Hello. I do not run X. I don't have it installed so I need to do everything in the console. I'm running Mandrake 9.1 in the higher security mode for this server.

1) How would I clear the console history? Where is it saved?

2) How would I run a command during boot before login? I tried tailing the line "/usr/sbin/samba start" to the file "/etc/rc.local" (without the quotes) but it didn't work. That is the correct path to the shell script samba. I have another drake box that runs samba on boot and doesn't have anything about it in the "/etc/rc.local" file.

3) How would I change the owner and group of a directory or file? As far as I can understand chmod, I can just change the permissions of read, write and execute.

4) How would I change the hostname of this drake box? I've used drakeconnect in the past using X. It works in text mode but doesn't seem to change it from localhost. I still see "[root@localhost etc]#". From samba clients, I see two hosts, "localhost" and "server1". Funny thing, both work. I have "server1" as the netbios name in "/etc/smb.conf".

Thanks for any help with these hopefully simple questions.

chown is the change owner command

as usual "man chown" gives usuage examples and options

can't help you with the rest i'm afraid

hey moses, sorry i dont hae a fix for either 1,2,3, or 4. however, i have been reading your link to http://www.euronet.nl/users/frankvw/IhateMS.html . this has supplied me with hours of chuckles, and "ill be damneds." this is great newbie fuel (like myself) to keep us trying to learn the ways of the linux.

its not in the mailbox yet, but i have MDK 9.1 and 9.2 on the way (i ordered both because its cheap and refference of 9.2 not having a kernel included) just wanted to post that for any other newbie coming along;
to not give up hope young padwon, use the console you must (or so im told)