[TriLUG] Some Newbie Linux Questions

al johnson alfjon at mindspring.com
Mon Dec 30 16:53:12 EST 2002


On Monday 30 December 2002 01:42 pm, you wrote:
> Chris Knowles wrote:
> > Cool... I made the final switch in much the same circumstance, and
> > haven't had a need to go back yet.  Responses are in the message...
> >
> > CJK
> >
> > On Mon, 2002-12-30 at 12:40, al johnson wrote:
> > >Since my windows hard drive totally crashed yesterday, I'm really
> >
> > glad that
> >
> > >I didn't have a dual-boot system on that drive. So, I'm working with
> >
> > Linux as
> >
> > >my ONLY OS (with the exception of my Mac Powerbook's OSX). This being
> >
> > the
> >
> > >case naturally I have some questions about Linux. Some of them are
> >
> > simple
> >
> > >questions which I haven't really had much luck with help, others are
> >
> > probably
> >
> > >questions that only experts can answer.
> > >     I'll start at the beginning. The distribution is Mandrake 8.1
> >
> > and it was
> >
> > >installed at the Trilug installfest. And as far as I can tell, they
> >
> > did a
> >
> > >great job. I really haven't used it that much since I prefer to go
> >
> > slow since
> >
> > >I know it is easy to totally screw up any OS.
> > >     I tried Evolution as my email program, but switched to KDE Mail
> >
> > after
> >
> > >receiving this error message after trying to send an email:
> > >
> > >"SMTP server Mindspring.com does not support authentication type PLAIN"
> > >
> > >OK, I'm totally in the dark about what this all means. Any info on
> >
> > how to
> >
> > >remedy this problem ==or is it just a problem with the WAY  I tried
> >
> > to send
> >
> > >this message (Incidentally if this message is received you will know
> >
> > that I
> >
> > >succeeded with Kmail).?
> > >
> > >That's the first question.
> > >--------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Well, does KMail work for you?
> >
> > Evolution, under the Sending Mail options on the account has a checkbox
> > for "Server Requires Authentication"  Most servers do not.  But even if
> > Mindspring does, it apparently isn't PLAIN, and you can try clicking the
> > button "Check for supported types" To have Evolution test what to use
> > here.  (Caveat... I've not done this, as none of my servers require
> > authentication, but it *should* work)
> >
> > >My second question is also an error message which I think I know what it
> > >means (but I'm not certain) has to do with an error which occurs when
> >
> > the
> >
> > >system is checking itself just before booting into Linux. OK it's
> >
> > checking
> >
> > >this and that and just a few things fail but there is one item which
> >
> > reads as
> >
> > >follows:  "Bringing up interface eth0:" at which point the system
> >
> > pauses for
> >
> > >a very long time and then tries to obtain "ip info for eth0
> >
> > interface" which
> >
> > >fails and then the other one also fails . Now I have a Lan card on this
> > >computer which is not connected at the moment (I use a modem instead).
> > >So since eth could mean ethernet I'm just guessing that that is what
> >
> > that
> >
> > >error means. But if I'm correct, shouldn't I terminate it or
> >
> > something to
> >
> > >prevent this error from happening??
> > >
> > > That's my second question.
> >
> > Well, what's almost certainly happening here is that Linux is trying to
> > grab a DHCP address for that LAN card.  (you are right that eth0 is your
> > network card) Because the card isn't attached to anything, the DHCP
> > attempt times out after what seems to be an eternity.  Probably the best
> > thing to do is to tell your computer to not activate teh network card on
> > boot, or statically assign some nonsense IP to the card.  (Methods for
> > doing this differ depending on distribution.)
>
> On Mandrake the following should work:
> as root enter these commands (w/o quotes):
> 'service network stop'  - this will shut down your networking for the
> current session.
> 'chkconfig network off'  - this will prevent your system from starting
> networking when you reboot.
>
> HTH
>
> Have fun.  :)
>
> --hmk
>
> > >------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >-------------------------- Just about everything else works fine (as far
> > > as I know), but then I
> >
> > haven't
> >
> > >had enough time to use this system to run every Linux program that's
> >
> > installed
> >
> > >on it. I'm also having problems figuring out how to use the address
> >
> > book in
> >
> > >Kmail. It's definitely not like any other address book I've ever used.
> > >   One of my favorite programs in Windows was AGENT.  Pan is the closest
> > >Linux equivalent, but it too is very different from AGENT.  If
> >
> > there's a "Pan
> >
> > >fan" who would be willing to answer some questions I have about Pan
> >
> > feel free
> >
> > >to use this address:  alfjon at mindspring.com .
> > >
> > >Happy New Year everyone. I really have enjoyed being in Trilug. It's
> >
> > one of
> >
> > >the few clubs whose meetings I really enjoy. Hope everyone got what they
> > >wanted from Santa or Allah or whoever delivers the goodies at your home.
> > >---Al  Johnson.
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >TriLUG mailing list
> > >    http://www.trilug.org/mailman/listinfo/trilug
> > >TriLUG Organizational FAQ:
> > >    http://www.trilug.org/~lovelace/faq/TriLUG-faq.html
>
> _______________________________________________
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>     http://www.trilug.org/mailman/listinfo/trilug
> TriLUG Organizational FAQ:
>     http://www.trilug.org/~lovelace/faq/TriLUG-faq.html

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Many thanks for this information. I  have one question about the Terminal 
command to shut-off my network card.
I'm assuming this will not affect my modem connection, and also that there 
must be a corresponding command to switch it back on? I always like to know 
what to do cancel any command I might enter on the Terminal. With computers 
you never know what will happen whenever you do anything on them.
------------
And I also have another which I asked a long time ago when I first joined 
Trilug. 

I asked if there was a way to hang up my modem (i.e. my internet connection 
and telephone) without resetting the computer at any period of time that I 
might desire, e.g. 10 min. , 20 min., 1 hour, 2 hours, 2 hours and 20 mins., 
etc. At that time long before I had a good working Linux machine I was given 
a one line Terminal command to accomplish just that. If anyone remembers what 
it was, I'd love to have it now!!. 
----Thanks A lot everyone. 

And yes, thankfully, Kmail apparently is working on the sending and receiving 
from Mindspring. Unfortunately I also have another email address which can be 
easily changed if the Spam burden becomes too great on it. However, since it 
was my first email address, I still need to check it from time to time. 
Before on that awful email program Outlook Express  (boo, hiss)  Mindspring 
gave me directions to check the mail on it without ever dialing it up 
directly. Naturally, I also kept that I.S.P. as a backup in case Mindspring 
goes down (which actually happens occasionally). 

This leads me to the conclusion that instead of having newbie classes on a 
complicated subject like recompiling the kernel, maybe we should start with 
the basics. O.K. thanks to an installfest you now have a working Linux 
machine. How to get the essentials working and how do you deal with the 
Differences between the applications you were familiar with but can't use 
anymore. --email, burning disks, figuring out how the basic graphics 
programs.                                                                     
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                            






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