Re: Newbie wants it all and wants it now!

From: Clive Dove (chdove_at_rogers.com)
Date: 09/27/04 

Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 15:49:08 -0400

Q852913745 wrote:

>> The / partition can
>>be totally re-formatted and re-installed without having to format
>>the /home partititon and following the install the user accounts in
>>the /home tree will simply access the re-installed root tree (no
>>register to complicate things).
>>
>>What I do is to
>>back up the /home tree on a regular basis to cd disks.
>
> Hey, it looks like this ugly, unfathomable, overcomplicated,
> ridiculous mess
> of a system might not be so bad! ;-)
>
>>Linux users, like windows users, can stick to gui applications and
>>never stray off the desktop and for most non-techie users that is
>>quite adequate.
>
> Sounds good!
>
>>if you really want to have full use of any
>>system you have to be able to depart from the desktop and learn how to
>>work at lower levels.
>
> That sounds reasonable, I was under the impression that entering
> commands was part of linux day-to-day use. Things are definitely
> looking up!
>
>>Even in windows which I venture into rarely (usually to clean out
>>malicious code that accumulates while my son is using the system)
>
> Yes, debris seems to build up pretty quickly in windows, is linux
> immune to clutter, or does it just 'deal' with it more efficiently?

The linux tree is fully prescribed by the Linux Filesystem Heirarchy
Standard, which can be seen at this location:
http://www.pathname.com/fhs/

To read it in your browser, select "FHS 2.3 HTML" or you can read it in
PDF format by selecting "FHS 2.2 PDF" which will probably cause it to
open using xpdf or ghostview (gv). You can also get a version of
Acroreader for linux but I don't find it necessary as xpdf seems to do
the job quite nicely for me.

Having a standard means that when a rpm package is fetched and
installed, the package manager will assign the program's files in a
predictable manner and when you want to track a problem, you know where
to look.

I won't say that malicious code is not a problem because no operating
system is immune, but it is not a serious issue in linux. First, most
script kiddies don't know how to write for linux, second their code
will not have the necessary permissions in your system to do any real
damage. However, you should periodically use the Update icon to fetch
security and bugfix updates from a Mandrake mirror. Go here in the KDE
Menu:
KMenu -> System -> Configuration -> Configure your computer
(You will be asked for your root password)
Then choose the "Software Management" icon and then the "Updates" icon.

The first time you use it, it will ask you to pick a mirror, Choose one
that is at least in the same continent as you.
Then you will be able to periodically use it to install security
updates, bugfix updates and normal updates. The first time that you do
it you will probably find about 100 updates waiting for you.

AS this thread has become unduly long and as we have long since departed
our original topic, if you have any questions about using the Software
Management tool, please start a new thread with an appropriate title in
group alt.os.linux.mandrake

Disk fragmentation is also not an issue in linux. In fact, most of us
don't have a linux disk defrag program although I think that there is
one kicking around somewhere. It is just no worth the effort to find
it, fetch it and use it.

Clive

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