where to learn Linux fundamentals; help with my plan

[habilis]

Hi, I am new to the forum, and pretty new to Linux.

I will much appreciate any suggestions and knowledge anyone can provide about two things:

A) places to read about and learn the basics/fundamentals of Linux installation, use, and customization. [books, websites, anything]

B) (After I read the above-mentioned sources of info I might have the knowledge to do the following, but for now maybe someone could point me in the right direction):

I have some older desktop pcs and I would like to install Linux distros on them, and educational & fun software for children such as G-compris, Tux paint, etc.

-cpu's: Pentium 200Mhz, Pentium Pros, K6-2's 300Mhz, P II's, etc
-RAM: anywhere from 64MB EDO, to 384MB SDRAM, one is maxed out at 48MB SDRAM
-hard drives ranging from 2, 4, 10, 20 GB

The systems will only need to run a GUI and the simple applications. They won't be running internet browsers, DVD movies, etc. I would like to remove all the unecessary components. For example any browsers, network applications, updaters, instant messaging, email, spreedsheet software, etc.

What I had in mind is to make it so there is a parent/administrator account with a normal desktop with all the settings and controls available. And one or more child accounts that are absolutely minimal. No panels, menus, settings, or packet managers, -just icons for the applications, a trash can, and a "my stuff" folder.

I greatly appreciate any info, suggestions, and/or pointers on any of this. I know that what I need is the basic knowledge (A). But it would help me on my journey if someone could also outline the processes involved in (B).

As far as what distros to use: I know the advice "try a bunch of distros and find one that works for you, your computers, and your situation." I have been reading about the different lightweight distros and have run a few live CDs, but I will greatly appreciate any suggestions and info on which distros a beginner could use to acheive the above goals. (I don't want to get up to my armpits in the wrong distros and have to start over with different ones.)

I have looked into Qimo. The system requirements are more than most of my computers have.

I'd like to eventually make my own distro (or remaster). Do you think I should first try to simply set up an existing distro for the above plan? Or should I go ahead and do the customizations/remastering at the same time?

I am looking into the progam Reconstructor.

reconstructor dot org

wikipedia dot org slash wiki slash Reconstructor

bottom line: Is this plan feasible for a non-programmer Linux beginner? And if it is, where can I learn how to do all this? I am not finding much basic info for people like me who don't know what to do when they read something like "first you must structure the file system and then recomp the binaries." (made up example)

Thanks.

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

You can find some free Linux ebooks here:

68 Linux Related Free E-books

Check the link in my signature for lots of good information on getting started with LInux. Hope it all works out well for you.

[habilis]

Thanks so much for the the links and the welcome ozar! Those books should keep me busy reading for a while.

[robertdaleweir]

Hi habilis
I would recommend a book called The Linux Cookbook. The Linux cookbook: tips and ... - Google Books
I recommend that you do not try to, as you call it, 'make your owndistro'. The ease of install of the newer releases of the various distros is the reason that even accomplished users are installing them in greater numbers.
Try DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD. to read and study about the various distros. They have info on most all of the distros and are mostly impartial.
If you have played around with the Live versions and like the outcome look and feel of one of them, try to install it and see how it goes.
Welcome to the world of Lnux I think you will enjoy it. Cheers...
Robert

[fguy64]

I'm pretty much a newb myself. There is lots of documentation out there. All I can say that what has worked for me so far. That is patience, and don't necessarily follow the first instruction you read in a book or web tutorial. look around. Some websites are very good at dealing with certain aspects of Linux, such as printing, or internet. Also some websites are very good with specific versions of Linux.

Also, If you have time, allow yourself the luxury of a dry run or two. That way you can experiment and test-drive, then blow away your installation and try again.

[habilis]

Robert, Thanks for the books and website recommendations, and for the encouragement.

By 'make my own distro' I was really refering to adding my own graphics and the other customizations such as making a completely simple desktop for the 3-10 year old users. -And one that they can't mess up, seeing as their parents probably won't know much if anything about working with Linux.

I would like to change the login screen background image, desktop image, and put together a set of the best children's applications that will run on the hardware. I wasn't refering to anything technical like rewriting GUIs and compling kernels and so fourth.

Is reconstructor a program that can accomplish what I want to do?

fguy64, Thanks for the advice. I guess I could do some dry runs, but I don't have as much time as I'd like. Are there any distros that are easy to customize for a beginner, and that run on the mentioned hardware?

Bear in mind that my final setup will only need to run a few simple applications, so I'm not looking for any thing fancy and expandable, just the basics and customizable. The only intended users for these systems will be young children.

[fguy64]

I have no idea abut children's applications, but some of that hardware is old and not at all powerful. There is a distribution called "damn small Linux" which is supposed to be designed specifically for small and "non-powerful" computers that you might want to check into. I can't speak to it's user friendliness or suitability for children though

[habilis]

Thanks for the distro suggestion.

Supposing a given machine can run the distro and the applications, that leaves the issue of customizing it. I plan to make it user friendly for children by elminating everything they don't need and leaving only the essentials. Also by making the icons bigger for the novice mouse user, and other things that might fall under "accessibilty".

Also I'd like to make it visually something kids would enjoy.

A perfect example of something needing changing for kids is a splash screen that says "Damn Small Linux". I don't want to take away the credit for those who worked hard on making the distro but I don't think parents want their kids to see the word "Damn" prominently displayed across the screen eveytime little Jane turns on her computer.

The Qimo distro has a nice desktop image of a cartoon landscape with an Eskimo. How hard is it to put my own image on a splash screen and desktop?

Is Damn Small Linux one of the 'modern' distros that are easy to work with? (as opposed to some of the distros that require more expertise and aren't beginner friendly.)

[oz]

You can check this poll for favorite distro for older, or lower spec computer hardware:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/cof...re-2009-a.html

DSL was really meant to be run from the liveCD, but lots of people do install it to the hard disk. Zenwalk is another lightweight distro that might work well for you.

[habilis]

Thanks for the link. I read the thread and its alot to take in. I'm not sure everyone's definition of 'older/weaker' hardware is the same. And everyone didn't post the hardware they installed their favorite distro(s) on. I got some ideas from it though, and I saw a link to a linuxforums thread titled: "Bring old gear back to life with DSL"

I have almost the exact same machine the author was talking about, so hopefully I can utilize his/her experience.