Date: 22 Jan 2003 11:41:36 -0500 From: Asenchi <asenchi@asenchi.com> To: nkinkade@dsl-only.net Cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: New to FreeBSD Message-ID: <1043253697.68051.4.camel@TX.grebner.com> In-Reply-To: <20030122154047.GJ25795@sub21-156.member.dsl-only.net> References: <KFEBJMODJFGGBFKKFALKOEBHCAAA.jcbotha@cedar.org.za> <20030122154047.GJ25795@sub21-156.member.dsl-only.net>
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On Wed, 2003-01-22 at 10:40, Nathan Kinkade wrote: > On Wed, Jan 22, 2003 at 09:47:10AM +0200, JCBotha wrote: > > Dear Sir > > > > I am new to this operating system and became interested when I started to > > look at a solution for a network set-up. I do not know if I will be able to > > master this OS because I grew up with Windows and know nothing about UNIX OS > > systems. With windows I at least can help myself and find my way around. > > > > I need to set up a server that host an Internet (POP3) connection for three > > different networks that must not be able to communicate with one other. Top > > security is needed. The reason is this is a Teachers training collage, the > > one network is for the admin department and another for the staff and lastly > > the student network. Just by the way, will this modem connection be able to > > handle about 30 computers on the network. I know that an ISDN connection > > will be better but presently we do not have anything ells. The server that I > > would like to set up should be able to record all student activities in the > > sense to monitor the web pages visited and the printing that has been done > > plus to forbid certain printings such as web pages. > > > > What do you suggest me to do, start from scratch and study a UNIX system or > > face the Windows server package. > > > > Yours truly > > > > JC Botha > > There is a tremendous amount of online documentation for FreeBSD (and > many other UNIX derivative systems). The first place to start is > usually the FreeBSD Handbook at > http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/index.html > (it's in other langs than English if you need them). Also, the > documentation that comes with each FreeBSD in the form of what are > called "man" pages (manual pages) is very extensive and quite easy to > use. For more places on which to get help check out: > http://www.freebsd.org/docs.html. Of course, there are always support > forums like this one (freebsd-question), as well as a couple of news > groups. There may very well be a FreeBSD users group near you as well. > > Per your own words, I suggest you start from scratch and study a UNIX > system. You will not regret the decision down the road. You may find > the learning curve somewhat steep if you have no familiarity with > working at a command line. However, once you hammer out some of the > basics and begin to become proficient you will probably start to find MS > Windows intolerably imposing and restrictive. > > Good luck, > Nathan > > -- > GPG Public Key ID: 0x4250A04C > gpg --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --recv-keys 4250A04C > http://63.105.21.156/gpg_nkinkade_4250A04C.asc > I agree with Nathan. I picked up fBSD about a year and a half ago to build a firewall. Now I know how to configure most of the servers that are needed, firewall, www, email. I can setup a secure server in a half a day and know my way around the system really well. I won't lie to you, it takes time, but once you learn it you will never understand why you use windows. (If it wasn't for my fiance I would use fBSD all the time, but she isn't ready for the jump yet). You should just jump in, there are tons of docs on the web...man pages are amazing and the handbook is always up to date. One thing I recommend, learn the command prompt before you put a gui on. That is one area that I really focused on, now I use a gui just b/c it looks a little better. Command line is the best way to work. Welcome to the Real. Asenchi To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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