Are you a Linux Newbie? Fell off the Windows Ship Without a Paddle?
Posted 01-12-2006 at 05:05 AM by carl0ski
i just thought i'd make a quick list to aid in quickly understanding and feeling comfortable using Linux.
Since my favourite Distro is Mandriva , and i find it quite easy to learn.
I recommend it.
Recommended Software
KDE equivilent to the icons and Startbar in Windows.
Konquerer Equivilant to Internet Explorer both can be used to browse the web and manage files on your Hardrive. Even rips audio CDs 'audiocd://'.
Amarok Similar to iTunes, it Is easy to use powerful music player, and like itunes allows you to sort music very thoroughly. Added ability to drag files in and out of amarok to Konquerer.
Ksysguard Windows Task Manager
Kmix Windows Sound Volume Manager
Kcontrol Equivilent of Control Panel (kcontrol can configure every shortcut, icon, colour, how your desktop looks sounds feels acts)
Mandriva Control Centre Windows Control Panel features add/remove software/hardware, configure Hardware, Login Settings(Usernames)
How it Works
/ equivlent to C:/ drive in windows it is the heart of your system (is it helps just imagine there is a letter at the start.)
/home equivilent to Documents And Settings in Windows, This folder contains a folder for each user and stores all you personal settings, Documents and program history.
/etc Windows Registry, like the registry etc stores startup settings and hardware configurations
/bin
/lib is probably most like c:/Windows/System directory it keeps core applications, and extensions.
/usr Program Files: /usr directory tends to store most software you install for personal use including media players and browsers.
/tmp c:\windows\temp Linux however uses it differently purely delete immediately data only.
/var c:\windows\temp Linux uses the /var folder to temporarily store information for currently open programs, it generally isnt deleted since it caches software and aids in quick loading.
now anything contained within
/mnt/ is equivilent to drives available in "My Computer" excluding c:\
All descriptive names in /mnt/ can be changed to your liking,
the second word is the mount point it can be changed in the text file /etc/fstab
/mnt/floppy is a:\ in windows
/mnt/hdd can be any other harddrives in you system
/mnt/cdrom is your first cdrom generally d:\ in windows
/mnt/cdrom2 is your second cdrom generally e:\ in windows
finally
Swap c:\pagefile.sys unlike windows pagefile.sys linux swap is stored on a dedicated slice of you Harddrive, this allows it to run quickly efficently and doesnt fragment with other files (consistant performance).
Since my favourite Distro is Mandriva , and i find it quite easy to learn.
I recommend it.
Recommended Software
KDE equivilent to the icons and Startbar in Windows.
Konquerer Equivilant to Internet Explorer both can be used to browse the web and manage files on your Hardrive. Even rips audio CDs 'audiocd://'.
Amarok Similar to iTunes, it Is easy to use powerful music player, and like itunes allows you to sort music very thoroughly. Added ability to drag files in and out of amarok to Konquerer.
Ksysguard Windows Task Manager
Kmix Windows Sound Volume Manager
Kcontrol Equivilent of Control Panel (kcontrol can configure every shortcut, icon, colour, how your desktop looks sounds feels acts)
Mandriva Control Centre Windows Control Panel features add/remove software/hardware, configure Hardware, Login Settings(Usernames)
How it Works
/ equivlent to C:/ drive in windows it is the heart of your system (is it helps just imagine there is a letter at the start.)
/home equivilent to Documents And Settings in Windows, This folder contains a folder for each user and stores all you personal settings, Documents and program history.
/etc Windows Registry, like the registry etc stores startup settings and hardware configurations
/bin
/lib is probably most like c:/Windows/System directory it keeps core applications, and extensions.
/usr Program Files: /usr directory tends to store most software you install for personal use including media players and browsers.
/tmp c:\windows\temp Linux however uses it differently purely delete immediately data only.
/var c:\windows\temp Linux uses the /var folder to temporarily store information for currently open programs, it generally isnt deleted since it caches software and aids in quick loading.
now anything contained within
/mnt/ is equivilent to drives available in "My Computer" excluding c:\
All descriptive names in /mnt/ can be changed to your liking,
the second word is the mount point it can be changed in the text file /etc/fstab
/mnt/floppy is a:\ in windows
/mnt/hdd can be any other harddrives in you system
/mnt/cdrom is your first cdrom generally d:\ in windows
/mnt/cdrom2 is your second cdrom generally e:\ in windows
finally
Swap c:\pagefile.sys unlike windows pagefile.sys linux swap is stored on a dedicated slice of you Harddrive, this allows it to run quickly efficently and doesnt fragment with other files (consistant performance).
