Hi, # Skip intro if you don't care (paragraph 2 for hardware desc.) # Sorry about the length. I talk too much in person, too :) # If I do anything flame-able, please let me know. I'll learn.
I've been curious about GNU/linux for some years now, and have just recently found a block of time to devote to the endeavor of installing/learning the system. Starting a few weeks ago, I installed YDL 3.0.1 on the master (60G) drive, and 2 partitions (OS9.2.2 and OS10.2.8) on the slave(80G) of my Powermac 867 mHz (single-cpu � the 2001 model w/ NVIDIA GeForce 2 MX 32M). The biggest hitch was figuring out the ISOs (md5sums, burning correctly, etc.). After that, installation was relatively easy. I still don't have working sound, can't figure out how to get dependencies for software installation, etc., but I'm working on it. Since beginning, I have delved a little into bash, and have been reading extensively, both online and in library books on Unix admin and various distros, though much is still Greek to me. I am at the point, after a few weeks, that I can navigate the filesystem (awkwardly) and do such monumental tasks as editing the .bashrc file with vim (also awkwardly). ;P Anyway, because my initial interest in GNU/linux was inspired by 'The Cathedral and The Bazaar' (which a friend, the sysadmin of AMNH, pointed me to) and lectures by Richard Stallman, the distro I really want to use is Debian, as it seems the closest to fsf and GNU (and, frankly, looking at the discussion boards, the best community). # End of intro Before I install, though, I have a few questions. Any advice would be most appreciated. 1) Which version to install? >From my reading of the mailing lists, it seems I might be better off installing sarge than woody. I've already dl'd the "debian-30r2-powerpc-binary-.iso"s ISOs, but explicit advice before I try them would be most appreciated. Keep in mind I'm a nuB++, UNIX and GNU/linux. If this helps, I'm planning on using typical net software (mozilla, email, ftp, telnet, etc), mp3 (???) and video stuff (mplayer?), some office software (mostly WP), definitely X, and MOL for mac graphics app (eg, Adobe Illustrator). * * If anyone can recommend GNU/linux graphic apps that compare with Adobe, please point me to them and I'll skip MOL. If not now, maybe as more users like myself switch to *nices :) 2) Which method of installation to use? I installed YDL with ISOs, as mentioned above, and it went rather smoothly. My default, as such, would be to install again using CDs. I have read a good deal about network installation of debian, and to be honest, I find it a bit intimidating, but if advised seriously to do so, I guess I can take the plunge and try it out *eek!*. I also read a little about jigdo, which debian seems to highly recommend, and I'd assume I could use it with YDL (if I can get it to install). Anyone recommend it personally? 3) Hardware recognition (and other potential install difficulties) I was reading another thread in the list from someone thinking about installing Debian on a Pbook, and one reply advised to get "someone else's XFree86 file" for device recognition. They didn't, though, explain how to get those files except from someone who uses your equipment, and since I'm the only person I know even trying to use GNU/linux (though many friends are curiously awaiting my success or failure), I don't have anyone I know to ask. I assume then, that I should ask here, so anyone who uses my machine (see intro) that can help out... please. 4) On the ftp site I'm using (debian.lcs.mit.edu), I also notice a 3.0r2.01 update iso. I apologize for the stupid question here, but, assuming this contains more recent updates to the woody distro, would I use it during the installation process (as disk#1?) or after installation, (or should I just ignore this iso altogether)? 5) I've subscribed to this list, but is there any way to get the emails in a digest format??? I get 100 emails min. a day already :( I guess that's about it, unless someone thinks of something else I should know/think about. Thanks much, Jon "The Supreme Fascist's plan is to make us enjoy our suffering. The sooner we die, the sooner we defy His plans." - Paul Erd�s
