Finally got Mandrake Linux, now i need to learn the Basics

[Rowin Dincht]

Yo,

I just got Mandrake Linux 8.1 installed on my new pc, but I wanted to know before hand, how do I start the process of installing, untar'ing and such with it? In other words, where can I learn the basics for newbie linux?

[Gaenya]

For all your Linux Needs go to forums.high-on-linux.net, there you can have all the help you need.

Im not used to mandrake so i cant help you, with installing precompiled programs, but to untar and compile from source you do:
tar -xvzf file.tar.gz
then do
cd file_dir
./configure && make && make install

HTH

[jegHegy]

i recommend http://www.linuxdoc.org (more specifically, the "From DOS/Windows to Linux HOWTO" @ http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/DOS-Win-to-Linux-HOWTO.html)

nyaa

[DoktorSeven]

Yeah, reading lots of Linux beginner sites are good, there's a lot to learn but it is well worth the effort, if for no other reason than to escape Microsoft's evil grip

Anyway, most programs for Mandrake come as RPM files, which are precompiled binaries in a convenient one-file package. Mandrake should let you install them from a GUI file manager (like Konqueror in KDE, not sure what Gnome uses) by just clicking the file and entering your root password. I always do it the commandline way though, as root --
rpm -ivh packagename.rpm
or to upgrade an existing program
rpm -Uvh packagename.rpm

Untar/gz as Gaenya says above, but note you usually have to be root (use the "su" command to change to root) for 'make install' to work.

[zero0w]

Here are two guides you may want to start with:
http://www.linuxdot.org/nlm/
http://rute.sourceforge.net/

Of course check out the Linux Documentation Project and various Linux sites:
http://www.tldp.org/
http://www.linuxdailynews.net/

Forum:
http://www.linuxnewbie.org/