You don't need to worry about Virii. I have been told that the only known
virus for *nix came from an Anti Virus company looking to create a market
that didn't exist. As for defragmenters, they do exist, but there's not
nearly as much need for them as there is in Windows. Linux has it's own
separate swap space, unlike Windows, which swaps to a hard drive that
contains the file system. As for the installation and removal of programs,
in some respects it's as easy or easier than Windows, in other respects
(when you compile the source and install yourself) it's not nearly as easy.
RedHat Linux has the RPM (RedHat Package Manager) which can install and
uninstall "packaged" programs. Other "flavors" of Linux have similar
programs, AFAIK. However, most programs go in specific directories, not
scattered around. If you want to have a copy of a program in a specific
directory, you can create a symbolic link to that file to make it more
easily executable. This is similar to making a shortcut in Windows.
Then, there's the Graphical User Mode... that's entirely different about how
it handles things....Generally, you install programs from text mode. If it's
a GUI program, you would have to create "shortcut" on your GUI desktop for
it after installing from text mode.
----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Salts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, July 03, 1999 4:05 PM
Subject: Various
> Linux and Unix: When I've downloaded files for Linux, the directories from
> which I've gotten them from describe them as being in a Unix archive, or
> something like that. What is the relationship between Linux and Unix?
>
> System maintenance: Does Linux have anything like Windows for system
> maintenance? Like, for example, Windows has 'Disk Defragmenter', which I
> understand Linux doesn't need but does Linux need any kind of regular
> Windows-like maintenance program(s) to keem itself and computer in optimum
> running order?
>
> Messy file installations or not? When installing and uninstalling (I'm
> assuming that Linux has some sort of 'uninstall' for removing unwanted
> software?) programs for Linux to use or not to use, how does Linux put
> programs on the hard drive? Does it scatter the various program files
> helter-skelter like DOS/Windows does or does it install its programs in a
> more uniform manner that does not require much, if any, constant
> straightening up of files?
>
> Anti Virus programs? Is there any kind of anti-virus program(s) available
> for Linux? Or is Linux not troubled as much as the MS-Windows crowd is by
> the virus vandals?
>
>
> Richard
>
>
