From owner-freebsd-questions Sat Aug 19 8:20: 8 2000 Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from malkav.snowmoon.com (ip-208-20-126-237.cdcsd.k12.ny.us [208.20.126.237]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with SMTP id 7EFC037B43C for ; Sat, 19 Aug 2000 08:20:05 -0700 (PDT) Received: (qmail 28991 invoked from network); 19 Aug 2000 06:20:03 -0000 Received: from localhost.snowmoon.com (HELO localhost) (127.0.0.1) by localhost.snowmoon.com with SMTP; 19 Aug 2000 06:20:03 -0000 Date: Sat, 19 Aug 2000 02:20:02 -0400 (EDT) From: Jaime Kikpole To: Mike Cc: questions@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: Help - New user In-Reply-To: Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Precedence: bulk X-Loop: FreeBSD.ORG On Sat, 19 Aug 2000, Mike wrote: > I would really appreciate some advice on what release I would be best using. > Also some quick instructions on what files/folders I should be downloading > from the FTP site for installing what ever a basic/learning user would > require. Welcome aboard, Mike. :) Judging from the description that you gave (which I deleted) it looks like your best bet in FreeBSD would be one of the following: 1) Download the installer floppies for 4.1. There's a useful MS-DOS utility which will take the downloaded images and turn them into a pair of foppy disks. These, plus an Internet connection that can stay up for a day or more (assuming fast modem) is the way to go for an intro to FreeBSD without spending more then $1 on it. 2) Order a copy of The Complete FreeBSD, 3rd Edition with the 4.1 CD-ROMs. This will cost about $70 (US dollars, that is) plus tax or shipping (depending on how you get it). Its well worth it in my opinion, though. I started with FreeBSD after learning some general Unix skill from installing NetBSD once and using the Ultrix server at school. I bought this book when it was ony 2nd edition and version 2.2.1 of the CD-ROMs and I was glad for the documentation. As to what version you should use, anything that ends in "-Release" or "-Stable" or has no suffix at all. The "-Current" versions (e.g. 4-Current) and SNAP verions are meant for experienced people. I usually use a *-Stable version when I upgrade. The computer I'm sitting in front of at this moment is a 4.0-Stable system and I'm currently connected to two 4.1-Stable systems. I hope that this helped. Good luck with it! Jaime To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message