[InterKnight]

Recently, one of my college professors offered to give me a copy of RedHat Linux 9. I have used Linux in the past in some previous college courses, and I really enjoyed using it. I want to learn more about it and computer programming in general. I accepted the offer and am now just waiting for Monday to come along. I am very excited!
I am kind of nervous about this endeavor, but more so I am excited. I have a Dell computer, and I know very little about Linux. Does the computer system matter when installing Linux because I know that Dell has some different configurations compared to some PCs. Will Linux be compatible with these configurations?
I have a lot of respect for those who use Linux because I know that in some instances it takes knowledge and tolerance. I am one who seeks to build knowledge, and I hope that this will help me in building knowledge in computer systems, which I am sure it will.
I was also wondering if there was a really good book that I could possibly purchase that could teach me what I need to know about everything concerning Linux? I know that no one book can do all of this, but is there any that would come close?
Thanks for reading this, and thanks in advance for any help and advice.

[lynch]

Originally Posted by InterKnight

Recently, one of my college professors offered to give me a copy of RedHat Linux 9. I have used Linux in the past in some previous college courses, and I really enjoyed using it. I want to learn more about it and computer programming in general. I accepted the offer and am now just waiting for Monday to come along. I am very excited!
I am kind of nervous about this endeavor, but more so I am excited. I have a Dell computer, and I know very little about Linux. Does the computer system matter when installing Linux because I know that Dell has some different configurations compared to some PCs. Will Linux be compatible with these configurations?

You should be fine. Dell installs Linux on thier workstations by request. And your hardware looks fine with the exception of your M$ modem. If you are on broadband using a NIC the internet should work ok.

I have a lot of respect for those who use Linux because I know that in some instances it takes knowledge and tolerance. I am one who seeks to build knowledge, and I hope that this will help me in building knowledge in computer systems, which I am sure it will.

It will. It did for me.

I was also wondering if there was a really good book that I could possibly purchase that could teach me what I need to know about everything concerning Linux? I know that no one book can do all of this, but is there any that would come close?
Thanks for reading this, and thanks in advance for any help and advice.

Running Linux is a good reference and Linux in a Nutshell, also. The Red Hat 9 Linux Bible is another.
Good luck
HTH
lynch

[saikee]

Just dive in, head first. That was how I started 4 months ago!

[Whiteskin]

Another amazing resource is the linux documentation project, at tldp.org

They have hundreds of HOW-TOs and other documents. Great source.

You'll find that learning linux is much simpler than it sounds, especially if you have the preserverance to actually go out and do it.

If you get frustrated with RPMs(which i have a feeling you might), remember that there are other ways of packagemanagment that come with other distros. RPM might be the most widespread of tools, but there are others that are simpler.