Start a linux server

[McDe]

I have a simple network of three computer, I want to change one of them to run linux and use as websever. The pc i want to install linux has window Me and XP at the moment. I have never used linux before, I don't know where to begin this process. I have a redhat ready to install. I need some help please!!
ie i was wondering if I need to nuke my system before installing the redhat or what else can I do. any help will be appriciated.

 

[ironthorn]

The first step I would suggest if you have room is to
install a second hard drive. Makes the installation much
simpler. RH9 might be better about it but previous versions
of Linux needed to be under a certain cylinder to boot
properly. That usually somewhere in the first 5 gigs if
I remember correctly.

You will want certain configuration information before
installing. For example if you are on DSL or Cable modem
and you connect directly from the machine and not a
router you'll want some of your connection information. If you
are using this machine in a home network you will want to
save off your IP and have it handy for your install.

The new RedHat install is I feel easier to run than most
windows installations I have been through. Your biggest
risk is if you have brand new out of the box technology
there might not be a driver for a soundcard or video card
or something like that.

Pop your CD in. It will automatically partition for you
if you want. I always use Disk Druid. If you do, you need
at a minium a swap partition and a data partition. Most
people also keep a boot partition (usually 100 megs)
and many keep the home dir on a seperate paritition.

Some tips. ALWAYS test your X configuration. By default
it will do this now I belive. Norton's AV does not like
Linux. The first time you boot into windows after installing
Linux it will come up and tell you the boot sector has
been modified and ask you if you want to correct this.
DO NOT choose correct. It will wipe out your Linux boot
section and possibly corrupt your windows boot sector as
well. It can be fixed with a fdisk /mbr but it's easier
not to deal with the problem in the first place.
Choose a root password you can remember but that is
DIFFERENT from your user account. DO create a user account.
Never log in as root. Instead use SU - from the command
line or when accessing certain functions from the GUI
just enter the password there. Part of the install will
ask you to set the root password. It also gives you the
opportunity to create more account. If you forget or
have already installed Redhat you can add users from
the GUI
(in RH8 with KDE it was Click on the Red hat, got to system
settings select users and groups.) From the command line
use adduser -m someusername Then use the command passwd
to give the account an initial password.

I suggest you try out both KDE and Gnome. Both have merits
and annoyances. Redhat is very pro-Gnome. I personally
prefer KDE greatly. You'll find many folks are passionate
about which window manager they like. To try them out
it is easiest when you are logging in.

I hope this helps.

 

[RhythmAce]

Linux will be glad to nuke Windows for ya. The later versions of RedHat starting with 7.3 and up, are pretty good at detecting your hardware and walking you through the install. When it comes to the part about partitioning your drive, I'd let disk druid do it automatically as ironthorn suggests. Disk Druid will ask you if you want to just use the available space or "nuke" Windows. (love it) If you have logical drives, you can tell disk druid which ones to leave alone if you want to save Windows and make this a dual boot system. If you choose to go the dual boot route, you can choose from lilo or grub as your bootloaders. Have the loader installed on the master boot record (MBR). When your system boots it will display a menu of the operating systems to choose from. You can also choose a default just incase nobody's around when you boot the thing remotely. In either case, let disk druid set the new partitions. The next step is like Windows, you can pick what packages you want installed. The last section is setting up you network card. But if you already have a network setup, you already know what to do. Good Luck.