Fedora: internet data rate, software updates, minimum for security
 

I recently installed fedora core 5. I am currently using a SLOW dial up connection. Here are 3 questions

1) I am using Gnome and "network" for connecting to the internet. Is there a way to see the actual data rate of the internet connection? I used to use SUSE with kinternet and could easily see the actual data rate.

2) When I am not online and try to add/remove software, I get a message that says "Unable to retrieve software information" Do you have to be online to add or remove software? I have the 5 Fedora CDs.

3) The dialup connection is slow and I noticed that there were a whole lot of updates when I was online. I would just like to install only the security updates since the connection is very slow. What should I update?

Thanks for your help.

Ed

>> 1) I am using Gnome and "network" for connecting to the internet. Is there a way
>> to see the actual data rate of the internet connection? I used to use SUSE with
>> kinternet and could easily see the actual data rate.

I'm not familiar with the gnome/kde gui configuration tools, but I'm assuming they guess your connection speed based either on the advertised rate, or how much data you're transfering from specific locations.

To get a better idea of your real available bandwidth use one or two of the bandwidth tester sites online. Also have a look at iftraf. It gives you a break down of how much data you're transferring to and from where. You should be able to just yum install it.

>> 2) When I am not online and try to add/remove software, I get a message that says
>> "Unable to retrieve software information" Do you have to be online to add or remove
>> software? I have the 5 Fedora CDs.

You must be able to. I don't know what the Redhat gui tool is called these days. Up2date? It's go to be buried somewhere in the gnome menu somewhere.

>> 3) The dialup connection is slow and I noticed that there were a whole lot of
>> updates when I was online. I would just like to install only the security updates
>> since the connection is very slow. What should I update?

In Debian you can just remove all the sources except for security updates from apt.conf. Fedora may take a similar approach with yum.conf, but I don't know off of the top of my head.