Help With Numerous Things

[Aleckzweight]

i bought a linux server from a site ixwebhosting.com. I don't understand how to do a few things.
1) some scripts will tell me to type in a command somewhere. i don't know where to do that
2) A lot of scripts use .sh files. How do i run these? I have them on chmod 777, and when i type it in my browser (firefox) it just shows me a download box.
3) What is debian?
4) should i dump web hosting and actually purchase a server?
Thanks so much from a linux noob

[jayd512]

Hello and Welcome!

Looks like you've got some homework to do! I would start looking at more Linux documentation before making any decisions. Look into the links in my signature. And also, look up some info on <Linux> - Google Search

[smolloy]

Welcome to the forums!

Hmmm.... You have some research to do, don't you!

Can you tell us a bit more about the host you're using? Specifically, how do you log on to it (via a browser?), and what do you see when you do log on (a control screen? a command prompt?).

Normally *.sh files are run from the command line, but, without knowing the details of your host, it's difficult to know how you should execute them.

Debian is an operating system based on the linux kernel.

What do you want to do with this server? Practise linux? Host a website? Store files?

It sounds like you need to take things a little more slowly, and learn about what you're trying to do before you start paying for services that you might not need!