Totally New to Linux

[titoolsen]

Well NOT totally. I saw Fedora and Ubuntu at work in Sri Lanka where I worked for the last few years. One of the agencies I worked with was trying to entice small community groups to ditch Windows and proprietory software and migrate to FOSS based stuff. They set up remarkable Thin Clients Systems which got even pentium 2's back to work..

However I always found my eyes getting heavy and glazing over when screens stalled - installation processes never quite looked as smooth as putting a CD in a slot and clicking 'Install'.

Now back in UK and with a PC dying from continual virus attacks I am dipping my toes into Fedora and Ubuntu. So far so, ummmm, good. Managed to install Fedora 10 now totally stuck on getting the PC connected to the internet...nothing is simple but I am learning.

Now what is a 'kernel' and do we have to be geeks to use FOSS and Linux?

[elija]

Without a lot more information no-one is going to be able to help you with your internet connection. With the amount of info you have provided I would normally engage sarcasm mode and tell you to "plug it in"; but I'm in a good mood, so I won't

Now for your last two questions.

The kernel is the core bit that is Linux. Fedora, Ubuntu and all the other distros are Linux plus loads of other bits like desktop environments, office suites, configuration tools and other software.

And finally.. um... no

[hazel]

Now what is a 'kernel' and do we have to be geeks to use FOSS and Linux?

I would say the kernel is the program that handles all your hardware. In Windows each piece of hardware has its own driver and all the drivers are separate programs which don't know anything about each other. That's why Windows crashes so often. In Linux, the drivers are all in the kernel. The kernel also does all the supervisory tasks, launches and runs programs and tidies up after them.

And no, you don't have to be a geek to use it, you just have to be willing to learn.

[titoolsen]

Well the 'invitation' was to introduce myself this being the coffee lounge and not to explain any particular problem. No doubt those will come as I try and get Ubuntu going! It is still downloading on to a Disk. I have (temporarily) given up on Fedora that just refused to find a wireless driver..... but may go back to it. Let's see how Ubuntu fairs.

Might be a good idea for the administrators to change the initial invite if this lounge is about problems!

[titoolsen]

Ah now those simple explanations of the 'Kernel' are encouraging. May be this exploration into Linux will be quite rewarding.

Guided by helpful folks in the Fedora Forum I tried various manipulations for adding the rpm driver of my PC Belkin G2 wireless card, using Fedora 10, but all so far have come to nought. In one chat room I saw someone say that Ubuntu seem to do this more efficiently.

Certainly a long way from 'plug and play'.

Thanks for your comments and explanations.

[techieMoe]

Well the 'invitation' was to introduce myself this being the coffee lounge and not to explain any particular problem.
...
Might be a good idea for the administrators to change the initial invite if this lounge is about problems!

Actually, you're quite right. The purpose of this part of the forum is for introductions and off-topic random threads, not tech support. We still get a handful of people who post real questions here though. I generally move them to their respective section of the forum. Hope you're enjoying your Ubuntu experience. Feel free to post about any problems you run into (in the other sections of the forum, of course)!

[jayd512]

Welcome to LinuxForums!

Since you already got a couple explanations on the kernel, I'll not add to it. But your wireless issue isn't un-common. Take a look at this link, and start a thread in the Wireless section of the forum.

See you on the boards!

[elija]

Well the 'invitation' was to introduce myself this being the coffee lounge and not to explain any particular problem. No doubt those will come as I try and get Ubuntu going! It is still downloading on to a Disk. I have (temporarily) given up on Fedora that just refused to find a wireless driver..... but may go back to it. Let's see how Ubuntu fairs.

Might be a good idea for the administrators to change the initial invite if this lounge is about problems!

Absolutely, I wouldn't even have mentioned it but I didn't want you think I was ignoring it