Jim Lawrence
accessd at shaw.ca
Fri Mar 21 13:43:10 CDT 2008
Hi Tina: Each Linux distro is different from the others. There are basic features that are similar but specifics can cause problems. (the devil is in the details comes to mind) I have familiarity with Vector, Susi, Debian, Unbreakable-Linux (an Oracle Redhat ripoff) and my definite favourite Ubuntu Linux (which really is Debian with a pretty interface). To get to the root user just go to the command prompt and enter su or sudo and at that time you should be prompted for the root user username and password. I do not know why the install did not prompt you for root password and there is usually a request for partitioning of the remaining drive home/main/swap. Both Unbreakable and Ubuntu do that but I am not familiar with the differences related to Fedora. (Is not Fedora 8 out of beta?) Both Unbreakable and Ubuntu are very friendly with Windows machines and will not over-write any of the OS files. My laptop is split between Linux and Windows and when the Linux was installed it allowed me to select how much of the left space to use. Installed easily and sees the Windows partition/file/printers/blue tooth wireless etc without any problem. I am not familiar with VMWare as I have either installed Linux on some computer fully, partitioned or through a Windows Virtual Server. You should be able to install Fedora on a USB drive maybe even an 8GB memory card. Ubuntu ISO can run off the DVD and only requires a file on a Windows drive for particulars. Sorry I could not be more helpful but I have had no experience with either Fedora or VMWare. HTH Jim -----Original Message----- From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Tina Norris Fields Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 6:16 AM To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues Subject: [dba-Tech] Linux Newbie in Distress Hi All, Some of you are knowledgeable about Linux, so I am turning to you for help. I'm enrolled in an HP Linux 101 class and I'm having some difficulties that have not yet received response from my classmates or instructor. Perhaps one (or more) of you will be able to point me in the right direction. The distro being used for this class is Fedora-7. I have done the long downloads to get the ISO image files - the full install DVD version and the Live Spin CD version. Preferring to go the virtual machine route, I have downloaded and installed the VMware Player. To get the Fedora-7 Appliance, I have downloaded and installed BitTorrent, and completed the 22-hour download of that Appliance. That seemed to be working just fine, and I had a nice virtual Fedora-7 machine running. In its initial setup it asked me to created a "regular user" profile, so as not to be always using the administrator level, root user power (and possibly screw up the things I am not yet familiar with). I did that, but felt uneasy, because I wondered how I would get back to the "root user" profile if I needed to. Well, in lesson 2, in the section on installing Fedora-7 in an actual partition on your hard drive, it states that during the setup you will meet the Set Root Password dialog box. In my virtual installation, that dialog box was never presented to me. Because I truly cannot afford to screw up my main computer, I did not want to play around with partitioning my C:\ drive, which is why I chose the virtual route. Lesson 4 is all about doing administrative things, which I cannot do because I cannot get into the "root user" profile. Since the VM Player route hadn't worked well, I went back over the documentation for lesson 2, where mention was also made of using the VM Server and configuring the VM to read the ISO file as an optical drive (no explanation, just mention). So, I downloaded and installed the VM Server - which required uninstalling the VM Player so the VM Server installation could reinstall it (not mentioned until well into the VM Server installation process, so start everything over AGAIN). Four experiments later, I have found how to do the configuration to use an ISO image file as an optical drive, but, the machine fails to start, sending a few error messages, including but not limited to: no operating system found, no VM Tools installed, and can't find floppy A:, and CD drive (0) will start disconnected. My questions could all be boiled down into one, I suppose: "What am I doing wrong?" But, the answer to that might require a full book, so I'll give more specific questions. 1) In an existing virtual Fedora-7 machine, where no password has been created (by the human trying to create this thing) for the root user profile, is there any way to get into the root user profile? 2) Is it possible to create a virtual Fedora-7 machine with a stop at the Set Root Password dialog box? 3) If it is not possible to do this in a virtual machine, can I set up a partition for my Fedora-7 operating system on my USB external hard drive? Any and all assistance in this will be appreciated. I need to know something about Linux, and I am being thwarted by hidden gotchas that nobody told me about, and for which, so far, I am receiving no assistance from my instructor or classmates. Thanks for putting up with my woes. Tina _______________________________________________ dba-Tech mailing list dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com