Amateur Linux Hour

[Car Won't Crank]

Nope, the server is toast. I contacted the seller for a refund, they sell a lot of hardware so they aren't likely to give me a hassle. I did ask if I could forgo the refund and pull the second drive module (for drives 5-8 ) to stick in my existing server, but no idea if they will accept that

That's unfortunately the gamble with used computers.

 

[Betonhaus]

That's unfortunately the gamble with used computers.

This was through a computer recycling service which does test all its computers, and it did boot the firmware update disk. It failing is likely all on me, I guess best I can do if they won't take it back is cannibalize it for parts then sell what's left.

Maybe I can gut it for use as an ATX case, or get a newer motherboard and cpu. I'll hold onto it for now, as the 2nd raid module was literally the most expensive hardest to get part as everything else uses generic interchangeable things

 

[ToroidalBoat]

Most software is available though the distro's package manager, and the ones that don't usually offer a .deb or .rpm package or a install.sh script

I think I'm noob enough that I don't even know how to install from that.

(I'm used to the DOS, Windows, and Mac way: a user-friendly installer, or the executable file already there.)

 

[jeff7989]

I've seen double-click installers on Mint, but when you dive in to understand how that stuff works you'll have a way easier life. What if .deb was compiled against Ubuntu 20.04 and I'm using 23.10? That's just asking for dependency hell.
If Windows way is your goal then Flatpak and Appimage are your closest options.

Arch Linux's AUR with some decent client is a good compromise. just pinky promise to read PKGBUILDs before agreeing to install compiled package.
OpenSUSE has package automation tools as well: https://build.opensuse.org/

That's unfortunately the gamble with used computers.

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Hopefully it wasn't too expensive.

 

[DavidS877]

.
I think I'm noob enough that I don't even know how to install from that.

(I'm used to the DOS, Windows, and Mac way: a user-friendly installer, or the executable file already there.)

Hmm, yes, install.sh very difficult

$ (this is the computers prompt)

$ cd place where I downloaded the file

$ ./install.sh
wait

 

[ToroidalBoat]

install.sh

that was pretty obvious and I somehow didn't see that

 

[Creative Username]

Hmm, yes, install.sh very difficult

$ (this is the computers prompt)

$ cd place where I downloaded the file

$ ./install.sh
wait

Installing from a script is slightly haram, you SHOULD be using the package manager. But this isn't a perfect world, unfortunately.

I think I'm noob enough that I don't even know how to install from that.

(I'm used to the DOS, Windows, and Mac way: a user-friendly installer, or the executable file already there.)

Usually the Linux installation protocol is to type something resembling sudo apt-get install $THING into a funny text window and see the application magically appear on the computer. Sometimes there's shit that's not in the package manager, which is a bitch to deal with on the occasions that it does happen. If you hate terminals for some reason, there are GUI package installers too. They do the same thing under the hood, and you can use both of them without problems.

 

[Jotch]

Pro linux tip:
If prompted for the sudo password, remember that granting it gives the program complete and total access. You should never need to issue sudo to anything but (((snap))), apt, pac-man, etc. If you are, make sure it is necessary and the program is trustworthy.

 

[Betonhaus]

Pro linux tip:
If prompted for the sudo password, remember that granting it gives the program complete and total access. You should never need to issue sudo to anything but (((snap))), apt, pac-man, etc. If you are, make sure it is necessary and the program is trustworthy.

what about FunkyMouseCursors.sh?

 

[Jotch]

what about FunkyMouseCursors.sh?

They say linux is free from viruses, but I say it just put viruses back in the goofy days where you HAD to trick the user into running it with privledges. Good times!

 

[DavidS877]

They say linux is free from viruses, but I say it just put viruses back in the goofy days where you HAD to trick the user into running it with privledges. Good times!

In college we had a lab full of Unix workstations(Jesus Christ I'm fucking old) where you could sit in front of or login remotely. X11 security wasn't often enabled so in theory you could login remotely, export DISPLAY=:0 and then run xroach, and watch the noobs freak out.

Some also had world writable audio devices so anyone with a login could "cat moo.au >/dev/audio" And in theory you could have a whole lab randomly mooing.

All of this is purely theoretical, of course.

 

[macrodegenerate]

Hmm, yes, install.sh very difficult

$ (this is the computers prompt)

$ cd place where I downloaded the file

$ ./install.sh
wait

You forgot

chmod +x ./install.sh

after the cd. Some distributions of Linux disable the creation of executable files by default. You need to use chmod to give them execution permissions.

 

[DavidS877]

You forgot

chmod +x ./install.sh

after the cd. Some distributions of Linux disable the creation of executable files by default. You need to use chmod to give them execution permissions.

I also "forgot" sudo, because people should at the very least read the README file before running random crap they downloaded from the Internet.

 

[Betonhaus]

In college we had a lab full of Unix workstations(Jesus Christ I'm fucking old) where you could sit in front of or login remotely. X11 security wasn't often enabled so in theory you could login remotely, export DISPLAY=:0 and then run xroach, and watch the noobs freak out.

It'd be hilarious to leave xroach running on a really old mainframe that should've been replaced decades ago but still gets used on occasion

 

[Betonhaus]

Is there something like a nzb server with a free monthly tier at like 1GB/month or maybe 10-20 files/month? I would like to get an alternate audiobook source for when a torrent cannot be found.

 

[no-exit]

Installing from a script is slightly haram

Funny you say that, I initially read

install.sh

as

inshall.ah

 

[Betonhaus]

 

[Catgirl Tyranid]

With Steam no longer working on Windows 7 and me being a cheapskate, what's the easiest Linux distribution to transition to? All I use my computer for at this point is games, internet browsing, word processing, etc. I'm not above a little tinkering with tutorials to get stuff to work, but I just don't have the time to sit down and learn super intricate arcana to make things work anymore because of family circumstances. My crowning achievement in college was getting the FTL windows release to work on my school Mac with Wine wrappers.

I've seen several posts here and some online lists recommend Linux Mint. Would this work for my limited purposes and how time consuming is the install process for a complete novice?

Edit: Grammar

 

[Creative Username]

Would this work for my limited purposes and how time consuming is the install process for a complete novice?

Mint is easy, and has a 95% chance of perfectly fitting your needs. The installer is GUI, and you can click through it like any other installer if you want to do a simple setup. The hardest part is properly burning it to a USB stick. Use Rufus for that. When it's done installing, you can boot into it, customize the UI and applications, and install Steam/Firefox/Libreoffice/whatever with the included app store GUI. Then you can move in whatever data you need from backup and begin using your new Linux system. Really useful tip: If you ever need to do something extensively technical, note that most information in the Arch Wiki applies to other distributions.

 

[Betonhaus]

With Steam no longer working on Windows 7 and me being a cheapskate, what's the easiest Linux distribution to transition to? All I use my computer for at this point is games, internet browsing, word processing, etc. I'm not above a little tinkering with tutorials to get stuff to work, but I just don't have the time to sit down and learn super intricate arcana to make things work anymore because of family circumstances. My crowning achievement in college was getting the FTL windows release to work on my school Mac with Wine wrappers.

I've seen several posts here and some online lists recommend Linux Mint. Would this work for my limited purposes and how time consuming is the install process for a complete novice?

Edit: Grammar

Linux Mint. All in all it's the most supported distribution and is user friendly. The more unique and rare a distribution is the more likely it has severe bugs that are difficult to fix.

Linux Mint is experimenting with a Debian edition, but go with the regular version until they decide if they will make Debian the main version or not.