[mikepg]

I am planning on installing Linux on one of my computers. I see all kinds of distros out and I'm not sure which one to start with. I have access to a lot of different Distros but I need to know which one is the easiest to start with. I have a BSBA in MIS and am very familiar with all of Microsoft's products, but I feel the need to learn Linux as I have become frustrated and disgusted with MS. So, Anyhelp here would be greatly appreciated!

I've been reading a lof of magazines about Linux lately and am excited to start to learn about it. It seems like such a different world from windows and I need a good starthing place. I'm not sure what Kernels are, Klonnpix, Deabian, Etc. Is there a good site that is for beginners starting to use linux? Thanks a lot for any help that you can provide!

[horndude]

http://www.linux.org
http://www.tldp.org
http://www.lowfatlinux.com
http://www.linuxquestions.org


a kernel is the piece of software that makes the basic parts of your hardware work--->hard drives,ethernet,sound,video,keybrd,mouse, etc etc Windows has a kernel too, only in windows your stuck with what you get, you can have an infinite number of ones in linux, and you can make your own.Much of the actual work for peripherals is done by modules that work with the kernel to make your hardware work(drivers), but they are compiled to work together.

linux in its basic form is a kernel compiled and linked together with the GNU/GPL toolset which forms whats called a toolchain or basic OS, from there software is added so you can do things, almost all of this is written in the C language, its all open source and free

Basically, its an open source version of unix for the desktop PC in whatever architecture you use, x86,PPC, whatever, your not stuck with just intel/AMD, it will even run on an apple PC.It also has ALL the traits of unix, its multiuser, meaning more than one person can be logged in and use the same PC at the same time, and all the protections that come from that type of system are present.

that will give you a small start anyway

[mikepg]

Ok, so here is my question. I've inveseted a lot of monet latey in hardware. Here is what I want to do and then i'll tell you what hardware I have.

I want to have a main server (video, music, pics, and applications compatible with windows if possible) I have 4 cases with very good PSU's.

MSI KN8 Neo4 Platnium w/ Athlon 64bit 3200, (4) 512 PC3200Ram
MSI K7N Neo2 PLS P4 2.53, FSB 533, (1) PC3200
MSI K7N Neo2 PLS Platnium P4 2.6, FSB 400 (2) Pc3200
Asus A7V-333 AMD Athlon XP 2500, 512 PC 3200

ATI 9600 AIW AGP
ATI AIW X600 PCI Xpress
Sapphire 9600 Readeon PCI
Ati Radeon 9250 AGP

(2) WD 36.4 Raptor's SATA 10,000
(2) WD 76.6 GB Raptors sata 10,000
(3) WD 200GB IDE
(1) WD 160GB IDE
(2) WD 120GB IDE
(1) WD 80GB IDE

Now I guess i'll have 4 PC's and I'm not sure which I should make my Video/Music/Picture/File server. Any suggestions? I'm flexible with os's. I have 4 liscences for XP Pro, 3 Licenses for 2003 server and I guess whatever Linux is available.

I want to be able to save all my data to the server and the PC I'm currently working on (so it is saved in 2 locations. I know how to save My Documents to a network drive and sync them. Is it possible to do that witha Linux server?

[m3trj]

What you're looking for is Samba, a file and print server. You can run Samba in any Linux distro. It comes preinstalled in some distros.