Linux for beginners

[8 I3ALL]

Having only ever played with linux for a very short time a while ago ... which would be the best version to to get me started ?

i will be running it thru microsoft virtual pc to start with

[rich99]

Ubuntu seems pretty friendly from my very limited experience using it through VMware to try out SMP Folding@Home - certainly very easy to install and get working :)

[8 I3ALL]

already 65% thru downloading it ;)

[Dr. Z]

Aye, ubuntu ftw, thoung if you really want to learn, gentoo :p

[Feek]

I installed Ubuntu on a box today.

Then I just had no idea what to do with it once it was on, so I shut it down.

[Dr. Z]

ctrl-alt-F1 from the login prompt...

Login using the login you specified in setup

sudo passwd (enables the root account, useful! You need to enter whatever password you specified to the username you gave in setup when it asks you for a password)

sudo vi /etc/apt/sources.list

#uncomment everything that isnt a comment

esc :wq

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install synergy ssh samba smbfs (and fglrx if you are using an ATI card, IIRC - if you use NVIDIA you need the erm, I forget...)

then wget the .deb for webmin and try and install it (dpkg -i <webmin_filename.deb>), it will fail - so get all the dependencies it needs using apt-get install <list of stuff> and then configure away!

[Mark]

Ubuntu here as well. I'm a Gentoo addict, but Ubuntu wins for the sheer 'shove the CD in and go'.

I know, my new build is currently using it (to relocate the Gentoo install onto a newer disk).

[8 I3ALL]

Well i tried Ubuntu in microsoft virtual pc and all i got was a black screen with 16 bit colours dotted around

Im going to try VMware instead

[Daz]

Aye, was gonna say, that tends to happen with Linux guests (if you're running the older version anyway). VMWare wont give you any headaches :)

A minor new release of VMWare server was released this week, so that's your target.

[Stan_Lite]

I can confirm that VMware is a doddle to use. I had it installed and Ubuntu running on 4 rigs in one afternoon.

Stan :)