WELCOME TO CIPCUG'S
LINUX USERS PAGE
Some Terminology
- Distro
- Unlike Microsoft Windows, which is created and tightly controlled by a single company, Linux consists of many individual pieces which are created and controlled by many different organizations. It takes a large collection of all these pieces to make a complete Linux system. Many organizations create sets of these pieces to make a complete Linux system. These complete sets are called distributions, or more commonly called distros.
- ISO images
- These are copies of CDs or DVDs which are available on the internet as single, independant files. They are "images" of entire disks. They can't be used as-is, but have to be burned onto writable CDs or DVDs first. Most CD/DVD burning software can do this, but it is a special option that has to be selected specifically. Most of the Linux distros are available on the internet in this form.
- GNU/Linux
- To be accurate, the term Linux only refers to the central core of the system and is called the kernel. This is the central, most fundamental part of the system, which controls and coordinates everything. However, it's totally useless by itself and needs many more utilities and other programs to be usable as a complete system. Most of these utilities have been created by the FSF, the Free Software Foundation, in their GNU project. (GNU stands for GNU's Not Unix, and it's pronounced with a hard 'g'—guh-NOO.) All of the Linux distros use the Linux kernel and the GNU utilities, as well as other components. And to be "politically correct" a Linux system should be, and often is, called GNU/Linux.
- Tux
- Tux, the penguin, is the Linux masccot. See a picture here. And this is a quote from Linus Torvalds, who originated Linux, explaining why he chose a penguin.
Other Users Groups
- Simi-Conejo Linux User's Group
- Currently meets every other Saturday in Simi Valley.
- Ventura County Linux Users Group
- Meets on Saturdays at the ITT Technical Institute.
A few common distros
- Ubuntu
- Ubuntu Linux. Currently one of the most popular.
- RedHat/Fedora
- RedHat Home page. Links to their Enterprise (commercial) version and to Fedora, the free version.
- Mandriva
- Mandriva Home page. Formerly known as Mandrake.
- openSUSE
- openSUSE Home page. The free version of SUSE Linux, from Novell.
- Debian
- Debian Linux.
- DistroWatch
- Descriptions, ratings and links to many Linux distributions.
- LinuxISO
- Another site of links and descriptions of many Linux distributions.
A couple specialized distros
- Gentoo
- Not for beginners—installed by compiling most of it. (If you don't know what that means, this isn't for you.) More work to install, but results in a very "lean and mean" and personalized system. Well supported.
- Linux From Scratch
- Also called LFS. Similar to Gentoo. While Gentoo starts with a base system and compiles everything else, LFS compiles everything.
Newbies
- Just Linux
- Quoting this website: "We invite you to peruse the huge online forum, where you can get your questions answered in a helpful manner from users who have been in your shoes before! Also, be sure to browse our collection of Help Files, our unique method of documentation that provides answers in a simple, direct format!"
- Tuxfiles
- Information and tutorials aimed at new Linux users.
- Ultimate Linux Newbie
- More basic info.
- Linux Command
- Help on using the Linux command line.
- Linux Tips
- Helpful tips for those learning Linux.
- Really Linux
- More help for beginners.
- Linux Newbie Administer Guide
- A reference for new Linux users for administering their Linux system.
- Linux Newbie Guide
- More beginner's info.
Documentation
- The Linux Documentation Project
- A complete collection of HOWTOs, Guides, FAQs and other documentation.
- Linux Questions
- General Linux support forums. Requires (free) registration.
- Unofficial Fedora FAQ
- Useful information specific to all versions of RedHat Fedora Core. Independant, not supported by RedHat.
News and General Info
- Linux Today
- Info and news about Linux.
- Linux.com
- News, documentation, forums and other general information.
- Linux Online
- More general info.
Software
- Freshmeat
- Index of Unix and cross-platform software.
- FreshRPMs
- Large selection of software in RPM format.
- RPM Find
- Another source of softwared in RPM format.
- DAG
- Red Hat/Fedora RPM package listing.
- Open Source Alternative
- Find open source software alternatives to well-known commercial software.
Themes
- Themes
- Like skins for individual programs, but Themes affect the appearance of the system as a whole.
- GNOME Themes
- Themes for the GNOME desktop.
- KDE Look
- Themes and other eyecandy for the KDE desktop.
Hardware
- Hardware Compatibility Lists
- Check to see if your hardware is compatible with Linux.
- SANE
- Scanner compatibility lists. SANE (Scanner Access Now Easy) is the Linux equivalent of Windows TWAIN drivers.
Tutorials
- The Linux Tutorial
- Linux Knowledge Base and Tutorial.
- HowtoForge
- Provides user-friendly Linux tutorials about almost every topic.
- The Linux Tutorial
- Linux Knowledge Base and Tutorial.
Programming
- Linoleum
- Linux programming resources.
- Glade
- Graphical Interface Development with Glade2.
- Bash scripting
- Unix & Linux Shell Scripting Tutorial.
Magazines
- Linux Journal
- US Magazine.
- Linux Magazine
- US Magzine.
- Linux Magazine
- UK Magazine.
- Linux Format
- UK Magazine.
Just for fun
- Laugh along with GNU
- Geeky humor.
- Linux Games
- Games for Linux.
- Tux Games
- Online store for Linux Games.