[dba-Tech] Linux Newbie in Distress

Hi Jim,

Well, you are more help than you think.  Yes, Fedora-8 is out of beta, 
and I did download it, too, but the class is using Fedora-7, so that's 
what I'm trying to work with.

As an assignment at the end of lesson 1, we were to got get our Fedora-7 
and burn to DVD and/or CD, depending on whether we got the whole distro 
or the Live Spin.  I got both, in both Fedora-7 and Fedora-8.  
Unbelievably long downloads - another mystery for me, there, since I 
have a high-speed wireless broadband connection of 11 Mbps, yet the 
download was going at speeds around 8-9 Kbps, but that is for another 
time - each of these efforts took about 12 hours.  So, I have the DVD 
and CD for each of these two Fedora versions - all the files properly 
burned from the ISO.

If I build a partition on my USB external drive and install Fedora-7 on 
it, maybe that way I can finally get this thing going.  Thank you for 
the reassurance that it should work.  I may come back and visit with you 
about the dual-booting option my instructor suggested.  I just don't 
want to damage my Windows XP laptop, which is my main computer.  (Yes, I 
do back things up, but still. . . .)

I need to know about this stuff, so I'm not giving up.  Thanks for your 
response.  I'll most likely be back for more help.

Tina

Jim Lawrence wrote:
> 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         
>
>
>