Shifting To Linux Made Easy

[ami1 237]

This thread is for people who have been wanting or trying to shift to Linux - but needed advice on the best option.

The easiest way to shift to linux is to start with a dual boot system - booting windows 7/XP and a good Linux distribution and configuring both the operating systems to be identical in terms of everything - from applications to preferences, bookmarks cookies - everything. This will ensure that you get the same experience whether you boot into linux or windows at any time.

I recommend using PC Linux OS 2010 (twitter) as its one of the only distributions which is newbie friendly but at the same time very powerful and always updated to the latest apps and is also a rolling release so you don't need to re-install every 1 year or so like Ubuntu or Fedora as entire system keeps getting updated slowly over time.

I'll explain the configuration in the later part of the post. First I am giving below some screenshots to convince you that my Win7 and PCL10 systems behave identically with the same browser profiles, same lotus notes (or outlook if you prefer) profiles, same my documents/music etc folder and nearly identical applications.

OK, here's my win7 & pcl10 desktops side by side:

Lets look at the applications in pcl first and see how the shared profiles with win7 imply the same browser/lotus/etc experience:

Browsers - firefox on pcl & win7 (with same profile), chrome & Lotus Notes (can only get screenshot of splashscreen for some reason)

Media Players:

3D desktop effects, Cover Flip alt-tab like Mac OS X & real transparency (3d effects are extremely fast on linux unlike win7. transparency is real, not alpha blending so if you are working in a translucent shell you will keep seeing a moving video beneath. In alpha blending, the background screenshot is just dimmed and displayed to give an illusion of transparency - you won't even see you desktop icons beneath let alone video etc.)

Some more apps: Google Earth, Google Desktop, Picassa, VMWare/VirtualBox, Media Editing Suites etc.

Now lets see how easy it is configure things or to install apps - linux has repositories which have all the applications in the universe. You don't need to search on the internet, download and install. Just click/select the apps in the repo client like Synaptic and click apply. Some repos will be already configured while others like google etc. you can add anytime.

Start menu options - classic or searchable like win7:

File manager has not just Tabs but also splittable views, Wifi & EVDO/3G modem support, Huge 3d effects options

OK, end of screenshot fiesta as post attachment limit reached. There are over 20,000 apps in the 2 repos i have selected so there's no shortage of apps. In fact its the opposite - it takes time to find out the good ones.

You can download CD iso from the pcl site and try it without installing as its a live cd. If you like it you can then install by clicking on the install icon on the desktop. The Live CD will have default root/guest password mentioned on the wallpaper itself as its a read only and doesn't have security issues.

Install is straightforward with only 2 things you need to do:

1. Select a partition where you want to install PCL. If you have a single partition on you hard disk (only C:) then check that you have at least 10-15 GB free for PCL and defrag your disk before booting pcl livecd. Then select option for PCL to shrink you windows partition and create a new partition for pcl. Alternatively, you can manually shrink you partition either in windows 7 (not in XP) or using ntfsresize command in linux or gparted. There's no need to give separate home usr etc partition just one partition for / and if you have less than 2GB give 1GB for swap space else say no swap.

2. After install it'll come to the boot manager screen (GRUB) Keep only the windows and the top linux option which you can rename to PC Linux or whatever. The other options are for system recovery etc and aren't needed as you can just give the kernel boot options during boot to achieve the same things.

Once its installed use your reliance/tata modem or any other modem/wifi/lan to get on internet. Ask me for queries on proxy or route if it doesn't do something automatically or if older reliance/tata 1x modems don't get configured.

To connect through these modems you need to run kppp from internet menu and then select new connection. Device is /dev/ttyUSB0 number to dial is obviously #777 login/pass is your number etc. just give any name for connection and device. Multiple devices and multiple operators are supported in kppp very easily.

You can also install to a USB pendrive/hard disk as well as use a pendrive instead of liveCD. Ask if you want to know how to do the latter. Former can be done by just inserting usb pendrive before installation and selecting that device for install (usually it'll be /dev/sdb.. while sda will be you hdd. CONFIRM by seeing the size etc before installing on wrong disk/partition any blowing your data away. specially if you have more than 1 HDD - then sdb will be your second drive while sdc would be the pendrive)

If you have any problems/confusion ask here, also if you want any linux iso or s/w ask. Lotus Notes is a tough cookie as IBM has not made their installer in the usual linux way but with some binary blobs. Not many people use it so I am not giving details but if someone wants I'll explain as well as upload the LN 8.5 Beta RPMs and some libs required to some site. I am forced to use because we use it in office. While the openoffice version is quite good for 99% of word/excel/powerpoint/project/access work, ifyou need you can install office 2003 or XP (2007/20010 still have some issues ) with wine and it'll work perfectly.

I've gone overboard with screen shots as i had a few hours to kill. Also unless people are able to see how good some linux systems work they are not motivated enough to try. So...

For more details you can go to PCL forum which is very helpful. I'll explain sharing profiles/my documents/mail storage etc. in later posts once some one installs or needs the info.

[faizone 15]

Ami1.. great start.. +1 to u... switching to linux has been a taboo topic for many people running windows..

the truth is that linux is far more manageable and configurable compared to windows..

i am a staunch evangelist of Ubuntu but dont discourage other flavors either.. From my experience for desktop applications mandrake distributions like PCLinux/Mandriva and debian releases like Ubuntu stand good.

But when it comes to server deployments, i think RHEL stands out and the thinclient world is ruled by Novell's Suse..

Guys take a bold step into the world of linux.. u will never be bored again sittin in front of ur computer..

Edited May 15, 2010 by faizone

[::Hitesh:: 1,763]

I am Linux fan from red hat 6, still use Live DVD of few distro

but still not able to use it fully,

can some one tell me where can i get Sony Vegas like software on Linux,, this is only one thing holds me from using Linux.

[faizone 15]

Hitesh bhai.. Ubuntu has a whole OS flavor revolving around your requirement.. Its called Ubuntu Studio edition..

Check it out here and the best part its free!

Cheers!!

Edited May 15, 2010 by faizone

[::Hitesh:: 1,763]

will be trying that out soon

[faizone 15]

@Ami1... got two questions for u on PCL.

- are the video codecs for divx, etc available in the initial iso itself or do we need to connect to the repository for them

- wat about compatibility with Nvidia video cards. cuz on ubuntu we need to get the driver from the repository to go past the 800x600 limitation.

i need to know this as pcl looks easier for a computer newbie. besides the target computer here has very limited internet access.

its for a kid in our family and he's about 6 years old.. we just want to keep him away from Windows

Cheers!!

Edited May 15, 2010 by faizone

[ami1 237]

@faizone:

Yes, nvidia cards will work out of the box, even the latest ones or the old ones - at native resolutions. My home PC has nvidia (old - 6600 or something).

Most codecs are out of the box, unlike other distros, but I usually install the additional codecs package from the repository soon after install so i am not sure which ones are there and which ones aren't.

Will check in VMware with a default CD/install and tell you. Give me a link to some small divx file if you want. (I am asking because video files are very messed up with codecs and containers so you can't make out from the extension itself)

Internet is a little bit of a necessity since even open office is downloaded and installed later as well as most apps that one uses; so connecting to repo for a few hundred MB at least is required. I can mail you a DVD with the updated repo rpms if you want and you can add the dvd to synaptic and install those apps. After you've installed everything, you can generate a new live DVD which you can send to someone so that when they install it they get everything that you had.

@hitesh:

Try kdenlive. (also checkout Blender, Cinelerra or Lives) see if this link helps. Ubuntu studio is also a good option if you focus on media editing.

Live DVD/CD are usually slow and will not give a good experience except for a first look. Once you install it to hard disk its much better. While Ubuntu/Fedora/SuSe/Mandriva are good options they all have a host of minor issues which throw off users while I have found PCL to address those issues while still appealing to experts. Also the availability of apps in pcl repos is much better and quicker so you never need to surf around looking for rpms or debs because you need some arcane app.

Incidentally, PCL started off as based on mandriva but is no longer so. I have tried all distros for quite some time but always fall back to pcl for an actual practically use-able experience where i don't have to reboot to windows for anything (except for our SAP client which doesn't work properly yet).

In all fairness, MS has improved win7 a lot (maybe all the competition from Mac/Linux/Google) and i no longer detest booting to windows like in XP or earlier era ! It doesn't degrade or have software fatigue issues every 3-6 months like earlier.

[faizone 15]

thanks Ami1..

Nvidia works outa the box!! wonderful..

Virtual repository.. ouch.!! donno how i missed that idea. This machine is not connected to the net but my machine is.. so a crossover cable is wat is required here.. i will be putting the machine in peer with mine while my machine will act as the rpm repository.. there is a setting somewhere to change the default repository location.. have done it on RHEL.. will look it up for PCL.. no problem at all!!

Now that we have the repository problem resolved.. dont think codec download would be a problem at all..

Thanks n Cheers!!

Edited May 15, 2010 by faizone

[ami1 237]

No need to edit text/config files (/etc/apt/sources.list if you really want to do it manually)

Just use synaptic > options > repositories and add the path (instead of http://xyz file://xyz ) in the first field of the box as one repo.

The xyz folder (local or smb/nfs mounted over your crossover) must have subfolders: 'pclinuxos/2010/RPMS.local/' inside which you put the rpms (use any names instead of '.local' and put same name in the last field of synaptic repo box)

the 'pclinuxos/2010' is put in the second field.

Even simpler just copy rpms in /var/cache/apt/archives/ Then remember to select only those packages in synaptic which you have copied (for any extra packages it will start connecting to the net - but, you can click cancel > ignore packages not downloaded > ok and it'll install the local ones only.)

Edited May 15, 2010 by ami1

[faizone 15]

cool Ami1.. u r the man!!!

[ami1 237]

OR once you have a crossoever cable, just goto control centre > internet connection sharing on your internet PC and you'll get net on the other one. U can use wifi instead of crossoever if its there on both PCs.

[faizone 15]

oh Amitabh ji.. i manage a datacenter.. can take care of that.. the kid's PC need not have net access.. thats why no direct connection to the public repository

Cheers!!

Edited May 15, 2010 by faizone

[ami1 237]

oh Amitabh ji.. i manage a datacenter.. can take care of that.. the kid's PC need not have net access.. thats why no direct connection to the public repository

Cheers!!

OK got it ! I was thinking why you aren't connecting it to the net instead of all this.

[faizone 15]

All izzz wellll!!!

[Honest 836]

@ami1

+1 to you for the good work. Keep it up buddy.

[hiteshkkk1 327]

@amitabh... very good work.. +1 from me too..

BTW, i am very new to linux (except using it on my mobile viz. android)...

I was about to download PCL but which one do i download??

The site says..

PCLinuxOS is available featuring various desktop interfaces depending on your needs.

KDE Desktop

Gnome Desktop

Gnome ZenMini Desktop

LXDE Desktop

XFCE Desktop

Enlightenment Desktop

Pls help me out.. would like to try..

[ami1 237]

^^ Download KDE iso.

That is the default, the rest are for special needs.

[faizone 15]

@Amitabh.. gnome is any day better and stable.. Gnome has gone far ahead of KDE in terms of stability and reliability.

[ami1 237]

@Amitabh.. gnome is any day better and stable.. Gnome has gone far ahead of KDE in terms of stability and reliability.

I was thinking while replying that I might start a flamewar as gnome vs kde is an age old debate !

In my opinion, for an expert user who can drop to the command line/shell for any task or if you are mainly doing servers, gnome is OK or in fact any DE/WM is ok - from fluxbox to E17.

But for desktop users, specially if they are new to linux, KDE 4 is any day better.

I bet if you try KDE 4 in PCLinux for a few days you'll forget about gnome. Maybe you had a bad experience with the initial KDE 4 implementations around a year back which were quite buggy in SuSe/Mandriva/Fedora/KUbuntu ?

I used gnome for over 5 years and never liked KDE 3, but after KDE 4 i found that the lack of customization options in gnome and the huge no of features on KDE 4 including its Plasma desktop, Compositing,widgets etc. are no longer present in gnome. Plus for new users KDE 4 can behave quite like Win 7 and be more welcoming & attractive.

I am waiting to try Gnome 3 with its new gnome-shell & compositing due in September '10 - maybe that'll take me back to gnome. In fact for gnome users i would recommend Ubuntu or Fedora.

Edited May 17, 2010 by ami1

[faizone 15]

You are right amitabh.. Gnome Vs KDE is a very sensitive topic in the linux world. Visit any unix related forum and there would be a thread where people would be ready to kill each other over this debate. Now, we here at rimweb are totally against flaming. So lets drop this topic right here. Gnome works well for someone while KDE does well for someone else. But I will certainly play around with KDE as its been a long time since I did so. After all, being open to learning is part and parcel of the IT heartbeat!!

As for my Linux journey its predominantly been Ubuntu.. Started with Feisty Fawn in 2007 > then Hardy Heron

now running two machines, one with Jaunty Jackalope and the other with Karmic Koala.

Waiting for the Maverick Meerkat due this October. Maybe its because I have used Ubuntu as my main course I have an attachment to Gnome. Even the RHEL i use at the datacenter is bent on Gnome

Cheers!!

Edited May 18, 2010 by faizone

[hiteshkkk1 327]

Finally installed PCLOS KDE on my Dell Latitude D630...

Trying to get used to it...

I have some sites which need IE. Is there any solution for the same??

Apart from that, I have some applications which need to be run on windows. I will try it on wine & post my comments.

In the mean time, any help on the same will be appreciated.

Apps on windows are :-

1. I have a voice logger which is installed in my office. Though the USB hardware for the same is on other pc running XP, i have one client running on my Windows 7 pc. Can that client be run on PCL or wine?? It accesses data from server over lan. I am not sure of ports. Also, the client is EXE based.

2. I am a stock broker so many of u wud be knowing ODIN which is used for trading. Can it be run on PCL??

3. Office 2010 (will try in wine)

Thanks in advance..

[ami1 237]

Most sites should work in latest Firefox OR Chrome (chromium) - can be installed from repos. Just click the software manager, then click update or reload and then search for chromium.

If you still need IE install IE 6 or 7 in Wine - you can read on winehq.org. If wine is not installed just use above method to install wine and also wine doors (for some configuration of wine or specific apps) You'll find lots on stuff on running IE in wine (though IE 8 would give some problems)

Office 2010 doesn't work for me, but 2007 can be installed using winetricks.sh (search on google for download and howto)

If you can do with Office 2003 then it can be installed in normal wine w/o issues. 2007 needs you to run winetricks and install a few libs before it'll run.

Voice logger exe client should run in wine. just type: wine filename.exe in a shell or use the wine file manager to double click on it and see. Please note that apps accessing hardware on very low levels may not work or require tweaks so your usb hardware server may not work (or you may need to make shortcuts to .wine folder after finding out USB IDs etc.) Also just after installing wine you may need to type: wineserver or service wine start or go into control center > system services and click on start against wine or just reboot your machine.

I haven't used ODIN but you can try to install it in wine and see. give me the url to its website and i'll try to see.

I would also recommend installing EXT2/3 driver in windows on dual boot machine, specifically the IFS Drives app (http://www.fs-driver.org) which will allow you to use your linux partition like any other fat32/ntfs partition. Its very useful if you are in windows and need to access some files in linux. I forgot to mention it in earlier posts.

[hiteshkkk1 327]

Most sites should work in latest Firefox OR Chrome (chromium) - can be installed from repos. Just click the software manager, then click update or reload and then search for chromium.

If you still need IE install IE 6 or 7 in Wine - you can read on winehq.org. If wine is not installed just use above method to install wine and also wine doors (for some configuration of wine or specific apps) You'll find lots on stuff on running IE in wine (though IE 8 would give some problems)

Office 2010 doesn't work for me, but 2007 can be installed using winetricks.sh (search on google for download and howto)

If you can do with Office 2003 then it can be installed in normal wine w/o issues. 2007 needs you to run winetricks and install a few libs before it'll run.

Voice logger exe client should run in wine. just type: wine filename.exe in a shell or use the wine file manager to double click on it and see. Please note that apps accessing hardware on very low levels may not work or require tweaks so your usb hardware server may not work (or you may need to make shortcuts to .wine folder after finding out USB IDs etc.) Also just after installing wine you may need to type: wineserver or service wine start or go into control center > system services and click on start against wine or just reboot your machine.

I haven't used ODIN but you can try to install it in wine and see. give me the url to its website and i'll try to see.

I would also recommend installing EXT2/3 driver in windows on dual boot machine, specifically the IFS Drives app (http://www.fs-driver.org) which will allow you to use your linux partition like any other fat32/ntfs partition. Its very useful if you are in windows and need to access some files in linux. I forgot to mention it in earlier posts.

Thanks bro for quick n detailed reply... I have already installed wine. Will learn more on winehq. Regarding voice logger, the usb device will not be installed on this (linux) pc as it is already installed on other pc in network & will be there. The client works through network & i tried starting it in wine. Some thing happened & disappeared & Intclient.exe did not start.

I dont think odin will run on wine as it needs some supplements like Visual C++ redist.... n also there are many registry specific issues. I will better run it on linux thru Windows Remote Desktop. That will be better.

Regarding EXT2/3 & IFS i am not aware of it anything as of now. Will learn that too n implement.

Apart from that, Linux is really very fast & hope virus free. Atleast I can start allowing my friend's pen drives now.

[hiteshkkk1 327]

One thing I want to know that if I wish to download some software for PCLOS, which package shud I select i.e. .deb or .rpm or so??

Also, if I dnload the package, how do i install it??

[ami1 237]

One thing I want to know that if I wish to download some software for PCLOS, which package shud I select i.e. .deb or .rpm or so??

Also, if I dnload the package, how do i install it??

download RPMs (.deb is for debian or debian based distros like ubuntu)

To install either type:

rpm -ivh filename.rpm (to uninstall: rpm -ev filename, to upgrade: rpm -Uvh filename.rpm)(remember to be in same folder as the package rpm file or give path to the file like rpm -ivh /home/user1/filename.rpm)

You need to be root i.e. type su then enter your root password

OR just double click on the rpm file (or right click and select install through package manager etc) - it'll ask for your root password and then install it.

But usually there's no need to download any pkg these days as it'll all be there in the repositories just search in the package/software manager.

But you do learn more by installing them yourself. Also you can download source packages in .tar.gz format (usually, sometime other zip formats) and unzip (double click or if on command line: tar zxvf filename.tar.gz or tar xvf filename.tar or unzip filename.zip) then cd into the folder and type: ./configure and after it finishes type: make install

And there are no viruses. at all. you can use the most infected pendrives you want

Edited May 19, 2010 by ami1