Newbie - a few questions

[Jason Smith]

Hi,

I've never used a non-Microsoft OS before, but I've decided to try out Mandrake 7 sometime soon.

I'm going to get an external modem. My current internal PCI modem is a no-namer piece of junk that won't even work properly in Windows and probably has a snowball's chance in hell of working in Linux. I'm curious as to how to set up an external modem. Do you have to install drivers (for Windows or otherwise) or does it work right after you plug it in?

For that matter, can anyone recommend a good external modem? I heard USB support is unreliable in Linux (is that true?), so I'll go for a serial modem. I'd also like to avoid spending more than $45 on the modem.

From what I've read about Mandrake 7, partitioning the hard drive is done within the installer, yes? FDisk and the like have scared me away from installing Linux in the past.

How much hard drive space will a normal Mandrake install take up? Around a gig? More?

Thank you,
Jason

[jesterspet]

Originally posted by Jason Smith:
Hi,

I've never used a non-Microsoft OS before, but I've decided to try out Mandrake 7 sometime soon.


welcome to the real world, Neo


I'm going to get an external modem. My current internal PCI modem is a no-namer piece of junk that won't even work properly in Windows and probably has a snowball's chance in hell of working in Linux. I'm curious as to how to set up an external modem. Do you have to install drivers (for Windows or otherwise) or does it work right after you plug it in?


You do have to set up the modem, in Windows you tell it you have a modem on Com2 (or whatever com port you installed it on)

In Linux The commands will change but it is basicaly the same deal. If you check out the HOW-TO on cannecting to the internet, you should be able to figure it out.


For that matter, can anyone recommend a good external modem? I heard USB support is unreliable in Linux (is that true?), so I'll go for a serial modem. I'd also like to avoid spending more than $45 on the modem.


OK, here is where I would like to stress the importance of "you get what you pay for". 3 years ago I spent $250 on a courier v.everything from US Robotics. I have never had a problem with it, It will connect to everyone, under the most extreme circumstances. And the modem will always give you a stable connection. I have done Technical support for an ISP and I can tell you, there are miles and miles of modem strings out there for almost every modem on the market, except the courier. There is a reason for this. Reconsider your decision and buy the last modem of your life.


From what I've read about Mandrake 7, partitioning the hard drive is done within the installer, yes? FDisk and the like have scared me away from installing Linux in the past.


Yes, the installer will bring up the partitioning software. It is really not that bad, for a newbie, I would suggest keeping it simple and partitioning a 128mb (or as close to this number as you can get) swap partition (unlike windows which has a swap file, Linux needs a seperate swap partition, and will never use more than 128mb of swap space) the other partition would be / . after that you will be all done partitioning. and the install will continue on its way.


How much hard drive space will a normal Mandrake install take up? Around a gig? More?

Thank you,
Jason

I cannot help you with the last one. Have fun :P

------------------
[X] YES! I'm a brain-damaged lemur on crack, and I'd like to order your software package for $459.95!

[evil_roy]

Re http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/tongue.gifartitioning. It will really depend on whether you dedicate a pc or at least a whole drive to linux. If you want to share a harddrive then there are some different (not hard) things to do before you install..basically defrag and set up partitions for linux first. If you're going to give linux a drive on it's own then using the partition setup tool that comes during your install is fine.

Personally I'd give linux a couple of gig - you can get away with heaps less, but most users generally go nuts downloading and trying new stuff as soon as they get linux installed.

[JuanTanamera]

Originally posted by Jason Smith:
Hi,

I've never used a non-Microsoft OS before, but I've decided to try out Mandrake 7 sometime soon.

I'm going to get an external modem. My current internal PCI modem is a no-namer piece of junk that won't even work properly in Windows and probably has a snowball's chance in hell of working in Linux. I'm curious as to how to set up an external modem. Do you have to install drivers (for Windows or otherwise) or does it work right after you plug it in?

For that matter, can anyone recommend a good external modem? I heard USB support is unreliable in Linux (is that true?), so I'll go for a serial modem. I'd also like to avoid spending more than $45 on the modem.

From what I've read about Mandrake 7, partitioning the hard drive is done within the installer, yes? FDisk and the like have scared me away from installing Linux in the past.

How much hard drive space will a normal Mandrake install take up? Around a gig? More?

Thank you,
Jason
in RH 6.2 and up there is a nifty lil program called wvdial
from a command line do rpm -ql wvdial
I know you mentioned Mandrake buts its almost the same thing
from the command prompt type
wvdialconf then look in /etc/wvdial.conf
it will tell you what port your modem was found on /dev/ttyS?
you can use rp3 or kppp to configure the modem no extra drivers needed..
I have had success with Phoebe internal ISA modems 33.6 and 56k ... as far as externals I have heard good stuff from the zooms ..
NOTE: wvdialconf will complain of no config file found then it will make the config file

As far as how big a drive you need:
3 gigs should be okay for all the stuff when you get comfy and know what you need to install and don't need to install you can go to as little as 120mb (without graphical stuff)

[veloctTX]

I think a complete install of LM 7.1 is 1.7 Gig? It's close to that for sure.

[Jason Smith]

OK, here is where I would like to stress the importance of "you get what you pay for". 3 years ago I spent $250 on a courier v.everything from US Robotics.

AHHHHH! I wish I could, but I don't have that kind of money.

I've been hunting around, and I think I'll get the AOpen FM56-RU for $75:
http://aoaen.aopen.com/products/modem/fm56ru.htm

Is this a good choice?

[Jason Smith]

Ok, I've ordered it.

I hope it's worth the price...

[conman]

Mandrake 7.2 install is minimum 140 meg, maximum 3.5 gig. Standard recommended install is 700 meg, but of course you need some space after that for your files. You don't need any driver at all to use a serial external modem in Mandrake. The dial up network configuration is very similar to that in windows. Yes USB support exists but lags behind. The installer will partition the hard drive (easily unlike fdisk) graphically.

[Jason Smith]

Thanks for the help!