On Fri, Feb 17, 2006 at 07:46:36PM -0700, Charles wrote: > I've just downloaded and installed the "sarge" distribution on a computer I > use for a test bed. Since I'm used to hosing this box and reinstalling to > learn more, most of the hardware present is fairly generic and well supported > across both Linux and Windows. > Hi Charles, welcome to the last distro you'll ever use: Debian!
> So far, I have network connectivity and throughput on my DSL router for > broadband access. I have a basic load of applications installed. Mozilla > works fine, so the desktop, GUI, and network connectivity are OK. > you seem to have gotten every thing going, so far so good! > The character-based installation threw me for a loop, and I have rather a few > more questions based on previous, now false, assumptions. This is because we support 11 archs. so that is the only way (so far) to support a wide variety of hardware! (there is a graphical version in the works which will allow eastern and indic scripts as well) > > 1) Is there a command line or series of command lines that will update the > fresh installation with all outstanding security updates? I've become > accustomed to using urpmi, and this is different. What I would llike to do > is issue these lines to insure I have an up-to-date system. > Yes. that is the beauty of apt-get. If you run Sarge (or stable), you should add the 'security' and 'volitile' lines to your /etc/apt/sources.list to get these updates. 'security' is for security updates which means it only fixes bugs that are security related. And with this stable release we added 'volitile' which is for updates for a new category of software: mozilla, clamav virus updates, whois which as software that need updates to be useful for a stable system. the basics: apt-get update this updates your list of software available. this is ususaly done before either of the next 2 commands. and ONE of the next 2 commands: apt-get upgrade this gets updated versions of software but will not remove or add any software from your system even if an update is avalable ap-get dist-upgrade this will update versions of software but will allow removal and addition of software for adding new versions the difference between the last two takes a bit of explaining > 2) Same as #1, but for bug fixes on installed packages. see above > > 3) What can I do with the 14 CD's and two update CD's in order to integrate > them into the system? The default GUI is going to be set to KDE, and KDE has > kpackage which I remember from previous distributions and which also > recognizes the Debian format. My eventual interest is in being able to > install and remove packages on the fly, and I understand the 14 CD's comprise > all the software available and specifically modified for Debian. if you do not have net access, then you would use the 14 cd's for all your software need. but if you do, then they are only good for the basic install. you can add them to /etc/apt/sources.list with the apt-cd tool. The cd's are created by order of use which means that cd#1 is used by everyone and cd#14 is contains the least used software. You can use many frontends for dpkg (the basic tool which is similar to rpm): kpackage, synaptic, apt-get, aptitude, wajig,feta. The most commonly used is aptitude and apt-get. But try them all. > > 4) Is there an online resource that will start walking me through the > differences between Debian and, say, Redhat, Mandrake, Suse, or other > distributions? There is the debian refernce and the apt refernce. apt-get install debian-reference apt-get install apt-howto and if you really want detailed stuff: get martin's book: at http://debiansystem.info the last thing: to find stuff: apt-cache search <keyword> cheers, Kev -- | .''`. == Debian GNU/Linux == | my web site: | | : :' : The Universal | debian.home.pipeline.com | | `. `' Operating System | go to counter.li.org and | | `- http://www.debian.org/ | be counted! #238656 | | my keysever: pgp.mit.edu | my NPO: cfsg.org |
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