From owner-freebsd-newbies@FreeBSD.ORG Sat Jun 28 11:04:49 2003 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-newbies@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 6EF7A37B401 for ; Sat, 28 Jun 2003 11:04:49 -0700 (PDT) Received: from hotmail.com (sea1-f16.sea1.hotmail.com [207.68.163.16]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id E521244030 for ; Sat, 28 Jun 2003 11:04:48 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from crollins666@hotmail.com) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 28 Jun 2003 11:04:48 -0700 Received: from 216.19.22.118 by sea1fd.sea1.hotmail.msn.com with HTTP; Sat, 28 Jun 2003 18:04:48 GMT X-Originating-IP: [216.19.22.118] X-Originating-Email: [crollins666@hotmail.com] From: "clayton rollins" To: freebsd-newbies@freebsd.org Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2003 18:04:48 +0000 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 28 Jun 2003 18:04:48.0453 (UTC) FILETIME=[C3707F50:01C33D9F] cc: freeballer@rogers.com Subject: Re: FreeBSD "Live" CD / Couple of other questions to get started X-BeenThere: freebsd-newbies@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: Gathering place for new users List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2003 18:04:49 -0000 On Sat, 28 Jun 2003 Geoffrey Lane wrote: > >first, I have seen information on how-to create a live freebsd cd from an >existing OS but no links to download an already made copy based on the new >v5.1 OS. I was hoping someone could lead me to the right site where I can >download it to be able to try it out before I install it, or is there a >reason why someone cannot distribute them other than the customization of >this CD? > http://www.FreeBSD.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/mirrors-ftp.html . Chooose your mirror and grab the disc 2 image from the proper directory. >I've noticed a site or two with "ports" of popular linux programs but they >seem to be sources that need compiling. As with Redhat or debian with .rpm >and .deb are there precompiled packages for FreeBSD? > I've seen/heard of precompiled packages, but A. don't trust them and B. don't need them. (though you may...) Once installed, FreeBSD has a wonderful thing called the ports collection, which eliminates much of the work done by the user in compiling programs. (To me, using an executable built for my machine is preferable to using one built by someone else; it's part of the reason I want a built-in compiler to begin with.) See here: http://www.FreeBSD.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/ports.html for a more complete discussion of this. Generally, you can install a port by simply doing make && make install in the port directory; it will download, verify, compile, and install the program. As a side note, I've only found one program that was available precompiled on bsd (I don't remember which one...), which makes the answer to this very short; they are available, but good luck finding them. >And other than this mailing list are there any other sites or lists to get >help for newbies? That's kind of a catch-22. This list itself is not for newbie support, it's more for newbies to chat. (The idea of 'newbie support' is kind of an oxymoron in itself. You should want advice from people with as much skill as possible.) Technical assistance is available from -questions. For newbie help, the http://www.FreeBSD.org/ site is your best friend; 9 out of 10 newbie questions are answered in the documentation there. The handbook, etc., are available there. If you can't find it in the documentation, another good place to look is google. Specifically, http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=lang_en&group=mailing.freebsd.questions , which is a very good archive, and http://www.google.com/bsd . I'm sure you'll like FreeBSD, (everyone does) Peace, Clayton _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail