Some general questions for my first post...
 

Well hello to everyone. After several aborted attempts, I've finally taken the plunge and installed Ubuntu 8.10. It's pretty neat and I've been able to get around and install some stuff using gnome. Here are my general questions.....

1. Being an old DOS guy, I want to start learning the command lines. This is especially true since KDE/Gnome aren't completely "seemless".

2. Also, I got all the hardware working but the device manager is showing question marks for a lot of the equipment. I suspect that the system is using generic drivers and hence my system is not as "snappy" as it was while using windows. Some examples are the scsi adapter, some of the host adapters have question marks on them.

3. Software....I assume I can add software sources in my package manager to draw on a greater variety of software? Also, I'd also like to install something fun i.e. some FPS games but haven't really found anything worthwhile....

4. xwindows....I assume I can run most windows programs using this? Do I have to log in under "xwindows session" to take advantage of it?


Sorry if this is has already been covered.

The command line in linux is more powerful than in DOS, so I think you'll be pleased there.

xwindows has nothing to do with M$ Windows. To use windows programs you'll need to use wine or an emulator, like VMWare.

Can't help you on anything specific to Ubuntu. Enjoy.

Welcome to linuxquestions!
 

ls = dir

lspci -v will output your hardware information

dselect is a easy to use software management program, for Debian based systems like Ubuntu.

Starting a xwindows session in Linux, is like typing "win" under dos. Unlike windows the GUI server is not part of the kernel. If the GUI crashes, it will not take any console based programs with it. To run windows programs you have options. You can run many programs directly in wine. You can also run a complete copy of windows in VirtualBox. I run WinXP sp3 in VirtualBox so I can test websites in IE.

Hello and welcome.

Well, for that the best thing is to slowly learn to do some basic tasks on the command line. If you are comfortable with it you will soon find that you spend more time on a terminal emulator as you get confidence with it.

Some basic stuff can be found in the linux documentation project.

http://www.tldp.org/guides.html

I am not familiar with the ubuntu frontends, so I can't comment on that. Surely an ubuntu user is better suited to answer any question about these. You might want to check your graphics card for a start and see if it's being used to its full potential.

If you could post the output for this command we would be able to tell you so.

I will leave the first part of the question to an Ubuntu user. About FPS's, they are certainly not my thing, but there are quite a few of them. Some commercial, some open source.

Doom3 and all the unreal tournament stuff are famous, lots of quakes and clones and alikes like Nexuiz or Alien Arena. Just googling should sort that one out. There are lots of them (though all of them are the same thing to my eyes, but that's just the nature of the fps genre).

xwindow is a graphical server that allows linux to run a full blown graphical environment like you do in windows. But is has absolutely nothing to do with windows, and you can't run windows programs in xwindow. As a general rule of thumb, assume that you CAN'T run windows programs in Linux (just like you can't run linux program in windows, or you can't run a playstation disk on an xbox.

However, it's possible to run *some* windows stuff using wine. And you can as well install windows on a virtual machine (virtualbox, vmware, qemu...).

The different GUI are built in layers. X Window is the oldest and lowest layer in the GUI stack. X Window has been around longer than the PC. It has nothing to do with any Microsoft operating system. Programs compiled to work on Microsoft Windows will not work on X Window.

-------------------
Steve Stites

#1: This is not really a question, is it? ;) I assume that you're asking for resources on how to learn the shell. I personally recommend Linuxcommand.org. It's a good, step-by-step rundown on basic shell commands and scripting.

#2: Like most of the other posters, I can't say anything specific about this. You should probably make separate posts for each device you want to configure.

#3: Yes, this is the main way to install software. On Debian-based systems like *buntu, the repository list is held in /etc/apt/sources. You should generally stick with sources specifically designed for *buntu, but for the most part programs compiled for debian will also work.

BTW, it's also possible to download .deb packages separately and install them with dpkg, so you don't always need to use the package manager. And of course you can also try compiling your own programs from source.


#4: I like to think of the X Window System as being sort of similar to the early 3.x Windows that ran on dos (you first started dos, then started Windows on top of it). Only it's much more advanced, of course. For example, because it uses a server-client style design, you can also use it remotely.

Others have already mentioned wine for running Windows programs. In fact, it's the best way for running games on Linux, because only it (and its spin-offs) provides direct hardware graphics access. Your other choices are all emulators of some form.

True, but with a caveat. CLI programs that were started from a non-gui terminal or run as background daemons will be unaffected, but these days most people run CLI programs from within a GUI terminal emulator, and these will usually be lost when the shell they are run in gets terminated. There are probably ways to work around this though if really necessary.

Thanks for disabusing me regarding my understanding of xwindows.

Also thanks for all the other replies.

I just loaded KDE and after using it a bit, I think I like it better than gnome.

I do think I'm going to have to spend a lot of time updating codexs, and fixing the driver issues. Hopefully, this will speed up my system.

If you type lspci -v and post your output, I will help you setup your hard ware. Search linux questions for post about building the kernel. Also read about the chroot command and system rescue cds just in case you build a kernel that will not boot.

I'll do that presently. I'm not so much worried about a rescue CD as the system is a spare and if it crashed it's no biggie.

some help (small)
 

List of Bash commands here http://www.ss64.com/bash/
2 FPS games are Open Arena and Warsow.
Go to system -> administration -> Synaptic Package Manager for all sorts of software.Also while there go to games section for various games.

this is what I have
00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8366/A/7 [Apollo KT266/A/333]
Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8366/A/7 [Apollo KT266/A/333]
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
Memory at e0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: agpgart-via
Kernel modules: via-agp

00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8366/A/7 [Apollo KT266/A/333 AGP]
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel modules: shpchp

00:09.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV44A [GeForce 6200] (rev a1)
Subsystem: eVga.com. Corp. Device b399
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 248, IRQ 11
Memory at e4000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
Memory at e5000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
[virtual] Expansion ROM at 30000000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: nvidia
Kernel modules: nvidiafb, nvidia

00:0a.0 Mass storage controller: HighPoint Technologies, Inc. HPT366/368/370/370A/372/372N (rev 03)
Subsystem: HighPoint Technologies, Inc. Device 0005
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 120, IRQ 10
I/O ports at c000 [size=8]
I/O ports at c400 [size=4]
I/O ports at c800 [size=8]
I/O ports at cc00 [size=4]
I/O ports at d000 [size=256]
[virtual] Expansion ROM at 30020000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: pata_hpt37x
Kernel modules: pata_hpt37x, pata_hpt366

00:0e.0 Ethernet controller: ADMtek NC100 Network Everywhere Fast Ethernet 10/100 (rev 11)
Subsystem: Accton Technology Corporation Device ec02
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 10
I/O ports at d400 [size=256]
Memory at e7000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
[virtual] Expansion ROM at 30040000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: tulip
Kernel modules: tulip

00:11.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233 PCI to ISA Bridge
Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233 PCI to ISA Bridge
Flags: bus master, stepping, medium devsel, latency 0
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel modules: i2c-viapro, via-ircc

00:11.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 11
[virtual] Memory at 000001f0 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8]
[virtual] Memory at 000003f0 (type 3, non-prefetchable) [size=1]
[virtual] Memory at 00000170 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8]
[virtual] Memory at 00000370 (type 3, non-prefetchable) [size=1]
I/O ports at d800 [size=16]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: pata_via
Kernel modules: pata_via

00:11.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 1b)
Subsystem: First International Computer, Inc. Device 1234
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 11
I/O ports at dc00 [size=32]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
Kernel modules: uhci-hcd

00:11.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 1b)
Subsystem: First International Computer, Inc. Device 1234
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 11
I/O ports at e000 [size=32]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
Kernel modules: uhci-hcd

00:11.4 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 1b)
Subsystem: First International Computer, Inc. Device 1234
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 11
I/O ports at e400 [size=32]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
Kernel modules: uhci-hcd

00:11.5 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233/A/8235/8237 AC97 Audio Controller (rev 30)
Subsystem: Holco Enterprise Co, Ltd/Shuttle Computer Device a232
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 12
I/O ports at e800 [size=256]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: VIA 82xx Audio
Kernel modules: snd-via82xx

david@ubuntu:~$ su
Password:
root@ubuntu:/home/david# lspci -v
00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8366/A/7 [Apollo KT266/A/333]
Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8366/A/7 [Apollo KT266/A/333]
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
Memory at e0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]
Capabilities: [a0] AGP version 2.0
Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: agpgart-via
Kernel modules: via-agp

00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8366/A/7 [Apollo KT266/A/333 AGP]
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
Kernel modules: shpchp

00:09.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV44A [GeForce 6200] (rev a1)
Subsystem: eVga.com. Corp. Device b399
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 248, IRQ 11
Memory at e4000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
Memory at e5000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
[virtual] Expansion ROM at 30000000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: nvidia
Kernel modules: nvidiafb, nvidia

00:0a.0 Mass storage controller: HighPoint Technologies, Inc. HPT366/368/370/370A/372/372N (rev 03)
Subsystem: HighPoint Technologies, Inc. Device 0005
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 120, IRQ 10
I/O ports at c000 [size=8]
I/O ports at c400 [size=4]
I/O ports at c800 [size=8]
I/O ports at cc00 [size=4]
I/O ports at d000 [size=256]
[virtual] Expansion ROM at 30020000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: pata_hpt37x
Kernel modules: pata_hpt37x, pata_hpt366

00:0e.0 Ethernet controller: ADMtek NC100 Network Everywhere Fast Ethernet 10/100 (rev 11)
Subsystem: Accton Technology Corporation Device ec02
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 10
I/O ports at d400 [size=256]
Memory at e7000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
[virtual] Expansion ROM at 30040000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: tulip
Kernel modules: tulip

00:11.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233 PCI to ISA Bridge
Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233 PCI to ISA Bridge
Flags: bus master, stepping, medium devsel, latency 0
Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
Kernel modules: i2c-viapro, via-ircc

00:11.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 11
[virtual] Memory at 000001f0 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8]
[virtual] Memory at 000003f0 (type 3, non-prefetchable) [size=1]
[virtual] Memory at 00000170 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8]
[virtual] Memory at 00000370 (type 3, non-prefetchable) [size=1]
I/O ports at d800 [size=16]
Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: pata_via
Kernel modules: pata_via

00:11.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 1b)
Subsystem: First International Computer, Inc. Device 1234
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 11
I/O ports at dc00 [size=32]
Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
Kernel modules: uhci-hcd

00:11.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 1b)
Subsystem: First International Computer, Inc. Device 1234
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 11
I/O ports at e000 [size=32]
Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
Kernel modules: uhci-hcd

00:11.4 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 1b)
Subsystem: First International Computer, Inc. Device 1234
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 11
I/O ports at e400 [size=32]
Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
Kernel modules: uhci-hcd

00:11.5 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233/A/8235/8237 AC97 Audio Controller (rev 30)
Subsystem: Holco Enterprise Co, Ltd/Shuttle Computer Device a232
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 12
I/O ports at e800 [size=256]
Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: VIA 82xx Audio
Kernel modules: snd-via82xx

Unshriven,

If you get some time check this out:

http://burks.brighton.ac.uk/burks/linux/rute/rute.htm

-Bill

I took a quick peek. Looks good. I'll go through it.