LinuxSA Mailing list archives

  From: Benjamin Close <linux@senet.com.au>
  To  : Linux-SA <LinuxSA@linuxsa.org.au>
  Date: Sun, 23 May 1999 12:26:57 +0930 (CST)

Newbie HOWTO - Take 1

 ====================================================================== 
                       BEN'S NEWBIE HOWTO - Take 1
 ======================================================================

To all newbies....
The following is just a simple guide on how to look for or request help.

1. HOW TO READ THE HOWTOS WITHOUT X!
-------------------------------------

HOWTO's are on every Redhat install CD (disk 1) and can also be on Hard
drive. They can help explain amny different topics including how to set up
linux for internet use, howto use a modem under linux, howto setup X
windows and much much more. 

The normal locations are:

/usr/doc/HOWTO
/mnt/cdrom/doc/HOWTO

To view a HOWTO do the following at the shell/command prompt:

cd /usr/doc/HOWTO      # or cd /mnt/cdrom/doc/HOWTO 
                       # This changes to the howto directory/folder

ls |more               # this will list the HOWTO's remember the name of
                       # the one which sounds the most appropriate

more NameYouRemembered # this will view the specific howto. The name is 
                       # case sensitive so get the upper/lowercase correct
		       # HINT: pressing tab will help complete the name 

To navigate you can use the pageup/down keys, space bar or the arrows. To
quit at any time press 'q'.

2. HOW TO GET HELP ON A COMMAND
-------------------------------

So you have found a new 'command' and want to know what it does, well
here's how:

man command            - Discribes the command in detail (navigation is
                         the same as using more (see above))

command --help         - (may be -h or -help instead of --help) tells the
                         command to give you quick help.

If the man page is out of date you can also try: info command

You can navigate in info using l (last), m (menu), n (next), p (previous).
Any line starting witha '*' is a node link so you can move the cursor to
it and press enter to go to that node.

3. HOW TO ASK FOR HELP (with the best chance of a useful reply)
---------------------------------------------------------------

To help the pros diagnose a problem quicker please
include the following information in a question.

 * Your kernel version
	You can find this either at the login screen or by doing: 
		cat /dev/version
	Ie: Linux Version 2.3.2

 * Relavant System Specifications
	* CPU type         - Pentium, IBM 300MR... (do a: cat/dev/proc)
	* Amount of Memory - 64MB, 32MB, 512MB (pc manual, look at bootup)
	* Sound Card type  - Vibra16, Thunderboard (look at the manual)
	* Harddisk         - Seagate, Fujitsu, (do: hdparm -i /dev/hdx
                             where x is the drive ie:  'a' - send the 
			     model number if their is no name.
	* Cdrom type       - Panasonic SCSI CDR, ide cdrom (the manual)
	* Modem		   - Internal PCI, internal ISA, external(obvious)
	* Mouse            - 3 button, Intelimouse (look at manual)
	* Videocard	   - Et6000 2MB ram, S3Virge 4MB ram (the manual)
	
 * Distribution version
	Ie: Redhat 6.0, RedHat 5.2 APCMAG, Debian, Turbolinux...

 * A useful Description of the problem
	Ie: Xwindows only displays in 256 colours and I want it to display
	    in hicolour.

 * Any other relvant information
	Ie: It was working in hicolour but then I changed videocards from
            a S3 Virge to a Tseng ET6000

 
CREDITS & DISCLAIMER
--------------------

Created by Benjamin Close in order to help newbies learn Linux a little 
ealier and "To promote and support Linux in South Australia (1999, M.
Tippet)".


(C) 1999 Using GNU Licence
<Place GNU Copywrite Here :>

Please direct all flames to: /dev/null
Suggestions/Comments to: Benjsc@senet.com.au  

Thanks go to Romana for prompting me to write this :)


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