newbie

[spooooky]

you probaby have heard this question a million times but i'm starting out and i wondered what OS would be best to start with, between FreeBSD or redhat linux?

[KokoroNoKamae]

I don't know about anybody else, but I am learning Red Hat first. I have a lot more information about Linux in the way of tutorials and books (stolen from roommates).

The For Dummies series of books will get you a place to start. The Red Hat version even includes a free copy. Laugh if you want.....

[tampabay420]

I personally like FreeBSD a bit better?
Although i also boot mandrake (linux) sometimes as well...

Here are some BSD Links:
FreeBSD.org: http://www.freebsd.org
FreeBSD Manual: http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi
FreeBSD Handbook: http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO...ooks/handbook/
PicoBSD: http://people.freebsd.org/~picobsd/picobsd.html (it’s kinda neat, fits on a signle floppy)

[iNViCTuS]

You are starting out with what, OS's all together or *nix?

I personally like freebsd better, but if you are familiar with Windows, linux would probably be a little easier to understand at first. And there are more resources out on the Internet to help with linux than freebsd.

[Zen03]

I am starting to learn Red Hat Linux and I can fully recommend this book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...704288-8947304

The Red Hat Linux 8 Bible is an excellant book, it covers eveything and assumes no prior knowledge. Oh and comes with a free version of Red Hat 8 .

Hope this helps as it has been recommended by everyone I have asked.

[silentstalker]

I agree. If I were you, I would start with Red Hat and read up on it. It's a fairly simple Linux distro, and when I was done I'd go with trusty Slackware. It's more complex, but after Red Hat it shouldn't be too hard Good luck. You can find the red hat site at http://www.redhat.com


Regards,
Silentstalker

[melakii]

I take it you have a computer with Windows on it now or you wouldn't be asking which *nix to start out with. My suggestion is to learn Windows or whatever your current OS is. Then once you have mastered it move on to *nix. Learning how your current OS works will help you in learning a new one. Oh and if you are deadset on learning *nix I suggest using Mandrake. It is easy to install and will help you to learn basic commands and when you get familiar with it, it will help you whenever you switch to Slackware or the like.

[spooooky]

I've mostly been using windows, I have been shown a small amount of linux at my friends house (i believe it was SUSE). I looked at some of the differant linux OS today, slackware looked interesting but looking at some of the posts i have seen it appears to be somewhat advanced. I'm still thinking about Freebsd, but i'm thinking i might go for linux, atleast for now. Thanks for your help, if you have anymore helpful links post em, i can use all the help i can get

oh yeah and about windows, i've have been using it for a very long time, probably for about 5 - 6 years, so i got windows down good. I have done alot of networks so i know somewhat of windows security.

[sweet_angel]

i wondered what OS would be best to start with, between FreeBSD or redhat linux?

If you never try open sofware before..maybe you should try red hat linux first, after that you can try *nix.If you like challenge (like me... ) try any linux distro you want first. And then you will know what kind of Linux you want to use as your linux distro.And then stick with it...learning,studying,compile package,add your own personal needs, make your own rules for your Linux distro(mmm.....like your firewall ,etc and the best thing is..free...) . Maybe you like linux..or maybe you don't like Linux..and then you can move on to *nix.

hehehe someone neg me because my opinion

Linux is all what you know, learn some more aussie chick

grow up man.......

[mrleachy]

it all depends on how much youre willing to pay for a good distro, i knwo you can get some for free, but if the system you have is relatively old redhat may run a little sluggish in GUI mode (thats what ive experienced anyway), for not mcuh on Ebay you could buy a used SGI workstation if you dont mind having 2 systems which would have IRIx (SGI's version of UNIX) installed on it, if youre goin to be putting linux on the same box as your windows id have it on a seperate drive also...


as far as distros go, redhat is the most widely supported as far as books are concerned, i have touched on the compact version of slackware called zipslack and wasn't really pleased with it, but redhat is a good learning tool as you still have a GUI to back you up if you get lost with shell prompts