[KLUG Members] Command line only pc to learn unix

[Adam Tauno Williams]

>>I was thinking of getting one of the tired old pc's out of the office 
>>junkyard and setting it up with linux and using it as a command line only (no
>>GUI) machine for learning purposes.
>.....
>Using Red Hat on such a system will be just fine; please do the following
>during the install:
>1. At the very first prompt, type: linux text
>   This will invoke the text-based installer (instead of the graphical 
>   installer which will either break or run very slowly).
>2. When you are presented with the collection of configuration choices,
>   such as "Dialup Workstation". Reject ALL of them.

Yes,  with a 2.4.x kernel 8Mb is going to be ***TIGHT***.  Maybe you can
scavange another 8mb from that same boneyard.  Things will be much smoother. 
You especially don't want to swap with this machine,  given that I/O performance
is probably absurdly terrible.

Of course nothing is to stop you from grabbing an Redhat 6.2 CD, installing and
using that.  That would be my recommendation,  it will be happier that "recent"
version on a machine of this class.  As far as the command line goes nothing has
really changed.

>3. The only option you ought to check is "extra documentation". This will
>   give you lots of stuff to browse, read, study, absorb, puzzle over, etc.
>4. You'll end up with a VERY minimal install, but it will run ok. It will
>   be enough to run command, read man pages, and help you identfy whatever
>   you might want to install next. 
>5. Use the "man" command to read about the "rpm" command, like this:
>   man rpm
>   This will give you some specific information about what you wish to 
>   install next.
>Don't be too ambitious about what you install, web servers, news servers,

With a little more RAM you'll be amazing what this machine can do,  just don't
run an X-server on it.    I used to run piles of X apps ***remotely*** on a
486dx2 with 64Mb of RAM. 

>and graphics will bury this machine, but lots of other stuff will be just
>fine, and learning UNIX on a machine like this (cheaper than a pair of 
>bad sneakers!) is a great way to get started.

I think this is the best way to learn.  If you can get two machines swapping
e-mail via uucico over a RS-232 cable your really ready to be an admin. 
Everything else will seem like cake!