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Home > Archive > Linux/Unix > July 2001 > Corel Linux
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| intraweb 2001-07-08, 1:38 am |
| Hello all..
I picked up a cheap cost Corel Linux today. I want to learn the basics of Linux to help me in various certs - other than that I could care less about the OS.
Is Corel Linux full of problems, or am I really that bad with Linux? I am getting better with everything, but this is a real pain to do even the simplest of tasks - tell me it gets better???
Should I just blow this version of Linux off all together, and opt for Red Hat? Is this a bad version to learn on?
Thanks...
Joe | |
| TW2001 2001-07-08, 6:27 am |
| Im not really familiar with Corel.I will tell you that learning Linux is a lot different than learning Windows.It takes a lot more dedication and persistence.Keep at it.Im using RH and Caldera.I can recommend the book Running Linux its a very comprehensive book to get the basics.Its really quite an adventure.
Randy and ccietobe have been very helpful as well.Hope you stick around the forum. | |
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| I have found Corel to not be quite as easy as its reputation would suggest, especially regarding install probs. But it is adequate to learn on. I usually suggest going with Red Hat or Caldera since they are the most common in business environments. Still, one Linux is mostly like another one. I suggest getting a few cheap copies of some of the popular distros to try your hand with. Caldera seemes to me to be the least trouble, Slackware the most (then again, I leanred more duking it out with Slack and BSD). But one thing you should get away from if possible is this constant "It can't be this hard, so I gotta switch" mentality. Linux has a steep learning curve, it just takes a while to learn. Once learned, however, I notice than many people can't stand the idea of being stuck in a Windows only environment. It does get better. You just have to read, read, read the documentation, and then once you're done, read it again. Most of the difficulty I find come from being in an unfamiliar environment and not knowing where things are, how to change them and so on. In 90% of the case, what looked quite difficult when you didn't know how to do something becomes quote simple (even obvious) once you do. As an example . . . I once tried to start my licq program (an ICQ client), but it wouldn't let me log on. I though this was totally unreasonable. It did not give me a login screen or anything! About two days later, as I did a "ls -A" in my home directory I noticed a directory called ".licq" (files that start with dots are hidden). Inside this directory I saw a "licq.conf" file. I looked inside the file and sure enough, there was no ICQ number specified, and no password. I filled it in, and it worked without a hitch. I felt both stupid and cool once I got it to work . . . stupid because I ignored something so simple, but cool because I got it to work. Lots of things in Linux are like this. Stick with it and you will see this soon. I second TW's opinion . . . get "Running Linux" and your life will be much easier. | |
| ccieToBe 2001-07-08, 8:54 am |
| Here's my suggestion:
If you start off with Corell, switch over to a more functional, but still newbie friendly version of Linux (ie Mandrake, RedHat, Caldera) as soon as you have a rough idea of what you're doing. I think it would be best to start off with Mandrake (that's what I used) RedHat or Caldera. Also keep in mind that unless you have some previous Unix experience, you're in for a steep learning curve. | |
| intraweb 2001-07-08, 4:47 pm |
| I do have SOME UNIX experience - but either way like you said there is a steep learning curve.
From a newbie perspective like myself - anyone who says Linux is user-friendly or even in the slightest bit is a threat to Microsoft - is smoking crack. The amount of time I spent just to configure my monitor correctly was insane.
I did get Quake III to run on Linux which was kind of cool - except I can't get online to play, and still have no sound, or joystick! Hahahaha ohh well I guess this is how you learn :-)
I dual boot Win2k and WinMe - don't ask, but I just do. I installed Corel Linux on it's own partition, and followed the downright wrong instructions of the manual. When I boot my computer, I still get the same two options at start-up - Win2k or WinMe - no Linux. The manual 'claims' it will allow you to choose between different OS's and startup - well, this never happened - but it get's better...
The manual continues to state if you don't get a selection of OS's on boot up, to load Corel Linux by either: A. restarting in MS-DOS mode, or B. boot safe mode command line only. Two problems: neither Windows 2k or WinMe can boot to MS-DOS real mode (to my knowledge anyhow), nor can you get to safe mode command line only in either OS. My temporary solution was to get to dos mode via a Windows boot disk, then run Corel Linux, but this is time consuming.
Bottom line... It is coming off this computer - and I am putting it on it's own machine this way if I screw up, who cares. | |
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| Actually, I find Linux quite user-friendly . . . but you are not likely to feel that way until you know it quite well. What version of Corel are you using? Th early ones had some serious video probs. Sound has always been a problem area, make sure your sound card is supported and configured and the sound modules loaded. If you have the option, I would always suggest using Linux on its own machine (or at least on its own HDD) as dual-booting is a sloppy solution. Make sure you have configured lilo or grub to see all of your partitions, and that your fstab file has all of the OS entries in it so that it can see all of the OS's you want to use. | |
| ccieToBe 2001-07-08, 6:46 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by intraweb
I do have SOME UNIX experience - but either way like you said there is a steep learning curve.
From a newbie perspective like myself - anyone who says Linux is user-friendly or even in the slightest bit is a threat to Microsoft - is smoking crack. The amount of time I spent just to configure my monitor correctly was insane.
I did get Quake III to run on Linux which was kind of cool - except I can't get online to play, and still have no sound, or joystick! Hahahaha ohh well I guess this is how you learn :-)
I dual boot Win2k and WinMe - don't ask, but I just do. I installed Corel Linux on it's own partition, and followed the downright wrong instructions of the manual. When I boot my computer, I still get the same two options at start-up - Win2k or WinMe - no Linux. The manual 'claims' it will allow you to choose between different OS's and startup - well, this never happened - but it get's better...
The manual continues to state if you don't get a selection of OS's on boot up, to load Corel Linux by either: A. restarting in MS-DOS mode, or B. boot safe mode command line only. Two problems: neither Windows 2k or WinMe can boot to MS-DOS real mode (to my knowledge anyhow), nor can you get to safe mode command line only in either OS. My temporary solution was to get to dos mode via a Windows boot disk, then run Corel Linux, but this is time consuming.
Bottom line... It is coming off this computer - and I am putting it on it's own machine this way if I screw up, who cares.
I had the same problem when I tried out Corell. For some reason it doesn't want to dual boot with Win2k. I've been told that it works with Win98, but haven't ever tested that out. As far as getting into safe or dos mode goes; try hitting F8 when you're booting Windows and a menu should pop up. The other Linux variants I suggested should be able to autodetect Windows (the key word is should, if you mess up the mbr just remember the "fdisk /mbr" command).
I don't think Linux is a serious threat to M$'s desktop market share, but it's a major threat on the server side of things. | |
| intraweb 2001-07-08, 7:23 pm |
| I will try all of the suggestions everyone has given, and I do appreciate everyones thoughts.
Either way to be on the safe side, I think setting up Linux on a dedicated computer is the 'safest' way to learn.
I do agree that Linux can be a threat on the server side to Microsoft. I was more referring to the desktop/home user, where linux is no threat at all.
I will play with this Corel a little more, then try those you folks suggested. Even if Corel isn't the best,I still expected more accurate documentation. The book that came with this software is really laughable and downright not accurate.
My goal with Linux is to learn the very basics to aid with some certs I am working on, and eventually I would like to set up a little Linux based server. I currently run Win2k Advanced Server, and I would like to see how the Linux box compares - but that is way down the road... I need to get the basics like my sound working first! | |
| TW2001 2001-07-08, 7:50 pm |
| Well I think the power is in the real control that you have over your environment.Im finding it very refreshing.You really need to give it some effort and time.Once you get the nitpicky things sorted out. You can then move on to really utilizing the OS.Its not something that sits there and slowly degrades.Its a living,active thing.
IF you dont have the bandwidth send me your email address with a postal addy and out of good faith I will send you a caldera distro.You can install it while in Windows.Its very easy.The Caldera site is very well organized and has good info.I find navigating RH site a little confusing (Im in love with 7.1 though)IMHO,The more people that get an opportunity to at least get to take a functional look at Linux the better.This is what made me see a little light.It gave me the momentum to really get into it.Look back through my other posts.Two weeks ago I couldnt get a module loaded.Today I have a Working samba box doing WINS,DHCP and serving up shares to 2 W2K servers and 2 W2K pro clients.I sat for quite a few hours hacking at the command line to accomplish this but hey its all worth it.Yes this is definately (at this present) time geared toward the back end.
I dont know about smoking crack but this is not a skill set im willing to forgo.I see it as being too important and essential for my future.
Here is the bottom line.Get a book and read it first! Then evaluate your hardware and save yourself some time.Make sure you are up to snuff with compatible stuff( or spend some time getting it to work).Take your base knowledge that you have built and go to work.Work through an installation actually understanding what is going on.Learn what the different dirs/partitions you establish do.Get comfortable interacting with your shell.Learn the essential navigational commands.Enjoy it.Really realize and respect the learning curve.Linux born of UNIX.UNIX tried and true.The backbone of the INTERNET.The mission critical system that powers so many things we really count on.
Even hotmail(ha ha )
Im more than willing to help in anyway I can. |
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