@slhck hehe ... don't need a real pro who knows the kernel inside and out, just someone who knows their stuff... (then again, maybe my opinion is wrong, after all, I may know a bit, but, I don't know the Windows kernel inside out)... Anyway...
I don't need to be Linux pro, but, I do want to learn it much better than I do now - I want to install and just have a play around in a VM... Which distribution is best? (And sorry for such a vague question)... e.g. When I have needed to do things in the past, I have used Ubuntu and then just about managed to get Webmin working - I really want to learn how to install software that isn't in a repo, basic compiling from source e.t.c. and just wondering what the best way to go about learning is?
And again, sorry - I know this a vague question - seen so many "which distribution should I learn" type questions... I just don't really know where to begin,.. I have seen Linux from scratch, which looks interesting and I would like to do one day, but, I don't need to know it on that level just yet - ... At the moment, I am thinking about Damn Small Linux...
Well, Ubuntu is easy because there's soooo much documentation online. Generally though, if you use Ubuntu, you can also use Debian, as it#s basted on it
@WilliamHilsum So if you really want to fiddle around, those are pretty okay for a start. The problem is that every distribution tends to do things differently, especially when it comes to configuration.
Some might use other places to change settings than others, or even a completely different architecture.
But generally, there's always been the Debian-based distributions which I've used and become very familiar with
@slhck The thing is, I know I don't have to, but, I ideally want to understand Linux a bit deeper than that - I already do some GUI linux support, but, when there are advanced problems such as the other day when the graphics card did a driver update, it crashed and went to console - I was completely clueless.... Went on IRC and someone gave me a bunch of commands to type to reset stuff... That is the sort of level I want to learn it on!
@WilliamHilsum basically, this is a no name PC given to me today, I know nothing about it...it has an IDE drive and when I opened it, all the cables were unplugged, especially the PSU cables and the wide data ones?
@WilliamHilsum Basically, any modern GNU/Linux ships with the same commands, so if mastering the Linux console is your primary concern, any Linux version would do. You can even choose a Ubuntu version, because chances are good that you'll find help online almost instantly
colors don't really matter - there are two types, one has 2 sockets, the other has 3... if you have one with two, ends do not matter - if you have one with three, generally 2 are very close, and the third is at the other end.... The one that is furthest away goes to the motherboard (there is a notch - it should only go in one way... mind you, this picture looks like it is without a notch), and, then (too long)
@studiohack Ok - this is easy enough, you should have two IDE cables, one with 3 sockets, and a second with either 1 or two... What you want to do is plug the opticals together, the furthest one as master, second as slave, then plug the hard drive as master in to its own. The smaller socket as @JourneymanGeek said will be floppy.
You may as well leave floppy unplugged - no one uses them...
You may have one IDE cable which has thinner strands... use that for the hard drive as it can sustain faster speeds.
@slhck cool... Ok, thanks... I am going to try with Ubuntu... The main thing is, I loved looking at HAproxy, but, I didn't have a clue on how to install (or administer) it... I just want to learn Linux... Downloading Ubuntu server now
"80-wire cables usually come with three differently colored connectors (blue, black, and gray for controller, master drive, and slave drive respectively"
As @JourneymanGeek said, I think Black is also primary as their is only one floppy drive socket and that is black.... However, there will be no damage if you just don't plug in the hard drive - just plug in optical and power it on, go in to BIOS and just see drive configuration... Like in my answer I gave recently, you should see something like this: (one second...
ideally you want hard drive to be listed as primary master and optical to be listed as secondary - order doesn't really matter.
@slhck No, please don't... I asked you! Interesting... I need to learn!... @Studiohack - hehe, you didn't... it is a chat room and we were not in private!
@JourneymanGeek I had so many here - I recently just chucked a load of old computer equipment... I have had so many connectors, cables and "things" in many boxes that have been untouched for years - even in bulk they are worth nothing.... I ripped off anything that looked gold first and one day I may try to melt them down/harvest the gold! ... knowing my luck, I would probably kill myself with the fumes from the chemicals :/
@SimonSheehan Just downloading Ubuntu Server DVD... If you have VNC, you can connect in to the VM - I am just going to try and do a minimal install and take a snapshot.
@studiohack I can tell you a horror story! :P ... Once at my secondary school, someone bent the pins of a keyboard and put it in so there were two in one socket - no idea how it was possible, but, there was a sizeable explosion inside the case!.... never been able to recreate it... I run many machines with the panels off!
