Installing Fedora Core 3

First-time Linux user - please help me get started! ;)

[MatthewHSE]

Okay, so I'm going to finally get started with Linux. I have a low-spec box [webmasterworld.com] that I'll be using, and I plan to use Fedora Core 3.

So - how do I start? <wry grin>

The machine has an old Win 98 install on it; I assume I'll need to reformat the hard drive. I think I can handle that much. It's been awhile since I've formatted a Windows 98 machine but I'll manage to remember as I do it.

So there I am, with a squeaky-clean 4GB hard drive, about a 400MHz P2 processor, 64MB RAM, and five Fedora CD's. What do I do? Just put in the first CD and boot it up?

And then, what options will I have through the installation? The only requirements for this is that I'll need to run Squid on it and be able to get the thing on our existing network. After that it can just sit in a corner and run without so much as a monitor attached.

Okay, so I get it installed successfully with all the right options - now what? From the thread linked to above, I assume I'll have to boot up in text-only mode or something like that since I only have 64MB memory. What do I have to do to accomplish a "text-only" boot, and having booted up, how do I handle the system?

Or am I over-complicating this whole process? Remember, I'm a Windows guy so far with zero Linux experience, so what's simple to some of you will be totally new and possibly confusing to me.

Looking forward to your advice,

Matthew

[encyclo]

Before you wipe anything, boot up Windows and get as much detail about the machine's configuration as you can (look at the hardware properties). You should note the manufacturer names and model numbers for things such as network cards, video cards, etc. This is your last chance of taking advantage of an already-installed OS - and you don't actually want to open up the box and search for model numbers through the dust, do you? ;) With most Linux distributions the hardware auto-detect systems during install will identify everything anyway, but if they don't you'll be glad you have the information.

Once done, you don't need to reformat first, because the disk partitioning part of the Linux install will do it for you. Once you boot with the install CD, you just need to follow the instructions. If you choose Fedora, check to see if there is a text-mode install otherwise you might have trouble running the installer. If you choose Debian, the installer is text-mode anyway. You want to install a base system, perhaps with a simple window manager. The X-Window system is not obligatory so you can choose not to have it if you won't need it - it will save resources on the machine.

If you want to connect to it remotely then you need to install sshd (the SSH daemon) which will allow connections to the machine. Assuming you are connecting to in from Windows, grab a copy of Putty. Once that is all working you can install the appropriate package for squid.

There's not a lot of risk - if you really mess it up you can always start afresh. Good luck!