Ok, so I have been a very active computer user for the last 12 years. I have grown from windows 3.1 to windows XP pro. I have been the family and friend computer technician for the past 10 years and can build pc's, network, webdesign, and some programming. But never have I touch a Solaris, UNIX, or Linux machine. So after rouding curiousity over a # of years and seeing as I have a bunch of cpu parts on hand at all times I built myself a little crappy CPU to play with LINUX. My goal is to eventually use this machine as my PHP/MYSQL server and my internet access machine.

So this is the computers specs

AMD 500
96MB's Ram
27 Gig WD Hardrive
D-Link DFE-530Tx+ NIC
14" Daytek monitor.

I have specified the monitor and the NIC for 2 reasons as you will see in a second.

Firstly I built the machine last week. The I read some linux pages and figured hey this should be fun. I downloaded KNOPPIX version 3.7 Live CD just so I could see linux in motion for the first time. This loaded fine but 2 things caused me frustration. When loading to the GUI it automatically set the resolution to 1024 x 768 which my second monitor doesn't support so to fix this I hooked it to my 21" montior. Ok so then I tried to get on the internet and it doesn't think it has a network card. Then because I had to keep switching monitors it was a pain to get help online.

So a scrapped the idea of KNOPPIX for now.

I moved onto DEBIAN which I never got installed as it kept freezing up during the install.

Now I just installed LBA which works great! Very slow but it works! The only thing is this one doesnt see my NETWORK card either. I am so lost at trying to trouble shoot on LINUX aswell.

This is where I could use community support.

What should I do. I think LBA is too powerful for my machine. Is there a version of LINUX that is easy for a NOOBIE? I mean I don't need a GUI if there is a version with good internet tutorials. This is hard stuff for a noobie.

I would love to learn all the commands, and how to set up things like my NIC etc...

Please help, should I find a different release of LINUX?

Cheers,

Cool Hand..

My opinion

Easy versions of linux:

1st
Xandros, Lycoris (but old libraries)
forget Linspire (it's a major security violation to run as root)

2nd
Mandrake, Suse

3rd
Fedora, Knoppix, Mepis

4th
Debian

5th
Slackware, Gentoo

Read

http://www.websamba.com/Linux_Docs_Links
-> Distributions
-> General

Sheng-Chieh

I personally would stick with either Mandrake or SuSE if you're still new to Linux - though I haven't tried Xandros or Lycoris. Debian is great (and perfect for running a cut-down version) but not recommended as a beginner's distro - it assumes quite a high level of understanding right from the start.

Your ethernet card is based on the rtl8139 chipset as far as I know, so you shouldn't have any trouble getting it working with most major distributions - I'm surprised that Knoppix didn't pick it up. Just make sure that this module is inserted at boot time (ask back here if you have problems with whichever distro you end up with).

Good luck, and welcome to the Free World

Cheers,

mj

Thanks guys I play more next weekend :-)

Cheers,

Cool Hand..

About switching monitors, I think you can tell Knoppix with resolution you want by default. Check the kernel parameters that the CD allows you to set. I don't remember perfectly, but if instead of just pressing enter you first write something like

it will start the GUI in that resolution.

About the card, you can use your Windows drivers under Linux. Take a look at http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/. I'm pretty sure ndiswrapper comes with Knoppix, as a friend used for his wireless card. I'm also suprised about Knoppix not being able to detect the network card. Does it work properly under Windows?

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Yes, the card worked under windows. However it has been quite some time since I used it. I will check that out before I re-try it. I won't have time to play with it again until the weekend

Cheers,

Cool Hand...

To get your card to work under Knoppix I think you have to set it up. At least I have never had Knoppix automatically configure the network. (Which is nice when I boot it up at work) Once you have it booted up into the GUI, (by the way, I think the screen command above is correct) Look under the "application button" (i.e. Start button) then under the Knoppix selection, there should be a networks folder with a selection for configure network card.I am not going to swear to the names but this is the best my memory can do. Anyway.... this will prompt you if you want to configure it with DHCP or static. Follow the prompts and it will bring up the NIC. I use the same D-Link card on several PCs and have never had a problem with Knoppix not configuring them.

As for a distribution... I would second the Mandrake. I have had Mandrake 9.1 on my AMD 550MHz (my man PC) now for a few years and can do everything from surf the internet to video editing. I just installed Gentoo on a new PC and have found it to be a pleasent change, but considerably more involved.

Well, wishing you the best on your linux journey!!

PhilD

I am downloading Mandrake 9.1 all 3 Cd's now. I will install this weekend! I am excited. LOL

Cheers,

Cool Hand...

I hope everything goes smothly for you!!

Wow! I suceeded. I got everything installed this morning and it went well.

Mandrake 9.1 is up and running!! Seeing as my main goal is to use that Linux machine as a server for personal pages I am documenting my progress. Please be advised that this is a site in progress but input is always appreciated.

http://24.226.33.49/

So now what? LOL

I have now clue how to use this thing. I have a lot of reading and playing to do but here is some very important questions I have.

#1. Where and how do I control my server? It just works. All I did was make my site thus far and found a directory in var/www so I put my stuff in there. But I am confused as to where the controls for all this stuff are?

#2. That link above is it safe? I guess this is a wildly open question. But I mean in general?

If anyone could give some input I'd appreciate it. I will continue to work on my Linux Learning Experience site later on... I am just taking a break. The Questions link is really the only link that contains additional information at this point.

Cheers,

COol Hand...