Feek's adventures with Linux

Feek · 09-02-2008, 15:17

I'm going to play around with a Linux VM over the weekend - I'm tempted to have a linux build with a boot manager but would rather have a plonk around in a VM first to avoid breaking anything badly.

What's a good one to use? I used to use the unix/xenix command line at work for basic stuff but nothing too complicated. I've had a look at the odd linux disto over the years but nobbut has got me excited.

So suggestions please people.. Plusses and minuses of various versions....

Stan_Lite · 09-02-2008, 16:39

I've always got on quite well with Ubuntu. Most things can be done through the GUI á la Windows, if you want, but the command line option is still available, as in other distros, for you to learn with.

Current version is 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) and is pretty damn good IME. Ubuntu home page is here with information and download links etc.

Edit: It also comes in 64 bit or 32 bit flavours.

Will · 09-02-2008, 16:49

Agree with the wannabe arab one. Gutsy is brilliant, especially for a n00b like me. I've managed to do all I could possibly want with it and it works brilliantly on my laptop. It's quick, looks fresh and funky, and I can run all the apps I tend to use.

Feek · 09-02-2008, 16:49

I've got that one installing right now in a VM and am also working on breaking my RAID to give me a specific hard drive to install something on native...

Will · 09-02-2008, 16:51

If you use this:

http://www.boat-drinks.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7080

Once you're sorted I reckon you'll get on with it famously.

Daz · 09-02-2008, 20:46

Ubuntu is probably as user friendly as you'll get GUI wise, so stick with that for now

The visual effects are really nice, but you wont get to see them in a VM.

[edit] With your VM Feek, you could mount the ISO images of your DVDs to rip them. I use the CLI but I'm sure there are GUI tools in te repositories

Feek · 09-02-2008, 21:15

Well the VM install was OK but a bit plonky - I've got everything off my RAID drive so I'm about to break it. I'm going to disconnect two drives of my three and then build an Ubuntu on with just one drive connected so there's no risk at all for any of my data!

Feek · 09-02-2008, 22:32

*mutter mutter* it doesn't seem to like my video card on the initial install, it never initialises it once I've told it to start installing so I'm grabbing the alternate text version.

Mark · 09-02-2008, 22:35

Do you mean when booting the live CD? If so, common problem. Hit the button to edit the boot command (F6 I think), and edit the command to include:

Code:

noquiet nosplash

Feek · 09-02-2008, 23:22

Good tip Mark, and that certainly helps. A bit!

Now I've been able to go through and run the whole install but a similar thing happens after the install. I get the "Kernel Alive" message then the screen clears and after a few seconds of disk activity and a quick flash on the screen, it all hangs up.

09-02-2008, 15:17	#1
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	Feek's adventures with Linux I'm going to play around with a Linux VM over the weekend - I'm tempted to have a linux build with a boot manager but would rather have a plonk around in a VM first to avoid breaking anything badly. What's a good one to use? I used to use the unix/xenix command line at work for basic stuff but nothing too complicated. I've had a look at the odd linux disto over the years but nobbut has got me excited. So suggestions please people.. Plusses and minuses of various versions.... __________________

09-02-2008, 16:39	#2
Stan_Lite Stan, Stan the FLASHER MAN! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In bed with your sister Posts: 5,483	I've always got on quite well with Ubuntu. Most things can be done through the GUI á la Windows, if you want, but the command line option is still available, as in other distros, for you to learn with. Current version is 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) and is pretty damn good IME. Ubuntu home page is here with information and download links etc. Edit: It also comes in 64 bit or 32 bit flavours. __________________ Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean I... Last edited by Stan_Lite; 09-02-2008 at 17:47. Reason: Shocking puctuation.

09-02-2008, 16:49	#3
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	Agree with the wannabe arab one. Gutsy is brilliant, especially for a n00b like me. I've managed to do all I could possibly want with it and it works brilliantly on my laptop. It's quick, looks fresh and funky, and I can run all the apps I tend to use. __________________ *No No!*

09-02-2008, 16:49	#4
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	I've got that one installing right now in a VM and am also working on breaking my RAID to give me a specific hard drive to install something on native... __________________

09-02-2008, 16:51	#5
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	If you use this: http://www.boat-drinks.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7080 Once you're sorted I reckon you'll get on with it famously. __________________ *No No!*

09-02-2008, 20:46	#6
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Ubuntu is probably as user friendly as you'll get GUI wise, so stick with that for now The visual effects are really nice, but you wont get to see them in a VM. [edit] With your VM Feek, you could mount the ISO images of your DVDs to rip them. I use the CLI but I'm sure there are GUI tools in te repositories __________________ apt-get moo

09-02-2008, 21:15	#7
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	Well the VM install was OK but a bit plonky - I've got everything off my RAID drive so I'm about to break it. I'm going to disconnect two drives of my three and then build an Ubuntu on with just one drive connected so there's no risk at all for any of my data! __________________ Last edited by Feek; 10-02-2008 at 10:38. Reason: spelling

09-02-2008, 22:32	#8
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	mutter mutter it doesn't seem to like my video card on the initial install, it never initialises it once I've told it to start installing so I'm grabbing the alternate text version. __________________

09-02-2008, 22:35	#9
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Do you mean when booting the live CD? If so, common problem. Hit the button to edit the boot command (F6 I think), and edit the command to include: Code: noquiet nosplash

09-02-2008, 23:22	#10
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	Good tip Mark, and that certainly helps. A bit! Now I've been able to go through and run the whole install but a similar thing happens after the install. I get the "Kernel Alive" message then the screen clears and after a few seconds of disk activity and a quick flash on the screen, it all hangs up. __________________