Knoppix is a bootable linux distribution. It is based upon the Debian distribution.
Knoppix is an ideal solution for those who want to "show", "show off" or otherwise get a view on "linux".
Knoppix is not generally something one installs on the machine, but rather its an evaluation tool.
It is also used by admins to boot a system that might be crippled so that they can take action to repair a system.
There are many distributions of linux: Fedora, Debian, Suse, Mandrake, Ubunto, Gentoo,.............
They are all based upon a common kernel and most of the same applications. Each distribution manages certain settings a little differently. Further each distribution has certain biases towards functionality (network security, GUI, simplicity, efficiency, lean-ness).
Finally, these distributions vary in how they manage "packages" - which is the way that new applications and patches to old applications are managed. Ultimately they all accomodate the same net result.
D.E.R. Management - IT Project Management Consulting
yet, another words for thedaver's post... Knoppix is a linux liveCD in order to test linux without installing it in your hard drive (quite usefull for recovery process!). As Knoppix you could try Suse liveCD, Ubuntu LiveCD, Fedora LiveCD, etc.
man <command> - manuals for commands, when in doubt, RTFM.
pwd - prints the present working directory
cd [<location>] - changes directory to <location>, if no arguments passed, chanhes to your home directory.
ls [-a] [-l [h]] [<location>|<file>] - lists all files in <location>, lists all files matching the epression file. If -a is present shows all files, including dot files. If -l is present lists all details (including date modified, premissions, owner, size (if h is also present sizes will be in human readable form with a unit)).
less - lets you read text files and scroll through them
cat - Use with redirection or pipes to concatinate files, add to the end of a file or over write a file.
script - everything that is entered on standardard out (including echoing of standard in) into a file... very useful, especially when you want to remember how to do something in case it comes up again.
mkdir <location> - creates a new directory.
cp <source> <destination> - copies file <source> to the new location <destination>
mv <source> <destination> - moves the <source to the new location <destination
Paths of intrest:
/etc - configuration files for a lot of things
/etc/init.d - directory that hold symlinks to things that are started at boot time on all the run levels. If one of them crashes, you can typically restart it by going to this directory and re running it with "start" or "restart" as an argument.
/usr/local - where a lot of non-standard software is installed.
/root - root's home directory
/home - other users home directies
/bin, /usr/bin - executables for basic system commands are stored here (things like ls)
/sbin, /usr/sbin - root/adminstarors basic commands are stored here (things like adduser)
thanks for the mini dictionary. did a lot of searching and reading over the weekend and have decided to load up my spare laptop and give Linux a whirl.
Have you decided which distro do use? I have tried a few, Debian, CollegeLinux, Knoppix, Gentoo and Ubuntu. I am now installing Kubuntu which is the same and Ubuntu except instead of the Gnome desktop environment it uses KDE (which I think looks better). It is by far the easiest system that I have set up. I haven't tried the big guys like Red Hat, Fedora Core, etc., but Kubuntu is pretty good and I suggest it. HTH.
Ubuntu and Kubuntu are based on Debian, they claim to just release "timelier" versions (I know that probably isn't even a word ;-). I tried Debian and couldn't get X started (although that might be because I was using an old computer).
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