Some random questions i've had about linux

[YARDofSTUF]

Ok i have mandrake and i know there are better versions, just wondering if 1 there free and 2 if theres a site that has a fast connection with debian(sp)

[scratchmonkey]

Downloading is always free, I have never seen an instance where you pay for downloading the software.

Where you end up paying is when you want to get the software on a cd. That usually comes with help docs and some tech support for a short time as well.

As for Debian. You can download it from the website, debian.org (http://www.debian.org), and usually get speeds around 13-30k. Your milage may vary.

There is also Progeny (Debian based...read up on it), which I am a big fan of. Check out their website at progeny.com (http://www.progeny.com). You can download the iso's from the site and they have really fast servers. My download didn't dip below 100k even once.

Good luck!

---tom

[TacKat]

Linuxiso.org (http://www.linuxiso.org) is a good place to find all kinds of linux distros.

[YARDofSTUF]

Thanks!

[YARDofSTUF]

Originally posted by scratchmonkey:
<STRONG>As for Debian. You can download it from the website, debian.org (http://www.debian.org), and usually get speeds around 13-30k. Your milage may vary.

There is also Progeny (Debian based...read up on it), which I am a big fan of. Check out their website at progeny.com (http://www.progeny.com). You can download the iso's from the site and they have really fast servers. My download didn't dip below 100k even once.

Good luck!

---tom</STRONG>

Thanks, i am dling progeny, looks fun. i couldnt figure out what files i needed from debian.org lol. They a "stupid ppl dl this first.txt" for me.

Do i need the MD5SUMS and MD5SUMS.asc as well as the iso images?

it said only the ISOs but i wanna make sure.


Also i forgot to ask about any cool programs or rather a site of just tons of cool programs for linux. See i have no real purpose of getting it other than i want to be knowledgable of it. I plan on taking classes for a CCNA in a year or so and being able to use linux would be a plus, but for now just getting comfy in it! lol

cool i wrote an essay! lol

[snowgod]

freshmeat.net is one of the best places to get programs, also check out sourceforge. those 2 sites should keep you busy for a while, have fun...welcome to the linux revolution :D

[scratchmonkey]

Good deal.

Yeah, just grab the two iso's and burn them to two cds.

Once you've done that, you're ready to go! The cds should be bootable, so pop in cd #1 and you're off and running.

Installation is fairly simple and doesn't tak too long. The interface is not all pretty and fluffy like the MDK 8 installation, but it works just fine.

Good luck!

---tom

[scratchmonkey]

Agreed, freshmeat is a good source. If you are just learning and you don't need your operating system to actually DO anything, the programs that come packaged with the OS should be fine for a bit.

[YARDofSTUF]

I DLed all 4 ISOs? which ones do i need lol

[scratchmonkey]

if you got them from:
http://archive.progeny.com/progeny/iso/Progeny1.0/

the files you will want to use are:

newton-i386-1.iso and newton-i386-2.iso


---tom

[YARDofSTUF]

what are the src files?

[scratchmonkey]

MD5SUMS Checksums of the iso's in this directory
MD5SUMS.asc Detached GPG signature of the MD5SUMS file
newton-i386-1.iso Required installation CD
newton-i386-2.iso Extra packages such as KDE
newton-src-1.iso First sources CD
newton-src-2.iso Second sources CD


:)

[YARDofSTUF]

ok, so just burn the i386 ISOs?(not like ya have to tell me twice or anything :) )

[scratchmonkey]

Yup, burn those two iso files and you should be good to go. :p