Date: Fri 19-Feb-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

info-Linux-Brand-Internet

Full Text:

INTERNET INFO FOR REAL PEOPLE: Geekfest -- Installing Linux

By Bob Brand

Linux is way cool -- or so the hype goes. Sensing that Linux has reached the

point where a Windows "power-user" can't ignore it, I decided to take the

plunge. Here are my first timid steps down that long tortuous road to becoming

an accomplished Linux user.

From the outset, Linux is not for anyone whose idea of a good time is channel

surfing a bigscreen TV with a remote controller on a cozy couch. If you have

not used at least three versions of PC/MS DOS, don't even consider leaping

into Linux. The characterization of Linux as being "DOS on Steroids" falls

short. It is closer to "DOS on Amphetamines."

The Machine

Linux will run on old computers. In fact, it should bring new life to old 386

and 486 machines. However, in order to keep disappointment to a manageable

level, installation on a Pentium class machine is advisable.

I purchased a 100 MHz Pentium powered Hewlett Packard Vectra 5/75 with 32 MB

Ram, a CD ROM, 550MB hard disk, mouse, and clone sound card. Cost: $230 plus

$16 shipping from a dealer in Akron, Ohio on eBay. (I had an old SVGA

monitor.)

When installing Linux, owning plain vanilla hardware leads to fewer

frustrations. I plan to share my NEC 660I laser printer between my NEC and

Linux boxes.

The Installation

The CFUG (Connecticut Free Users Group) conducted the first Installfest on a

clear but cold January Saturday morning at Yale's School of Management in New

Haven. With mouse, keyboard, monitor, HP Vectra, and power cords in tow, I

arrived. I met Pete Keyes. An experienced Linux user and systems

administrator, he generously gave full attention to installing Linux Red Hat

5.2 on the computer.

Red Hat had generously donated three complete systems (install diskette,

CD-ROM, manual -- retail cost: $50) to the CFUG. It became immediately

apparent that my 550MB hard drive was too small to hold both Windows 98 and

Linux. Starting with the Red Hat 3.5" install diskette and the CD-ROM, Keyes

attempted a custom Linux installation. System programs, drivers, editors and

more were picked from the "install menu."

The Red Hat installer then attempted to load the choices. Falling 80 MB short,

that plan was scrapped. Taking the defaults, Linux loaded with 60 MB of free

space. (Already I am looking around for an inexpensive second 1-plus MB disk).

During the session, about 25 members of the group helped 25 to 30 people

install Linux on their systems. Some brought donuts. Free coffee flowed.

People helped themselves. Lou Rinaldi, president, ever the nervous chaperone

at the prom, walked around checking on the progress. Approximately 30 copies

of O'Reilly's "Running Linux" were given away to happy new Linux users. The

atmosphere was one of warm cooperation and cordiality. Digital snapshots

captured the activity and are posted on the website.

Graphics Is The Key

Linux, like all Unix flavored operating systems, is comfortable in text mode.

However, X-Window (the Unix/Linux MS Windows knock-off) installation requires

the chipset in the graphics card be supported. The Red Hat software found the

Cirrus Logic chip buried in the Hewlett Packard and loaded the video driver.

The importance of having plain vanilla hardware should not be minimized,

especially for newbies to Linux. It also loaded the mouse driver.

The ROOT password request was another important part of the installation

process. Things were looking good. Knock on wood. All the important components

worked.

Upon reboot, Keyes signed on as the administrator (ROOT authority). Next he

started X-Window (command: startx). With the graphical FVWM editor that

resides on the Red Hat CD, he created my user profile with a new password and

new user directories. It is strongly recommended that ROOT privileges be used

for changing and modifying system functions and configurations. Everything

else should be done as a "non-ROOT" user.

The Linux OS provides very little operator feedback especially when powerful

commands are executed. As a result, it is extremely easy to cause massive

amounts of damage to the system (read: overwrite critical files and data) by

newcomers acting as the ROOT administrator. Linux wants to protect the user

from him/herself by not giving privileges in critical, sensitive areas.

The First Baby Step

Even though these installation steps may appear to be trivial, they represent

a noteworthy accomplishment. Jon Katz, Mac user and resident columnist at

SlashDot, news for nerds, did not get this far in two recent mildly amusing

columns. Considering that he bought a computer with Linux pre-installed, my

computer (thanks to Pete Keyes) is further down the Linux road than his

system. Unfortunately his two columns shed little light on installing Linux

for the beginner.

However, like Katz, I have run into many of the same frustrations in finding

good books to learn Linux. Do not, repeat, do not buy the yellow and black

paperback Linux for Dummies. The frustration level is much too high for

beginners. The O'Reilly Running Linux (ISBN 1565921518) is barely acceptable.

Review of Linux books at Amazon are of minimal help. To date, Red Hat Linux

5.2 (Red Hat manual, install diskette and CD) is not available for immediate

shipment from Amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com even though it was published in

December 1998.

More to Come

The eyes of many of my readers glaze over as I write on about this esoteric

subject. I hope that some will take the plunge and give Linux a chance. For

those readers who are already on the road, drop me a note with your

experiences and observations.

URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) of interest:

http://www.cfug.org

http://slashdot.org/features/99/01/20/1231203.shtml

http://slashdot.org/features/99/01/20/1817231.shtml

(This is the 142th of a series of elementary articles designed for surfing the

Internet. Next, Spinner.com is the subject on tap. Stay tuned. Until next

week, happy travels through cyberspace.

Previous issues of Internet Info for Real People can be found at

http://www.thebee.com. Please e-mail comments and suggestions to

rbrand@JUNO.com or editor@thebee.com.)