Linux

[Win2Win]

Alex is excited already, I can feel the vibes with the mention of the word :hearty

I've installed SUSE 9 on a partion on one of my backup systems. All is working from the installation.

Now I need a little advice from anyone who knows. I have ADSL setup on my main Windows XP system that is always on. The ADSL Modem is connected to a wireless router that connects my laptop & the backup PC to the Net. Now Linux has located the USB Netgear device, but that's it, it obviously needs to know the settings to connect through the wireless device.

How?? In simple talk. I take it this has something to do with YAST, but the pages i've found on Google seem to use different language than i'm used to on networking.

Ta....

[Win2Win]

Thanks for the advice :) :doh

Now I've got to find some way of uninstalling it as I can no longer get into XP!! Guess I'll just have to format the partion.

Wasn't Linux useful? :( :( At least Windows does what it says on the box.

[tophatter]

I dont even know what linux is, i thought it was something like a floor covering until i saw this thread!

[Win2Win]

It may as well be ;fire :butthead: :censored: ::swear

[John]

I'm sure Alex will be able to help you out but he hasn't been on the forum in a while. Or he has, he hasn't posted... give it longer than a day before chucking in the towel! :)

[Win2Win]

He was around two nights ago, but my kids here for the week, and the system has all the games on it, so i have to remove it now.

[Win2Win]

Wonderful, 2hrs of work to fix an error that SUSE are aware of, but didn't mention it in the setup;
http://portal.suse.com/sdb/en/2004/05/fhassel_windows_not_booting91.html

So I've now got windows working again, but I have to use Partion Magic to correct the damage that the Linux installation done. no wonder it's free, you get what you pay for. Anyone without any tech knowledge trying to install it would be buggered.

[John]

Anyone without tech knowledge wouldn't be using Linux. :wink

[zomby]

LOL SJ...just what I was thinking


I've tried many different varieties of Linux over the years hoping to get rid of Microsoft stuff but sadly I've encountered similar problems. Unless you are a complete genius, linux becomes hellish. The best I saw so far was Fedora (a variation of RedHat) but even that was too much for me to take in eventually. Sadly MS still have the strangle-hold on the average computer user and I think they will for the foreseeable future.

[Win2Win]

It would be nice if Linux had a few networking wizards in it like XP. I'll still play with it, but the only way I'd use it for anything more than fun is if I include a Windows emulation program, but then doesn't that ruin thw whole principle of it?

I've also got a copy of Linspire so may throw that on another partition when the lad goes home in a week.

[silax]

wasn't he the little chap with the blanket that played the piano in snoopy

[Alex]

I have been away from the forum for some time, and only now have i seen keiths post.
Sorry i didnt post earlier. I will provide as much info as i can but to be honest if you have little knowledge of how an operating system works and how your pc boots up, the only linux distribution i can recommend is mandrake (www.mandrake.org) as it is almost completely automatic and idiot proof. Your problems with suse are very common. I have very rarely used suse as it is far too commercial and slowly but surely getting dragged down by the need to make linux useable by the masses. I use debian, linux aside from other unices such as freebsd but i wont reccomend using either unless you have had prior linux/unix experience. Here is how to get internet access on your backup box in suse, its all to do with dhcp which i am assuming your router or windows box is acting as a dhcp server.


1. From the task bar or an xterm start up yast2.
2. Click on "Yast2 modules".
3. Select "Software".
4. Select "Install/remove software".
5. Select "search" on the package selection screen.
6. Search on the term dhcp.
7. In the serach results screen, if dhcpcd has an i in the first column, then the DHCP client is already installed. Go on to the configuration steps below.
8. If dhcpcd is blank, highlight that line and then click on the Select/deselect button to get an i in the first column.
9. Also select dhcp-tools by highlighting that line and clicking on the Select/deselect button as well.
10. Finally, click on the OK button to finish the installation.

Once the software is installed you can configure the DHCP client software on your SuSE machine by following these steps.

1. From the task bar or an xterm start up yast2.
2. Select "Yast2 modules".
3. Select "Network/Basic".
4. Select "Network card configuration".
5. Under the "Already Configured" panel click on the Edit button.
6. Highlight the ethernet device (probably eth0) and click on the Edit button.
7. On the Network Address setup screen click on the Automatic address setup (via DHCP) button.
8. If you'd like to set your hostname and dns server names click on the Host and name server button.
9. If you'd like to set the routing (gateway) address click on the Routing button. This is necessary when you are behind a firewall, such as a cable/dsl router appliance.
10. Click on the Next button.
11. Click on the Finish button.

You should install either the lilo or grub. Both are boot managers and will enable you to boot in and out of windows and linux on startup. I use grub. Its the daddy. I have read your link to the bootup problem. To any experienced linux user this is a mere 1 second fix, but as you are not experienced, use mandrake. You wont have these problems. Linux is not for complete geniuses, you only need a small amount of genius to use linux. Joking aside, you just have to learn about how your pc works. Sadly if you are coming from a windows background you have been conditioned by microsoft, dumbed down because things "just work". Burn your copies of windows now and challenge yourself. Learning linux will provide you with thousands of times the knowledge of operating systems and pc's. It isnt difficult you just have to get stuck in. I will help anyone as much as i can to use linux, and for when im not around, use this: http://www.tldp.org/tldp-redirect.php?url=/.
Also irc channels: freenode.net, channel #linux, or #debian or #mandrake or the 50000 other channels where many gurus will help you.

If you dont want to install anything or change your master boot records, use knoppix. It boots from a live cd and installs nothing. It will allow you to play with linux without changing anything on your pc.

[Alex]

http://www.knoppix.org/

Heres where you can get knoppix from.

Now go forth and conquer.

Alex.

[Win2Win]

I used to program in source code on CPM & DOS machines, so I'm not dumbed down :) I'm still using this today to program my dad's cnc machine control systems.

I have Grub running now, and the problem with SUSE is well known which I've now solved as the SUSE installation cocks up if the partion is more than 8.4GB's, rather stupid this day & age though. I had to rebuild the partions from within Windows Xp, but all OK now.

I'll fiddle with the networking once my kid leaves the backup system alone.

Thanks for the help.

What do you think of Linspire?

[Alex]

Remember Keith, Suse is not linux as such. Linux is the kernel only. Suse linux is the linux kernel + selected GPL programs plus suse corporation's own programs. I personally wouldnt touch suse with yours. :)

How are you partitioning? Remember you need at least /root /swap /var /boot and /usr partitions. swap should be at least twice your physical ram size. Once your chosen system is up and running, recompile your kernel to suit your needs. Need any help with that, let me know. If you would lets leave this thread open for others to check out and perhaps learn from.

Go for ext3 filesystems until you learn about the different fs types (reiser, xfs, jfs etc..) make /boot as an ext2 partition incase your kernel for some insane reason isnt compiled with journaling support.

Linspire is a pathetic joke. I believe it was formerly called lindows until MS sued.
Linspire is a laughing stock amongst experienced linux users. As i mentioned before, try mandrake or knoppix. Linspire is yet another big business windows want to be, in my opinion is resembles little of gnu/linux.
Once you get your learner sticker off :) use debian or slackware and you will truly appreciate linux.

[Win2Win]

My lad goes home on Monday, so I'll have a fiddle after that. I'll only be using it as a 'play thing' for the time being and have no reason to switch, but I like to keep up with all aspects of technology.

Can't get my head around this .NET crap by MS though!! Wish they'd stuck to RPG mainframe programming, now that was fun!! :doh

[MarcusMel]

Try programming in Prolog on horseracing sometime :yikes: :D:D:D:D

[Win2Win]

I know Prolog, used to use it in the late 80's, very good for somethings, but strange these days.