Posted on 02/26/2020 5:48:20 AM PST by ShadowAce
Tech Ping
I dabble with Linux off and on and it’s starting over every time.
I will let Microsoft Windows 10 take over. : )
Before you begin, ask yourself WHY? Why Linux, why waste the time, now and in future? Is your time so cheap? Do you really have that big of a problem with Microsoft Windows or Apple iOS that you want to handicap yourself with Linux? Even my Linux friends have admitted that it is of limited value, for servers, NOT for desktop computers and all. We have three Raspberry Pi computers in the house with it and it is limited and for special project purposes only. Nothing more!
The burning question I have is: Why?
As a developer for over 30 years, I’ve learned that failure is not you friend but a necessary tool.
Another thing I’ve learned is not to say, “Xyz doesn’t work”.
“Doesn’t work” doesn’t work and your questions will be ignored.
“I installed apache on my Red Hat 7 system and I am in the process of trying to open port 80 on firewalld to allow web traffic. I typed the following command “firewall-cmd —zone=public —add-service=http” and it returned success. When I then tried to access the web server though I get “the server can’t be reached”. If I turn off firewalld it works. What am I missing?”
First of all, it's not a waste of time. Linux provides me a very nice income.
Second, knowledge is always good. Anything that knocks a chunk out of a monopoly (MS / Apple) is a good thing.
Third, It's *my* computer--not Microsoft's, and not Apple's. That means I have total control over it--patching, updates, which OS to run, and what software I choose to install (without being nagged that it isn't "approved").
If all you need is a desktop OS, Linux is simpler than Windows (at least, to me it is).
There’s a saying when it comes to Linux, that “Linux IS user friendly. It’s just very particular who its friends are.”
More seriously the part about mistakes is one of the real biggies. Many years ago, I worked as a networking instructor (I was a Novell Master CNI) and one of the required classes as called “Service and Support,” and for many students, it was their first time actually working on hardware. During the class we did talk about the possibility of making mistakes, and the sort of problems it can cause, from trivial, to taking down the entire network for an extended period.
Having worked as a field engineer designing, installing and troubleshooting networks for more than 5 years before I began training as an instructor, I had seen my fair share of mistakes and made a fair number myself.
The most important thing was trying to get users to realize that being human means making mistakes, what you need to do is try to minimize them.
I even gave examples of mistakes that I’d not only seen, but made myself, culminating with accepting a phone call from a panicing customer while finishing up working on a system at another site. As I was plugging in the connectors (back in the days of keyboard connectors using a 5 pin DIN plug, as I was talking, when I plugged in the keyboard, I heard a “pop” and smelled smoke. While I wasn’t paying close attention plugging in the cables, a so-called “safe” operation, I accidentally plugged a Stat-Mux (a communication device) power supply cable into the keyboard port on a Unix server, destroying the main system board. I was able to get another system board for their system, and get them up and running, but it took their system down for nearly 7 hours to get the parts, install them, load and configure Unix, then restore their data.
Also, the only “stupid question” is the one never asked.
Mark
Okay, so you are a Linux consultant or use it for work, fine. But for the common computer user, it is a total fail. That is, unless they have deep pockets or a personal relationship with you.
Actually, there are distributions (LinuxMint in particular,) that are quite user friendly, ESPECIALLY for someone with little or no computer experience.
If they just want to browse the web, send and receive email, and maybe do a bit of word processing for sending letters, it’s perfectly easy to use.
The key is that if they’re not ingrained to use a specific OS, it’s a GREAT system. It all depends on not having to “unlearn” anything.
A perfect example of that is when I try to use an iMac. I found myself having to do google-searches to perform the simplest of tasks, like burning an ISO to a CD. It’s second nature for me on Windows or the assorted *IX systems. But I wound up with a CD with the iso file on it the first time I tried.
I’ve set up several Linux Mint systems for people to use for communicating with their families, and they love the computers. All of those users have been70 years old and older.
Mark
“When is AI gonna learn the problems newbies face, and the way to communicate clearly with said people?"
That is the point of this post. Thee are *plenty* of places to go for help--most of them totally free.
If you honestly don't care what goes on inside your computer, fine. Don't read the post, and move on.
However, for those interested in how their hardware works and functions, how the software interacts with that hardware, and how to maintain, troubleshoot, and protect your investment, this is a useful post.
firewall-cmd —reload
Why do you make a statement like that when you obviously have no clue what you're talking about?
#6 - get a book on Linux and read it
Linux is simple enough for my retired mother-in-law to not only use as her base system, but she installed it from scratch. All I did was provide the bootable DVD.
Why do you insist that someone who disagrees with you ‘has no clue’. I have worked with Linux for around 10 years, I have several servers and three Raspberry Pi computers running it. I also have over a dozen desktop and laptop computers using Microsoft and Apple operating systems. I used to own a computer store, I do IT consulting, and have been in the industry since the early 80s—first working with the original 8088 computers, S-100 bus systems, early UNIX, original DOS, and everything since. So don’t play that clueless BS card with me with you obviously do not know me and have an agenda to sell.
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