From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Dec 12 05:46:02 2005 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.org Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id DAF5916A41F for ; Mon, 12 Dec 2005 05:46:02 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from gaynw@bristolsystems.com) Received: from fed1rmmtao01.cox.net (fed1rmmtao01.cox.net [68.230.241.38]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 7B31043D53 for ; Mon, 12 Dec 2005 05:46:01 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from gaynw@bristolsystems.com) Received: from workdog ([68.228.71.3]) by fed1rmmtao01.cox.net (InterMail vM.6.01.05.02 201-2131-123-102-20050715) with ESMTP id <20051212054522.OWQX15695.fed1rmmtao01.cox.net@workdog>; Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:45:22 -0500 From: "Gayn Winters" To: "'Matt S. Gann'" , Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 21:45:40 -0800 Message-ID: <036301c5fedf$4c716870$6501a8c0@workdog> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook, Build 10.0.4024 In-Reply-To: <20051212040744.66038.qmail@web54201.mail.yahoo.com> X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 Importance: Normal Cc: Subject: RE: FreeBSD starter machine X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 05:46:03 -0000 > [mailto:owner-freebsd-questions@freebsd.org] On Behalf Of Matt S. Gann > Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2005 8:08 PM > To: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.org > Subject: FreeBSD starter machine > > I have a few questions about FreeBSD. I am just beginning > to get into UNIX. I know a few line commands, but really > want to get familiar and comfortable with the OS. I have > been intrugued by FreeBSD for many years now, but I own a > windows-based PC and am not keen about running dual OS's. I > would like to get a cheap, used, small desktop or laptop to > "tinker" with Unix/Linix and FreeBSD. However, I know little > to nothing about system requirements and/or hardware > compability. I was thinking of an old 486 or Pentium 1 to > get started. Any thoughts on what I could start with? Dual booting works fine if you have some "extra" disk space (or an extra disk you can add.) If you want a separate PC, then don't use too old of a machine. While it is fun doing useful things on old systems, for your first unix system you don't want to spend too much time getting old hardware to work or repairing it when it dies. Your time is better spent learning the OS. Also, while I would recommend learning a unix system in command mode before bringing up a windowing system, if you want to learn unix windowing systems, then you are going to want a somewhat faster cpu with a decent video system. With a little looking around, you can probably get, at near zero cost, a PC that is <5 years old. That will put you in the 400Mhz+ range and any unix will be very happy with most configurations that you find on such a PC. I'd insist on a 100mbps NIC and a decent CDROM as well. Make sure the PC boots from the CDROM. (Try before you buy.) Not only is a unix installation easier when booting from a CD, but there are several handy CD based tools and diagnostics. I'd also look for a bigger box with a few spare PCI slots so that you can add "stuff" easily as you are learning. For $19 I bought a new 2-port Belkin KVM switch, which I use to switch between my MS-Windows PC and my "other" desktop, which I will soon upgrade from FreeBSD 5.4 to 6.0. This saves a lot of space on my desk, and switching between the two is just a couple keystrokes. You might consider it. It is especially handy when you are trying out different installations. For my FreeBSD servers, I use Putty to ssh into them from my Windows machine (and openssh from my FreeBSD machines.) The key thing is to make it easy to access your unix system(s) so that you learn faster. Have fun! -gayn Bristol Systems Inc. 714/532-6776 www.bristolsystems.com