Hello there,

well here goes.

I am wanting to set up a file server for a LAN Party on monday, since in 2 months i get broadband and am wanting to have my own webserver, i decided now would be a good time to delve into linux.

I chose Mandrake 9.1 (i have tried to et into linux before - SuSE 7.3 i couldnt get anything to work, and slackware i couldnt even geti nstalled).

So now i have this server, here yet i cannot figure out to do anything, i am totally lost with the different, well everything.

I am by no means a computer novice - i am just starting web design, i have been buildign systems for years, and have modified my own, as well as doing some C++ programming, and generally using computers for 12 hours a day. But linux has me lost.

If anyone can point me in the way of guides for *complete* Linux newbies i would be most grateful ,the only ones i have found have asumed quite a bit of knowlege about linux/unix (i cant even figure out how to get command line up).

So yes, help would be nice, from how to set up my system, simply for file sharing (with computers all running XP Pro with a couple of Win 2ks), and get used to linux. To guides for my eventual goal - a web and ftp server running on my broadband connection (whihc arrives 29th August).

Thanks,
Anthony

Welcome to linuxquestions.org.....Here u can find just about all the answers to your linux questions...... if not, u can definitley get them answered here.

There should be a picture of a terminal window with a shell on your toolbar. That will open a terminal window. You are logged in as the user that opened it. Some commands require root privlages. Use the su (switch user) command to change to root by typing 'su' then the root password.
Another fun trick is to use 'CTRL-ALT-F1' (through F6) to use no-Xwindows terminal mode. Use 'CTRL-ALT-F7' to return to your Xwindow session.
You will need to logon if you use the no X terminal. The last of your kernel boot messages will be visable on F1. The others will just have a logon prompt.
Try typing 'mc' to use to the Midnight Commander file manager.
Good Luck.

im about 2 steps away from throwing all this crap away and just digigng out 2k.

Its so frustrating how its impossible to get guides to anything online.

At least i have a terminal window now.

I wish i coudl do somehting with it.....

What the hell is with all these 2 post WonderTrolls?
Don't start with the "Tell me how to do everything or I will get rid of Linux" crapola.
Everyone here is glad to help.

i wasn't having a go at anyone.

I was just mentioned the total lack of guides on the web, comparable to any other topic.

Networking in linux i have found about 5 guides using my tusty friend google. In windows there are several hundred i have seen. And many more i haven't.

I was simply venting my frustration at a totally wasted day, im sure you have done the same before. And will do again.

Also i didnt want "tell me how to do everything", i was asking if anyone knows any links to sites that have good articles/tutorials.

eg. for basic guides for networking in windoes there is no finer place than http://www.homenethelp.com, also covers setting up ICS

And by the way i am still googling, just still havent found anythign of any use whatsoever. hence the frustration.

I sincerly apoligize if you are "just venting".
I wish you luck and you will get lots of help from the members here if that is really what you want.
For my part, I am unscribing from this thread now.

Check out The Linux Documentation Project - http://www.tldp.org

This has lots of information, guides and how-to's for linux.

Download and install Webmin... It is a configuration tool to help you get servers up and running. It makes a big difference for newbies who do not have the full grasp of the config files.

http://www.webmin.com

EHm...why don't you ask a specific question about what you're trying to do? It's a bit like I got a car and unless it starts movng I'm going back to using my bike.

Hey linux is not an easy thing to learn....there is alot of netsurfing or reading that your are going to do to get where most of the linux user here are @. We have all did the time....Anyway, try looking up howto's through goole (ie. network howto's, termianl howto's) prepare to spend alot of time reading and going through this forum to get ur information. Remember "rtfm"

BatWick-I understand your frustration. It can be hard for a newbie to get a handle on linux. I have been running it for a year and I still have trouble. I have invested probably a hundred hours or more trying to network it on a windows network with zero luck, I have about concluded it can't be done. I can share an internet connection between two linux boxes but not between windows and linux. Two areas where linux is guaranteed to give a newbie trouble is getting the sound to work and getting it networked. A little tinkering will usually get the sound up but for me the holy grail of the linux experience is to get it on a network with Windows machines. I have tried several different distros with no luck so far. But hey, it gives me something interesting to do and keeps me off the streets.

Don't give up.

I STRONGLY recommend going to a barnes and noble or whatever is near you and buying some literature. You will find plenty of books about using linux that assume no previous knowledge.

For file sharing you'll need to set up a samba server, but you'll find the web and ftp servers to be much easier. My advice to you is to have one small linux-oriented goal every day. Just start small, like "what are the basic commands I should learn to use on this neat-o command line"

hint: http://www.slackware.com/book/index....rce=c2352.html

If you try and start off too big, you'll just set yourself up for failure.

Good luck, and welcome to the linux community~

Andrew

Well anyone who wants to know how to get samba working on a win2k network look here:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dirty_h...atutorial.html

Ignore the bit about :
"A computer with Redhat 7.3 Installed (Server option selected)"

Because you will be ok with just samba installed (version 2.7.7 or later I think)

I made this tutorial up so that people that were new to linux and who needed some help on getting win2k (or almost any other win OS) working with Linux could learn from it.

Hope it helps,

Any other questions, just ask

cheers for the support.

In the end i just couldnt be arsed and went and finished off my book (Children of Dune)

Will be trying again tonight...