The Ubuntu 11.x Linux thread

[Darren M]

So, I may be getting a job where Linux is used as much as Windows. I know Windows, even server, quite well but I don't know Unix/Linux to save my life. I have Ubuntu running in an Oracle VM (super easy setup BTW) and have done a few things so far. I cut my teeth on DOS and have had my MCSE years ago. So, I know I can figure this OS out, I just need some folks who I can glean some edumacation from. Anyone here willing and able to help? My first question is, other than surfing the internet, What good is Ubuntu? Why use it and for what reason? (I need this answer so I know when to fire up my VM and force myself to use it.)

ANY help is greatly appreciated and will earn you beer points. First one to 1000 BPs wins 1 Keystone.

[Tx Redneck]

Don't limit yourself to just Ubuntu. Also checkout openSUSE. It's less restrictive than Ubuntu and has at least as good of support base, if not better.

http://www.opensuse.org/en/

Tuts for openSUSE. http://itsyourpc.org/tutorials.html

Sent from my iPhail eleventybillion

[Darren M]

So, and yes, this is as basic as it gets......
As I understand it, Linux is an OS based on the GNU project. (I'm moderately familiar w/ GNU. It was revolutionary when it first came out.) And, each of the Linux iterations, Red Hat, Oracle Linux, Ubuntu, etc. are all just Kernel + add ons relative to their respective compilers? (As a Microsoft dork, this is very odd to me, sorry for such a basic question.)

Can you elaborate on why one compiler would be better than the other? Also, why not just go full on Unix? (Other than pricing, I get that.)

[Viper]

Good read http://www.techradar.com/news/softwa...articleContent

My personal server favorite is CentOS and for Desktop PC I prefer Fedora Core.

[War Machine]

Speaking of linux, I cant seem to get itunes to work with wine. I wanna be able to back up my iphone and update. Any ideas?

[roliath]

Speaking of linux, I cant seem to get itunes to work with wine. I wanna be able to back up my iphone and update. Any ideas?

run itunes under wine.

I'm running ubuntu at work, and debian at home.

[War Machine]

run itunes under wine.

I'm running ubuntu at work, and debian at home.

I can't seem to get it to work with wine. It wont fully open

[roliath]

I can't seem to get it to work with wine. It wont fully open

I'll try later on my mint vm. Don't want to install wine on my ubuntu install.

[goofygrin]

I converted my brother in law to ubuntu a few years ago (he's more technical than most). He's now an evangelist.

For him, the benefits are:
- less crashing
- faster performance on older hardware
- no virus/spyware issues

Now, he's got some complaints:
- flash is sketchy
- gaming is weak
- Netflix

To be honest... try not running it in a VM. Try running it on bare metal as your only OS (dual boot) to immerse yourself.

I'd figure out what flavor the job uses because they are all different... especially on the administration/update/user control side.

[Darren M]

Great read and suggestions. Thanks! I've tried to get Ubuntu running on an older Dell machine but the freak'n video card isn't supported so I gave up and am just running in VM. (New video card sitting on my desk for a month...... :/) Great idea though. I'll have to crack that machine open and fiddle w/ it. Also, good call on the "what my job uses". I hadn't really realized the Linux environments were so very different. Time to play with Oracle's Server version I guess. At least it's free.

[goofygrin]

well the nice thing is that once you *know* one, the differences are subtle (and infuriating).

Then you get an mac with OSX and those bastards really f'ed with things.

[majorownage]

Ubuntu is nice...I'm fixing to redo my laptop with full disc encryption.

best command ever:

sudo apt-get install [fill in the blank]

The synaptic package manager is great.

[Marklar]

I once thought I knew what I was doing with Linux by running Ubuntu on my PC. I've since moved to Arch Linux. It's advanced enough to make you actually learn Linux in order to use it while still being relatively easy to use. Now it's pretty much the only distribution I like other than Fedora. It's my primary operating system unless I'm gaming.

The main thing I like about Arch is it's on a rolling release model. There's not really a version number with Arch Linux. You can get a fully upgraded system at anytime through the package manager. I try and do it once a week.