We are going to install some version ( redhat, ubuntu, fedora) on a computer
and start the learning process. We know nothing....so the basics are needed.
What is the simplest software to download for firewall and antivirus? Where
is the best info for setting up dual, triple boot systems (with or without
windows OP sytems)?
mc

mc wrote:
> We are going to install some version ( redhat, ubuntu, fedora) on a computer
> and start the learning process. We know nothing....so the basics are needed.
> What is the simplest software to download for firewall and antivirus? Where
> is the best info for setting up dual, triple boot systems (with or without
> windows OP sytems)?
> mc
>
>
Linux comes with IPtables, and that is the firewall. If you need one.

It doesn't to the best of my knowledge, catch viruses. There may be a
few Linux specific ones,. but I haven;t heard of any myself.

If you are behind a router on a private LAN, even IPtables will not be
necessary.

The NAT on the router will be set to deny outside access by default.

Ask around before settling on a distro. And state what your purpose is
and your general computer background is..the distros are all slightly
different and one may suit you better than another.

Asking first like this is a good sign;-). You will probably do well on
the software.

Good luck.

On Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:38:01 GMT, mc wrote:
> We are going to install some version ( redhat, ubuntu, fedora) on a computer
> and start the learning process.

Easy for the normal mom/pop email and some surfing only, ubuntu.
Downside, you need a fast connection to complete installation.

Close to windows navigation ease of use, kubuntu or some other
distribution like Mandriva or Suse using KDE desktop manager as default.

One stop type Control Center, Suse and Mandriva.

> We know nothing....so the basics are needed.
> What is the simplest software to download for firewall and antivirus?

Simple is when you know what you are doing. It is hard when you do not
know what you are doing. Only antivirus on linux is for filtering
malware for windows. Linux does not have the windows virus problems.
You will not be needing a defrager either.

> Where is the best info for setting up dual, triple boot systems
> (with or without windows OP sytems)?

Any of the top linux installs automagically setup dual boot for
windows/linux. Grug is getting to be the default boot loader.
My multiboot does, kubuntu, fedora, ubuntu, pclinuxos, and several
different releases of Mandriva.

If you like to experiment, want to have severs running, share files
with each other,.... I suggest a distribution which installs a
firewall by default. Mandriva does and you can configure it during install.

Want to see install Mandriva screen shots
http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect_se...andriva_2008.0

Do not let the article overwhelm you. It is giving instructions on
setting up just about everything you would not be needing for your
everyday usage.

You need to use http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search to see
what kind of support you can get from Usenet and what kind of things
you can search for based on which distribution you pick.

Thanks Natual Philosopher and Bit Twister for the starting information. I
like the idea of several boot options (much fun). Is there a good preference
or order to install different systems? I am assuming Grug is part of
linux, so are there any bios issues if we try playing with this on an older
computer (ie E-machine from 2000)?
We were also looking at the fire-starter firewall....has anyone used this?
Our big issue though may be that we are still using a 56 dial up modem, so
the future of dial up may need to be changed if updating is a large
download issue periodically.
We do like file sharing so being able to set up networking will be
desired....This is another issue since my current level of experience is a
simple crossover cable...
mc

On Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:07:21 GMT, mc wrote:
> Thanks Natual Philosopher and Bit Twister for the starting information. I
> like the idea of several boot options (much fun). Is there a good preference
> or order to install different systems?

I suggest picking grub for all installs. I always pick custom/manual
during partition phase of an install. After install, you can always
mount the "Production" install, copy the production stanza and paste
it into the current install's /boot/grub/menu.lst

You also copy current install stanza into Production's /boot/grub/menu.lst
Next boot of Production install will allow you to re-install
Production's grub loader values and have all installs as selections
for boot.


> We were also looking at the fire-starter firewall....has anyone used this?
> Our big issue though may be that we are still using a 56 dial up modem, so
> the future of dial up may need to be changed if updating is a large
> download issue periodically.

Oh, yuck. Unlike doze, you get updates almost daily depending on what
is loaded. Mandriva is going to suck because of the large download of
the large package database selections. Dial up for the butuns
installations is going to bite.

I recommend Suse or Mandriva to have a complete system after install.

Your dial up modem may be a problem. If it is a winmodem (software driven)
then you may have problems. If it is a hardware external modem
then linux will not have problems.

> (ie E-machine from 2000)

Sorry, no knowledge of that hardware. No idea if install will like
your video hardware.

> We do like file sharing so being able to set up networking will be
> desired....This is another issue since my current level of experience is a
> simple crossover cable...

Hey, that's my first network also. :-)
Mandriva has wizards for doze sharing.

With Mandriva can load both KDE and Gnome desktop managers to see
which one you like. Remember more packages installed = more updates

Go with Suse or Mandriva. You will want the Mandriva 3 cd or dvd if
you have a dvd reader.

If you cannot get to a high speed connection and a burner at work or
Public library or friend there is
http://cart.cheapbytes.com/cgi-bin/cart

If you look around on
http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php you can get live cds
which allow you to run linux from the cd without installing. They run slow
from cd with reduced features. They are a fair go/nogo method of
playing around.


http://shop.cheapbytes.com/cgi-bin/c...tribution=SuSE
0070011507 openSUSE 10.3 x86 3 CD-R Set $5.99

http://shop.cheapbytes.com/cgi-bin/c...va&id=SmMfU8Ht
0070011333 Mandriva Linux 2007 "free" x86 4 CD Set $8.99 +ship

mc wrote:
> Thanks Natual Philosopher and Bit Twister for the starting information. I
> like the idea of several boot options (much fun). Is there a good preference
> or order to install different systems? I am assuming Grug is part of
> linux, so are there any bios issues if we try playing with this on an older
> computer (ie E-machine from 2000)?
> We were also looking at the fire-starter firewall....has anyone used this?
> Our big issue though may be that we are still using a 56 dial up modem, so
> the future of dial up may need to be changed if updating is a large
> download issue periodically.

THAT will put you in trouble.

You need a broadband connection if possible.

> We do like file sharing so being able to set up networking will be
> desired....This is another issue since my current level of experience is a
> simple crossover cable...

Get broadband, a simple 4 port router with NAT, and install samba.

Instant file sharing to windows, and OS X macs...

> mc
>
>
>

In message <5vkj75F1n1gg2U3@mid.individual.net>
Hans-Peter Diettrich <DrDiettrich1@aol.com> wrote:

> Alan Adams wrote:

>> Broadband is usually 2Mit/sec. Wireless 802.11b will deliver 3MBit/sec
>> rral data rate (to a single computer), 802.11g and 802.11a will
>> deliver around 25MBit/sec, and 802.11n is reported to deliver around
>> 50MBit/sec, maybe morr.

> My 802.11g Fritz!Box delivers up to 59MBit/sec. Nonetheless my Internet
> downloads are limited to 120kByte/sec, because I choose a cheap
> 1000kBit/sec DSL connection (actual offers are 6000 up to 16000kBit/sec).

Sorry, I forgot this is an international group.

*In the UK*, most ADSL is 2MB, some are "up to 8MB" which are actually
automatically adjusted upwards and downwards between about 2 and 8, to
achieve a just unacceptable signal-to-noise ratio. (I'm being a bit
cynical here.)

It's referred to as ADSL Max.


--
Alan Adams, from Northamptonshire, England
alan.adams@orchard-way.freeserve.co.uk
http://www.nckc.org.uk/

Alan Adams wrote:
> In message <5vkj75F1n1gg2U3@mid.individual.net>
> Hans-Peter Diettrich <DrDiettrich1@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> Alan Adams wrote:
>
>>> Broadband is usually 2Mit/sec. Wireless 802.11b will deliver 3MBit/sec
>>> rral data rate (to a single computer), 802.11g and 802.11a will
>>> deliver around 25MBit/sec, and 802.11n is reported to deliver around
>>> 50MBit/sec, maybe morr.
>
>> My 802.11g Fritz!Box delivers up to 59MBit/sec. Nonetheless my Internet
>> downloads are limited to 120kByte/sec, because I choose a cheap
>> 1000kBit/sec DSL connection (actual offers are 6000 up to 16000kBit/sec).
>
> Sorry, I forgot this is an international group.
>
> *In the UK*, most ADSL is 2MB,

I would argue that most is in fact not.

People are these days mostly on a sub 2Mbps fixes, or Max.

some are "up to 8MB" which are actually
> automatically adjusted upwards and downwards between about 2 and 8, to
> achieve a just unacceptable signal-to-noise ratio. (I'm being a bit
> cynical here.)
>
> It's referred to as ADSL Max.
>
>

Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> writes:

> My multiboot does, kubuntu, fedora, ubuntu, pclinuxos, and several
> different releases of Mandriva.

About time to built your own Linux system, then?

On Wed, 23 Jan 2008 07:46:56 -0500, jayjwa wrote:
> Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> writes:
>
>> My multiboot does, kubuntu, fedora, ubuntu, pclinuxos, and several
>> different releases of Mandriva.
>
> About time to built your own Linux system, then?

Not really. I have gotten over building my own kernel awhile back.
Loaded the *buntus to see what the fuss was about.
fedora just to see about the ACL stuff.
pclinuxos to see if I would get a better video response time for Flightgear.