Linux?

[79Bandit]

Can anyone give me a quick run through on what the purpose of linux is and the pros and cons of it? Just wondering i have tried to research and understand it in the past but i find it difficult to get any real info over the web, thanks!

[Oz]

The best way is to take the plunge and install it. If you're getting your feet wet and have 20gb of hard disk space to spare, you can asily dual boot your Windows and Linux.

Or even better, download VMWare (for free) and install Linux in a Virtual Machine and run it inside your existing Windows installation.

http://www.vmware.com/download/server/

[l_eclipse_l]

Purpose: Free O/S
Pros: It's free/Customizability/Open Source
Cons: Drivers/Application Compatibility/Ease of use not quite as good as Windows for the inexperienced

[Damien]

Originally Posted by Oz

The best way is to take the plunge and install it. If you're getting your feet wet and have 20gb of hard disk space to spare, you can asily dual boot your Windows and Linux.

Or even better, download VMWare (for free) and install Linux in a Virtual Machine and run it inside your existing Windows installation.

http://www.vmware.com/download/server/

How's that work. I used Linux once but never got the feel. Thought about trying just cause.

[Oz]

Download VMWare server and install.

Download the ISO of the version of Linux you want to install.

Create a new Virtual Machine with the Wizard.

Change the CDROM drive of the Virtual Machine to point to the ISO of the Linux version you downloaded.

Start the virtual machine and set it to boot from CD.

Post here if you have questions.

[Toksin]

Ubuntu FTW.

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by Oz

Download VMWare server and install.

Download the ISO of the version of Linux you want to install.

Create a new Virtual Machine with the Wizard.

Change the CDROM drive of the Virtual Machine to point to the ISO of the Linux version you downloaded.

Start the virtual machine and set it to boot from CD.

Post here if you have questions.

That was easy, now I have the best of both worlds. Thanks OZ, since I can't buy you a beer I'll just have to raise one in a toast to you.

[Damien]

And since I can't drink beer, I'll...raise one in a couple weeks when I'm legal. Looks easy, I need to free up space. Too many random pics sitting around.

[Oz]

The cool thing about doing it that way is you get network connectivity by piggybacking off your existing Windows network stack.

One of the most daunting things I found about Linux when installing it was getting network drivers working so I could download and customise everything else.

When you have your Linux Virtual Machine pretty much working the way you want it, I suggest re-installing it as a dual boot option and getting your whole system up and running with audio, network, graphics drivers etc. Then migrating your Virtual Machine user data to your dual boot install.

It's some pretty cool technology, check this out:
VMWare Converter (free): http://www.vmware.com/products/converter/

You can take an image of a computer and convert it into a running Virtual Machine. Pretty cool for backup purposes if you have enough space.

[Damien]

^Hm...so much info. I'm just going to get one of my friends to do it. That's what they're for right?

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by Oz

The cool thing about doing it that way is you get network connectivity by piggybacking off your existing Windows network stack.

One of the most daunting things I found about Linux when installing it was getting network drivers working so I could download and customise everything else.http://www.vmware.com/products/converter/

Yep, networking is the big stumbling point to get over. Same problem I had when "upgading" from Vista to XP on my laptop. I had to go back and reinstall Vista, go out on the net and download the XP network drivers, burn them to CD, and start over. Finding Linux drivers is even harder. Piggybacking solved that one.

Originally Posted by Damien

^Hm...so much info. I'm just going to get one of my friends to do it. That's what they're for right?

I'm friendly and will work for beer, and you can blame all the porn on me when your wife/girlfriend catches you viewing it. For enough beer that is.

[Damien]

^I can get my own porn! Or make my own...aniwho........