Re: [newbie] best way to find things out
On Monday 04 November 2002 02:57 am, Russell W. Behne wrote: Yesterday at 18:17, Tim Werner wrote: Someone posted a documentation question earlier and got a pretty good answer, but I'm still trying to figure out the best way to find things out. I guess I'm a little spoiled by MSDN. For instance, if I want to know about file permissions, it would be Really Neat if there were a tool I could run and enter file permissions into a search box, and get a list of matching pages. Try using this command: apropos permissions apropos will give you a list of man pages to read. Among several answers I got for the above command were these: access (2) - check user's permissions for a file chmod(1) - change file access permissions chmod(2) - change permissions of a file So if you want to read the man (manual) page for access just do: man access Also, note that there's 2 man pages listed for chmod. To read chmod's man page 2 do: man 2 chmod Also, to learn more about the man pages and apropos do: man man man apropos Also try: man which man whatis Now here's the bigest secret: Go to a bookstore and get a good book on basic Unix commands usage for the average user. One like ``Teach Yourself Unix In A Week'' by Taylor. (There's similar books just for linux.) Also, a good book on Linux system administration helps a lot, and the best books are published by O'Rielly, (We call then the `animal books' because they each feature an animal on the front cover.) I remember there used to be something called the Linux Documentation Project. I'm sure they must still be working on it, but even years ago there were more Howto's than you could shake a stick at. I kind of expected there to be a really cool downloadable manual by now. Maybe it's out there and I just haven't found it yet. Try looking in /usr/share/doc/ -- all the doc's for your install are there, and if they arn't then they're on your install disks, try installing the documentation. If you're using your browser to view the documentation, then the URL is: file:///usr/share/doc/ ^ Yup, that's 3 slashes following the word `file:'! [OT: In Netscape try these URLs for fun: about:mozilla about:plugins They're called `easter-eggs', go find them; there's more, although I can't remember the URLs for the others. Anyone know of any? ] I get the impression that the Mandrake people are holding out for some bucks, figuring people who won't pay for the OS might pay for the docs. That's fine if that's what they want to do, but there must be a mother lode of vanilla linux info out there somewhere. The stuff I downloaded from the Mandrake site was OK but a little disorganized and obviously incomplete. What? You downloaded your first attempt at Linux instead of buying it? Shame on you! :-) Actually, if it is too expensive for you then go to www.linuxcentral.com or www.cheapbytes and buy a 3-disk set for under $12. The Mandrake people aren't holding out on you, although I'd imagine they are hurting for cash just like everyone else, so if it won't break your budget try buying a distro from them once in a while. They'll show their appreciation by continuing to produce newer distros for us. I think the URL for the Linux Documentation Project is www.ldp.org, if not I'm sure a Google search will turn it up. Could someone maybe give a road map as to where the Good Documentation is, and how to get it installed on one's machine? Or could some of you give some of your own tips on how you look things up? It can't all be word of mouth. If the docs aren't installed do this. In your menu select these menu items: * - What to do? * administer your system * Add or remove programs That will start up rpmdrake, which is the easiest way to install remove software packages that I've ever seen, provided you actually have all 3 disks on hand. It can also be used to install/update from the Internet. [Eat yer heart out, Micro$loth!] You can also open a terminal to start rpmdrake, or if using the KDE desktop as I do, hold the Alt key and press F2, which will open a little window, enter the word `rpmdrake', then click on Run to start the program. But if you use programs like this frequently, (and are lazy like me,) just set up a new desktop icon to start /usr/X11R6/bin/DrakConf (which has rpmdrake and many other configuration utilities built right in.) There's many other ways of configuring different subsystems, but you'll learn them all in due time -- explore your file system. Gee, I really love Linux/Unix -- there's so many different ways for you to do something, unlike Micro$loth in which you're lucky if they even bother to give you just one way to do
[newbie] best way to find things out
Someone posted a documentation question earlier and got a pretty good answer, but I'm still trying to figure out the best way to find things out. I guess I'm a little spoiled by MSDN. For instance, if I want to know about file permissions, it would be Really Neat if there were a tool I could run and enter file permissions into a search box, and get a list of matching pages. I remember there used to be something called the Linux Documentation Project. I'm sure they must still be working on it, but even years ago there were more Howto's than you could shake a stick at. I kind of expected there to be a really cool downloadable manual by now. Maybe it's out there and I just haven't found it yet. I get the impression that the Mandrake people are holding out for some bucks, figuring people who won't pay for the OS might pay for the docs. That's fine if that's what they want to do, but there must be a mother lode of vanilla linux info out there somewhere. The stuff I downloaded from the Mandrake site was OK but a little disorganized and obviously incomplete. Could someone maybe give a road map as to where the Good Documentation is, and how to get it installed on one's machine? Or could some of you give some of your own tips on how you look things up? It can't all be word of mouth. - Introducing NetZero Long Distance 1st month Free! Sign up today at: www.netzerolongdistance.com Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] best way to find things out
Tim Werner wrote: Someone posted a documentation question earlier and got a pretty good answer, but I'm still trying to figure out the best way to find things out. I guess I'm a little spoiled by MSDN. For instance, if I want to know about file permissions, it would be Really Neat if there were a tool I could run and enter file permissions into a search box, and get a list of matching pages. I remember there used to be something called the Linux Documentation Project. I'm sure they must still be working on it, but even years ago there were more Howto's than you could shake a stick at. I kind of expected there to be a really cool downloadable manual by now. Maybe it's out there and I just haven't found it yet. I get the impression that the Mandrake people are holding out for some bucks, figuring people who won't pay for the OS might pay for the docs. That's fine if that's what they want to do, but there must be a mother lode of vanilla linux info out there somewhere. The stuff I downloaded from the Mandrake site was OK but a little disorganized and obviously incomplete. Could someone maybe give a road map as to where the Good Documentation is, and how to get it installed on one's machine? Or could some of you give some of your own tips on how you look things up? It can't all be word of mouth. go to: http://www.google.com/linux enter: file permissions which returns quite a few relevent hits. -- Alan Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] best way to find things out
Google Linux Documentation Project (with quotes)lots of entries On Sun, 2002-11-03 at 17:17, Tim Werner wrote: Someone posted a documentation question earlier and got a pretty good answer, but I'm still trying to figure out the best way to find things out. I guess I'm a little spoiled by MSDN. For instance, if I want to know about file permissions, it would be Really Neat if there were a tool I could run and enter file permissions into a search box, and get a list of matching pages. I remember there used to be something called the Linux Documentation Project. I'm sure they must still be working on it, but even years ago there were more Howto's than you could shake a stick at. I kind of expected there to be a really cool downloadable manual by now. Maybe it's out there and I just haven't found it yet. I get the impression that the Mandrake people are holding out for some bucks, figuring people who won't pay for the OS might pay for the docs. That's fine if that's what they want to do, but there must be a mother lode of vanilla linux info out there somewhere. The stuff I downloaded from the Mandrake site was OK but a little disorganized and obviously incomplete. Could someone maybe give a road map as to where the Good Documentation is, and how to get it installed on one's machine? Or could some of you give some of your own tips on how you look things up? It can't all be word of mouth. - Introducing NetZero Long Distance 1st month Free! Sign up today at: www.netzerolongdistance.com Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com -- Erik Linux User 288105 = Bill who? Micro what? Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
RE: [newbie] best way to find things out
You know, just as I was hitting the send button I thought of that myself. :-) Must admit http://www.tldp.org/ looks pretty good. I think I might buy the CD. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:newbie-owner;linux-mandrake.com]On Behalf Of Erik Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 6:41 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [newbie] best way to find things out Google Linux Documentation Project (with quotes)lots of entries - Introducing NetZero Long Distance 1st month Free! Sign up today at: www.netzerolongdistance.com Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
RE: [newbie] best way to find things out
I like this. Thanks. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:newbie-owner;linux-mandrake.com]On Behalf Of Alan Shoemaker Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 6:39 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [newbie] best way to find things out [...] http://www.google.com/linux [...] - Introducing NetZero Long Distance 1st month Free! Sign up today at: www.netzerolongdistance.com Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
