Anyone here willing to help a Linux Newbie out?
 

I was looking into trying out Linux since I'm a IT tech and almost 95% of my knowledge is Windows based. I use to work in a Unix Solarsis enviroment back in college but that was at least 4 years ago. Now since I was able to grab a spare whitebox computer I've always wanted to try out Linux. A former co-worker of mines told me that Fedora Core would be a good start. So I've got Fedora Core 5 and I'm as lost as can be. I don't even know how to do system updates on this thing, let alone install any thrid party software. So is anyone out there willing to give a new linux guy a helping hand?

Re: Help
 

I am not a Fedora geek ... but I believe that Fedora Core 5 utilizes a package management utility called "yum".

# yum install <package name>

There are probably a large number of people in this org that wear the right hats that could give you more details.

Hey thanks for your help. Any information I can get on how to work the basics of Fedora Core will go a long way in my learning process. I guess I need to figure out how to work yum.

See http://easylinux.info/wiki/Fedora_fc5

Try doing searches on here for answers to specific problems. Chances are it has been asked and answered. If not, ask away.

I fool with Fedora 4 some.
To update open a terminal emulator and type in "su -" and enter the root password to switch to the root user. Type "yum update" and you should be able to follow the rest.
To see the options for the yum package manager type "man yum" in the terminal emulator. It will show you the options for displaying, installing, removing, updating, and etc.
It is normally best to install pre-made packages if they are available. Fedora has lots available. Generic RPMs are likely to work on Fedora, this is a second option. Building from source is an option and requires that you have development tools installed. Some 3rd party software is installed by a shell script, look at the documentation.
Clear as mud?

Thanks for that information. Well I tried it out yesterday and got stuck on the root password. The problem is that installed Fedora a few months back and just started playing around with it yesterday. So now I've forgotten the root password :mad: . Anyway is there a way that I can go through the system and retrieve the root password, or will I have to do a reinstall? Hoping not to do the second option by all means neccessary.

Hi, i don't know for sure if you can retrieve the password from the system but i think that you can't. Linux constructed to be safe that's why you have to place your password every time. I am sure there are many guys out there that can give a hand if there is a way to retrieve the password but if there no way i would suggest to install ubuntu instead of fedora. I think Ubuntu is more friendly to newbies cause it has a graphical package manager called synaptic (you can do it from command too. You can find it on system->administration->synaptic). This program can also handle dependencies(Dependecies are package or libraries that needed from some other package that you are probably want to install. So ether you download and install the depedencies manually, which is a real pain in the ass especially if they many or synaptic does it for you). Furthermore synaptic give you the option to choose for it's categories what program do you want to install. I suggest that cause i think that the most dificult thing to do on linux when you are new is installation. There many other debia based distributions that use synaptic like pclinuxos but i would recommend ubuntu.

You can reset the root password by simply booting up from a live CD distro (eg Knoppix). Running from the live CD system, mount the Fedora partition and go into the /etc directory and open the "passwd" file using whatever editor is available (eg nano).
Look for this line--usually at the beginning:

root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash

Edit the file to remove the "x", like so:

root::0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash

save the file and reboot. You will now be able to su to become root, and then type "passwd root" to set up a new password.

Dude, if you don't know, why reply?

It's trivial to reset a fedora password.

reboot the machine (type reboot, hit enter. You don't need to be root if logged in locally)

when the fedora kernel (with seconds countdown) pops up, hit ESC.

select the kernel you are booting (top most, I guess) and hit "e"

go to the end of the line and append "s"

hit <enter> to save and "b" to boot

it'll go to single user mode.

at prompt (logged in as root) type passwd hit <ENTER>

type your new password.

reboot again

voila!

First of all, you really don't need to download another linux, burn it, boot it, mount fedora, edit passwd, etc.. That's way too complicated. Fedora makes it easy to reset a root password.

Second of all, your instructions are wrong. Fedora's passwords are not in /etc/passwd, they are in /etc/shadow.

Touche!! You are right--I read your previous post and tried it. But is it unique to Fedora??

Nope--my instructions are correct. Taking out the "x" disables the password (which is--in fact-- stored in shadow)

You are right that your method is easier--unless maybe (like me), one has learned to keep the Knoppix live CD in easy reach. Also, booting from Live CD and editing the password file is reported to work for ALL distros.

Everyone,

Thanks for all of your suggestions. Coontie, I'll try your method when I get home from work today.

Coontie, I couldn't get this to work for me. I can't seem to get it to boot up in single user mode. Is there something missing from this step?

hmm... possible, I did it from memory.

follow this:

http://www.fedorafaq.org/basics/#resetroot

which will lead you to this:

http://www.fedorafaq.org/basics/#runlevel

read them both. It'll work, trust me. I've done it a million times...