Linux Distribution ===
Main article: [[Choosing a Linux distribution]]

It is a good idea to use the [[distribution]] your guru next door uses, or, if you do not have a personal guru, start with a wide-spread distro like [[Debian]], [[SUSE]], [[Ubuntu]] or [[Fedora]]. You can just click on [[SUSE]] or another link here to find out where to get it.

=== Install Linux ===
Main article: [[Linux installation]]

You can install Linux for [[dual-boot]] so that you can choose between Linux and another operating system when you start your computer. Or you can install Linux into a [[VmwAre]] virtual machine. In this case, you can have two operating systems running at the same time. Anyway, installing Linux is basically following the install screens and answering the questions that are asked there.

=== Install Software ===
Main article: [[Installing Software]]

As opposed to other operating systems, the easiest way to install software is not to download an installer from the web. Instead, you should use the [[system management]] tools from your [[distribution]] to do this. So, [[find out your distro]] and install the software by its installation measures. E.g. to install [[firefox]] in [[SUSE]] [[Linux]], you use
yast -i firefox
You can find a complete listing for all distributions at [[installing softwAre]].

* [[Pack and unpack files]]
* [[Browsing tasks|Surf the web]]
* [[Burn a CDROM]]
* [[Scan]]
* [[Print]]
* Do [[Office tasks]] - word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, image manipulation and other
* Get help with [[Networking]]
* [[Configure]] [[Sound]]
* [[Make]] [[backup]]s
* Play [[Games]]
* Do [[Multimedia tasks]] - listen to music, extract CDs, watch videos and DVDs
* [[Use Digital Cameras and Linux]]
* [[Use Camcorders and Linux]]
* [[Use Webcams and Linux]]
* [[Talk to friends online]] - how to access common instant messaging networks, see also [[IM]].

== Tips ==

[[Tips]] are clever solutions to questions that did not even come to your mind. For tips, see our [[:Category:Tips]]. Here are some examples:

* [[KDE specific tips]]
* [[Distribution-specific tips&tricks]]
* [[Programming tips & tricks]]
* one-[[klik]]-[[install]]s
* [[Passwordless logins]]

== Applications ==

See [[Applications]].

== [[Command]]s ==

* [[ls]]|[[dir]] : show a directory listing
* [[df]] -h : show how much disk space is left
* [[du]] -csh ''myfolder'' : show how much space is in use by the folder ''myfolder''
* [[cd]] : change [[directory]]
* [[cp]] -r : copy a [[file]]
* [[rm]] -r : delete a file
* [[mkdir]] : make a [[directory]]
* [[chmod]] : change the file [[permissions]]
* [[pwd]] : show current working directory
* [[whoami]] : show your user name
* [[hostname]] : show your host's name
* [[uptime]] : show the uptime of your host
* [[top]] : show the top [[CPU]] consuming [[process]]es

=== [[Hard drive]]s ===

You can find out your hard disk controller with the command [[hwinfo]] --storage-ctrl. You can find out what disks you have with <tt>hwinfo --block</tt> and what [[partition]]s you have using <tt>hwinfo --[[partition]]</tt>. When you found out, divide your disk [[device]]s into partitions using [[fdisk]].

=== [[NetWorKing]] ===

* [[hwinfo]]<tt> --netcard</tt> : find out your [[NIC]]'s type and abilities
* [[ethtool]] : find out if a cable has been plugged in (link detection)
* [[ping]] : find out if a computer is reachable
* [[ifconfig]] : set your [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP-Address IP-address]
* [[route]] : set your default [[gateway]]
* [[nmap]] : find out about ports information on a computer

== See also ==

* [[A useable example desktop]]
* [[Linux_Newbie_FAQ]]