[CentOS] Suggestions on initial CentOS 4.3 Install packages

[Benjamin Smith]

You can beat web forums until your face becomes blue from bruising. It's a 
valid way to go, but painful. 

My advice? 

1) Stop using your Windows machine, (dual) boot into Linux and work in it 
natively for at least a year. Once the flavor of Unix seeps under your skin, 
you'll discover the limitations of both Windows and Linux. EG: Gaming sucks 
under Linux, server hosting and software programming are both lame on 
Windows. 

2) Get a good "getting started" book. $40 at the local B & N can save you 
days/weeks of frustration, and is very cheap education. I'd suggest "Red Hat 
Linux Unleashed" by Que. If that's too far along, try a "for dummies" book. 
There's plenty more advanced as well. 

3) Realize, that most of using *nix systems come down to not knowing it all, 
but knowing where to go to figure it out. Get good and familiar with man, 
info, and google! 

-Ben 

On Tuesday 02 May 2006 14:05, Phillips, Tod wrote:
> Hello, all...
>  
> I'm attempting to learn Linux (on a CentOS setup) by doing something
> productive at the same time. I've already installed it twice...once with
> a "full, just install everything" setup and another by following the
> Perfect CentOS 4.3 Web Server Setup instructions on HowToForge.com.
> Though I've had issues with both, I have a lot of patience and time is
> not a big concern.
>  
> What I'd like to do is get some advice from the community on a good
> initial setup for my system by listing out some of the things I hope to
> do:
>  
> 1) Set up a test Web Server for development of a soon-to-be-deployed
> rework of a client's website (I'll host the production site w/ an
> outside company).
>  
> 2) I'd like to learn PHP and Apache while I'm reworking the site.
>  
> 3) Learn all there is to know (ok, maybe just enough to not be
> dangerous) about securing the server.
>  
> 4) Develop a program, most likely in C/C++, that can talk with my
> Company's mainframe and its communications software, either through web
> services/xml interfaces or directly through some sort of COM / .NET
> equivalent. The end result would be an application that can run on any
> Linux box with an Internet connection, giving users the ability to
> access and modify mainframe data, enter orders, etc.
>  
> 5) Be able to retrieve email, surf the net, write and read documents
> (general office stuff) to become both more familiar with Linux apps AND
> to keep from needing to run to a different PC for these needs when they
> arise.
>  
> I know I'll need the X Windows and Gnome stuff, but I'm concerned about
> dependencies and/or conflicts between the packages necessary for
> everything I want to do. I certainly want to use the Terminal prompts
> whenever possible -- particularly for setting up the networking and
> Apache server -- so that I can begin to learn Linux/Unix.
>  
> The question really becomes: Can I do it all on one box or am I going to
> create a nightmare for myself because of overlapping programs that
> "hijack" critical functions from the web server, or vice-versa? I erased
> my original install (with everything) because it seemed more important
> to me to learn what it was I needed and install it manually later on if
> and when the need arose. Good thinking or...?
>  
> Your thoughts are greatly appreciated,
> grayfire1229 at netscape.net
> 
> -- 
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> 
> 

-- 
"The best way to predict the future is to invent it."
- XEROX PARC slogan, circa 1978