Hi there,
I'm going to doing my first linux install soon. I've got a Debian 7 disc 3.0.r4
'woody' installer set, and hopefully soon a nice new os-less Dell to install it on.

I want basically to learn to run apache, php, perl etc, and am currently testing localhost php pages with apache on winxp. Having read around, it seems crazy not to learn linux for when i want to run a live server.

ok...basically my question is this:
Do i just pop the Debian disc 1 in the machine and follow the instructions like installing a win program?
Or is there other things i need to know/do before hand?
I don't really know much about DOS or BIOS, but if they become neccasery, i guess I'll just add them to the reading list...

Thanks in advance,
Howard

Yes, that's basically how it goes. But don't forget to read the installation manual http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/installmanual beforehand -- you may even want to print it so that it's available if you have any problems during the installation. Also notice that on the very first screen of the installation program you can press F3 to view which kernels are available for installation (bf24 for the 2.4 kernel). You'll need the 2.4 kernel during the installation if you want to use some other filesystem than ext2 (you'll probably want ext3). This is all explained in the installation manual.

There's a new Debian release, Sarge, coming along (not immediately but soon), so you should be prepared to upgrade your system in the near future. But that shouldn't be a big concern -- Debian is well-known for making the upgrades between releases easy.

Howard,

If I were you, I'd first accumulate everything I could about the hardware. Getting a "DOS-less" system will make that a bit harder, I suspect. I've done two debian installs on old Dells, and was able to find everything I needed on-line, through the tech specs at Dell support - like the monitor frequencies, display modes, etc. I didn't need any network information because neither machine is connected.

Except for the X configuration, it was pretty much "boot using a W98 rescue disk, with CD support, go to the /boot directory on the first disk, and type install (I think- it's been a long semester and I'm blurry past yesterday)"

Good luck.

I do not know about woody as I have never run it; I am currently running Sarge. I did a net install instead of the full CD. Debian Sarge automatically identified every component automatically except for the nvidea card. My computer is an older Dell, P3-500 proc.

Good luck. If you have any problems come back, you are in the right place.

...then don't forget to check the stickies at the top of this forum. especially the Post Install Configuration.

If you have never run Linux before I would read as as much as possible, the naming schemes and such are a bit different than Windows.

Also if you want to install a newer kernel, (woody comes with 2.4), tyoe linux26 at the first boot option. It will install Debs 2.6 kernel which will give you a better shot at gettin everything working.
.
Good Luck

BTW the net install is nice because you get all updated packages from the get go.

Very true. After I did my install, I went through the post install line by line. Very nice results, especially if you want to run Java and a firewall.

If you want to run an internet server then there is a very good howto in this atthe perfect setup -debian . If you really want to use a Debian system on a day to day basis ( and hopefully convert to the Penguin) then I suggest using Sarge. The howto above will help you get a server running in a few hours.

Hi again,
the debian installation manual is confusing me with its versions for different architectures...i need to ask another newbie type question...

If i bought a celeron:

PowerEdge SC420 - SATA - Celeron 2.53GHz/256K, 533FSB
UK/Ireland - Documentation and UK Power Cord
256MB Single Rank 533MHz ECC Memory (1x256MB)
No Floppy Drive
80GB SATA (7,200rpm) 1in Hard Drive, 1st Drive only
48X CD-ROM Drive
No Monitor Required
No Mouse
No Keyboard
No Operating System.
OpenManage Server Software
C1 SATA, 1 Hard Drive

would that conform to the intel x86 architecture?
Architecture isn't something I'm familiar with as its not something i recognize from reading pc specs, and I wanna make sure I'm reading the right manual!

Again, any help here would be greatly appreciated.

Howard

oh dear,
I've been reading around - is Debian the toughest distro for a newbie to install?

I'll certainly have a go at installing it, but maybe not first off, if its the uberLinux when i can go and get a better 'first time round' distro.

I think i was initially attracted to debian because i read that it was one of the stricter open source distros, and I like the Open source philosophy, but it seems that its (perceived to be) a tough distro for a newbie to deal with.

(biting lower lip a bit)
Howard

Hi,
I have installed Sarge on a comp with nearly the same specs you mentionned.
I advise you read carefully the doc on installation.
Although it is one of the best distros around, it may not be the easiest to install
and to configure later.
But you will learn much and the Debian spirit is great. You'll find many dedicated
and nice people to help you here.
Cheers and try. You won't "break" things !

Woody (the version you have) will not install on that hardware as it cannot support SATA drives. I would suggest using the Sarge netinstall (http://www.nl.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/). This package is downloaded off the net and then burn the iso file to a cd and then boot the system with the cd. When you get the prompt enter linux26 to install a 2.6 kernel which has SATA support.
Debian isn't hard it's just different. Read the documentation first. Have a list of your hardware and especially get details of your monitor refresh rates for the GUI. Providing you have some common sense you shouldn't have problems. if you don't understand a question in the install accept the default.

Debian might not be the easiest distro to install, but I did not find it difficult at all. Debian Sarge was my first distro to ever install, and it was much easier than installing Windows. It auto-detected and setup every piece of hardware I have except my nvidea card. I reconfigured xserver (with this forums help), and now I am running1024 x 768. With the apt-get package management, I find updates and package management very simple, and extremely stable. I even updated my kernel from 2.4 to 2.6.8-2-686 with apt.
I believe that if you give it a try, you will like it. And to answer your last question, there is a much more difficult distribution to install, gentoo.

Good luck, and come back with your questions. I did and i have learned a lot, and am having a great time.

If the Debian install seeem daunting, you could try ubuntu first. It is based on Debian so you will get a good idea of what to expect. It also has a great community with tons of easy to follow how -tos.

It's not _that_ hard to install. Come to think of it, it's not hard at all. Espicially not the Sarge Installer method described above (don't forget linux26 at boot prompt). I installed it myself as a complete noob last year. Just give it a go...if you can't get it to work you could always try another distro....Ubuntu or something. Good luck!