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How to Have a Pleasant Installation (for Debian Newbies)
- Jackiebrown
- Posts: 1246
- Joined: 2007-01-02 04:46
- Location: San Antonio, TX
Newbie question:
About the debate about apt-get vs aptitude - what about synaptic or kynaptic? Are those just graphical versions of the terminal package manager?
Also, I remember my friend telling me kynaptic was glitched (was telling him it was installing things but they actually weren't installed, all kinds of bad things like that) - is this still the case or outdated (this was about a year ago...and he likes to run unstable, so it might have just been a problem with the unstable version at the time)?
Same friend tells me that Linux has trouble with SATA drives. (how he knows this with his ancient POS comp I have no idea - I don't think they've ever made a motherboard that could handle his processor (400 MHz...i think AMD) at the same time as a SATA controller) Is this true or is he just full of it? - I do know that the 2.6 kernel introduced SATA support...but I'm so out of touch I have no idea when that was.
An answer to any of these would be very much appreciated. (and yes, I'm a Windows refugee)
About the debate about apt-get vs aptitude - what about synaptic or kynaptic? Are those just graphical versions of the terminal package manager?
Also, I remember my friend telling me kynaptic was glitched (was telling him it was installing things but they actually weren't installed, all kinds of bad things like that) - is this still the case or outdated (this was about a year ago...and he likes to run unstable, so it might have just been a problem with the unstable version at the time)?
Same friend tells me that Linux has trouble with SATA drives. (how he knows this with his ancient POS comp I have no idea - I don't think they've ever made a motherboard that could handle his processor (400 MHz...i think AMD) at the same time as a SATA controller) Is this true or is he just full of it? - I do know that the 2.6 kernel introduced SATA support...but I'm so out of touch I have no idea when that was.
An answer to any of these would be very much appreciated. (and yes, I'm a Windows refugee)
I'm not sure what you mean by "the terminal package manager", but assuming you're refering to apt-get, not really...they are front-ends to libapt, like apt-get.Rashkavar wrote:Newbie question:
About the debate about apt-get vs aptitude - what about synaptic or kynaptic? Are those just graphical versions of the terminal package manager?
Why...does anyone still use kynaptic?Rashkavar wrote:Also, I remember my friend telling me kynaptic was glitched (was telling him it was installing things but they actually weren't installed, all kinds of bad things like that) - is this still the case or outdated (this was about a year ago...and he likes to run unstable, so it might have just been a problem with the unstable version at the time)?
Linux 2.6.0 has "SATA support", but lacks support for several SATA controllers. If your friend was talking about Linux 2.6.20, I'm not aware of trouble with SATA drives, but if he meant typical GNU/Linux distros, such as Debian, he would have been quite right until sunday, when Debian 3.1 was still Debian stable.Rashkavar wrote:Same friend tells me that Linux has trouble with SATA drives. (how he knows this with his ancient POS comp I have no idea - I don't think they've ever made a motherboard that could handle his processor (400 MHz...i think AMD) at the same time as a SATA controller) Is this true or is he just full of it? - I do know that the 2.6 kernel introduced SATA support...but I'm so out of touch I have no idea when that was.
As I said, I'm a newbie - I know both aptitude and apt-get function in the terminal rather than presenting a GUI - I believe aptitude (or something similar) can present a user interface remeniscent of synaptic, but actually using it is a pain (at least to a noob like me).
I'm not really sure how libapt works, I guess I'll check up on that before I make myself sound like an even bigger idiot than I am.
Is this correct?
Also - you refer to a lack of support for several SATA controllers - how would I find out if it has support for my system in that regard?
And thanks for the help, chealer. Much appreciated.
I'm not really sure how libapt works, I guess I'll check up on that before I make myself sound like an even bigger idiot than I am.
I see...is it really that bad or is it just ignored/outdated?Why...does anyone still use kynaptic?
Attempted Translation: Debian will support SATA by the time I get a chance to install Linux (May - Busy with university exams atm).Linux 2.6.0 has "SATA support", but lacks support for several SATA controllers. If your friend was talking about Linux 2.6.20, I'm not aware of trouble with SATA drives, but if he meant typical GNU/Linux distros, such as Debian, he would have been quite right until sunday, when Debian 3.1 was still Debian stable.
Is this correct?
Also - you refer to a lack of support for several SATA controllers - how would I find out if it has support for my system in that regard?
And thanks for the help, chealer. Much appreciated.
I am pretty sure it is abandoned. Anyway, it never entered Debian, so I see no point in even trying it.Rashkavar wrote:I see...is it really that bad or is it just ignored/outdated?
Debian already supports SATA.Rashkavar wrote:Attempted Translation: Debian will support SATA by the time I get a chance to install Linux (May - Busy with university exams atm).
Is this correct?
Also - you refer to a lack of support for several SATA controllers - how would I find out if it has support for my system in that regard?
I was talking about lack of support for several SATA controllers by Linux 2.6.8, which is the Linux 2.6 version is Debian 3.1. But Debian 3.1 is no more Debian stable now, and the new stable version has support for more controllers, so I wouldn't worry about support for your controller.
Re: How to Have a Pleasant Installation (for Debian Newbies)
Another newbie question: how to do that? That is, how to "install the OS aruond" the old home directory? Doesn't it give you a fresh /home/usrname directory everytime you install the system, on this or that partition?rickh wrote: /home on a separate partition is a very good idea. One key advantage is that when you re-install (and newbies do it fairly often), you can leave the /home partition in place and just install the OS around it.
Only if you allow the partitioner to work automatically. If you use manual partitioning, you get to change or leave each existing partition.Doesn't it give you a fresh /home/usrname directory everytime you install the system, on this or that partition?
Debian-Lenny/Sid 32/64
Desktop: Generic Core 2 Duo, EVGA 680i, Nvidia
Laptop: Generic Intel SIS/AC97
Desktop: Generic Core 2 Duo, EVGA 680i, Nvidia
Laptop: Generic Intel SIS/AC97
Is it also possible to leave some other directory unchanged when you install the OS, say the /usr directory? What I am thinking is one can install third party softwares in this directory. When you reinstall the OS, you can leave that /usr directory there, and don't have to install those third party softwares again.rickh wrote: Only if you allow the partitioner to work automatically. If you use manual partitioning, you get to change or leave each existing partition.
- DeanLinkous
- Posts: 1570
- Joined: 2006-06-04 15:28
I'm not sure, but I don't think it would work to leave OS related directories such as /usr intact, since the new installation would be writing things there.Is it also possible to leave some other directory unchanged when you install the OS
Debian-Lenny/Sid 32/64
Desktop: Generic Core 2 Duo, EVGA 680i, Nvidia
Laptop: Generic Intel SIS/AC97
Desktop: Generic Core 2 Duo, EVGA 680i, Nvidia
Laptop: Generic Intel SIS/AC97
- bluesdog
- Posts: 2077
- Joined: 2006-02-01 09:02
- Location: Similkameen, British Columbia, Canada
- Been thanked: 1 time
I find synaptic is a handy, visual way of reviewing new packages, checking dependencies, and looking for applications for 'things I want to do'Rashkavar wrote:Newbie question:
About the debate about apt-get vs aptitude - what about synaptic or kynaptic? Are those just graphical versions of the terminal package manager?
apt-get is a quick way of installing one or a few particular packages.
aptitude is my preferred update/dist-upgrade method, because it handles dependencies very well
As in all things Linux, YMMV
Tips & Tricks
Something more to read while waiting
If you obviously have not read THIS, don't expect too much...
*winter bluesdog....*
Something more to read while waiting
If you obviously have not read THIS, don't expect too much...
*winter bluesdog....*
maybe /usr/local would be a good candidate for this.qingshan wrote: Is it also possible to leave some other directory unchanged when you install the OS, say the /usr directory? What I am thinking is one can install third party softwares in this directory. When you reinstall the OS, you can leave that /usr directory there, and don't have to install those third party softwares again.
garrincha wrote:There is one exceedingly good tip for newbie who wish to go straight into distro like Debian, providing that he/she is committed to doing a little bit of hard work: grab an iso image of LiveCD such as Knoppix and burn it to a CD or DVD, boot it from the CD/DVD drive. You could play around with a linux system without ever touching your HDD.
List of LiveCD:
http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php
This is how I started out, with a debian based distro Knoppix and once I got the hang of it I went straight to Etch/Testing debian distro.
Rick, I like your article, thanks alot.
garrincha, How do I know which one to pick out? I'm running etch right now. Is it the 700MB one? Do you have to boot these for them to work? And can I use it on a non-linux system - say my laptop?
Thanks,
Garrett
It all depend on each person's taste, as many distro fit different needs. For me personally I like Knoppix as it is not only a full fledged desktop program but also a useful tool for troubleshooting and security. It is 700MB yes, and is Debian -based, the other LiveCD that I use mainly as a desktop is Damn Small Linux (DSL) which is only 50MB but superfast especially on old hardware. Puppy Linux is also very lightweight and does similar job as DSL.Grit wrote: garrincha, How do I know which one to pick out? I'm running etch right now. Is it the 700MB one? Do you have to boot these for them to work? And can I use it on a non-linux system - say my laptop?
Thanks,
Garrett
Maurice Green on Usain Bolt's 9.58: "The Earth stopped for a second, and he went to Mars."