Welcome,
I'm somewhat new to Linux as well. I'm using SuSE 6.2 and based on what I've
seen:
Quote:> How and where would I get drivers for cd writers and dvd players, cable
> modem etc?
EIDE drivers are built in. SuSE has several items related to writing CD's,
so that should not be too terrible. I would ignore your DVD player for now,
you have enough to deal with without it. The cable modem is pretty much a
straight forward network connection.
I'm having a terrible time connecting my SuSE 6.2 box to my cable modem,
I've tried static and I've tried dhcp and it's just not working out for me
this time. In the past I have gotten SuSE 6.1 and Red Hat 5.1 connected to
my cable modem, so I know it's possible. Your experiece my differ- it should
be pretty easy in general.
SuSE configures one ethernet card during install, it's easy to add a second.
My local network sings, and I can connect to my WinNT machines and even my
Macintosh trades files with my SuSE box.
Quote:> 2)
> How do I go about setting up Linux? I know that I have to partition my
> drive but how can I make it a Linux partition...what utilities do I use?
> I assume SuSE is nice enough to supply such utilities? something like
> fdisk...do they work like dos?(Or maybe that's a bad comparison)
Hopefully you either have a dedicated computer, or a dedicated hard drive.
It's easy to set-up a floppy based dual boot, and quite possible to get
Windows boot loader to dual boot, but it's no doubt easier to have Linux on
a box or HD to itself.
SuSE has a nice option to use "whole hard drive" and it automatically
partitions for you. You'll have to create your own partitions if on a shared
disk, no biggie, but "whole hard drive" is point and shoot. Overall, I'd say
my experience with both Red Hat and SuSE disk configuration has been
positive. Find an example set-up so you'll better understand mount point,
swap space, and all that. Again, being able to use "whole hard disk" is
simple as can be.
Quote:> 3)
> What about file compatibility? I know I won't be able to access a
> windows fat32 drive but what about it's files...i.e. if I networked to
> a windows machine and transferred a .pdf,.txt file etc...would I be
> able to read them on Linux?
I'm sharing files from my Mac even! Same story as everywhere else, if the
file format is understood, your fine. A .gif is a .gif. Same for .txt, .pdf,
.mpg.
Quote:> 4)Are there any specifics to setting up SuSE that would be useful to
> know? For example: Do I need to try and find drivers for hardware
> before I install? Does it have enough utilities to function without
> buying or downloading alot of software?
SuSE is a very complete install. I can't imagine anything not being there.
I'd advise the following as a fellow newbie who has seen the sun come up and
the wife go to work all the vantage point of my linux keyboard.
Experiment. I'd even blast through the first install with the intention of
installing it again. I install a lot because it's the only configuration I
trust- a sort of base camp if you will. Obviously the holy grail is the one
set-up, but as a newcomer, get in there and don't be afraid to mess with
stuff, but when it gets out of hand, a clean install is a welcome place to
be. Eventually I'll get good enough to tweak the install I got, but I ain't
there yet.
You can save your favored install on a floppy, and that will save you from
having to root through the packages every time. For example, mod_php, mysql,
all the docs, blender and accroread are all selected on my saved floppy
install config. sax is pretty comprehensive and easy for setting up x
windows.
Be patient. I have been through the wringer, and I'm not a lost cause with
computers, but linux is a whole new set of accronyms, lanuage, etc. It has
tried my patience, yet I feel rewarded.
Unless you're just gifted as hell, I doubt linux will be like, eat dinner,
put kids to bed, install linux, configure networking, go to sleep, wake up
everything is cool. The learning curve is for real.
Buy a book like "A practical guide to Linux" by Marc Sobell. It's not distro
specific, more UNIX than Linux in a lot of ways, but what you really need to
be system boss is in there. Learn vi, and learn the basic commands like
mkdir, cp, grep, ifconfig etc.
Like SuSE says when it boots and you log in, "Have a lot of Fun." You'll
earn it. I'm sure others would have their own advice, and might even dislike
some of mine, the above is just me and my experience, do with it what you
will.
good luck
by