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Getting a Free Copy of Linux

The idea of free software—a free operating system in particular—takes some getting used to, but it happens fast. When you are working with other operating systems, getting and trying new releases involves some kind of cash outlay. In the case of Linux, the most you need is a spare machine on which to play. Consequently, you can load one version of Linux, take it for a spin, then load another and see whether that feels any better to you.

If you have a high-speed Internet connection (and a CD burner ), you can visit any of the vendors ' sites listed at the end of this chapter and download their latest and greatest. Remember, though, that although you may download their latest Linux free of charge, technical support may still be an extra cost.

If you don't like the idea of visiting each and every one of those sites, a visit to LinuxIso.org (http://www.linuxiso.org/) may be in order. This site provides you with a one-stop shop for the more popular Linux distributions with ISOs (CD-ROM images) available for download.

Package Managers and Updates

Package managers often have a great deal to do with what people end up choosing in terms of a distribution. In this book, I'll be talking about installing software using RPM, and every distribution I mentioned above uses RPM as the package manager, so the information you take with you will work with any of these releases. I have also developed a great respect for the power and simplicity of Debian's apt-get program. In fact, you now get apt-get for RPM-based systems.

The method of update is also worthy of consideration. Many vendors now provide an option for updating and patching your system online. As long as you have a fast Internet connection, you are all set. Finally, here's the great disclaimer of the decade : Linux, like all dynamic, living things, is evolving and changing. It is a moving target and, consequently, the details of a specific distribution will change over time. In the next chapter, I'll cover three major distributions and their installation procedures to give you an idea of what you can expect to see. For now, let's talk about what you are going to need in preparation for getting Linux on your system.

Dual Booting

As much as I would like to think that each and every one of you is more than ready to say goodbye forever to your old operating system and hello to Linux, I know that for many this is a very big jump. If you are still feeling a little insecure about simply breaking free and running Linux, I'm here to tell you that you can get the best of both worlds . It is called dual booting .

Dual booting refers to the technique of making a home for both operating systems on your machine. When you start your computer, a small program called a boot loader offers you a menu of choices from which you can decide to boot Linux or whatever other operating system you have installed. That boot loader, for the most part, is called Grand Unified Bootloader (GRUB). A second and still very common boot loader is called LILO , the Linux Loader.

When you load Linux on a system that already has Windows installed, your new system is smart enough to recognize the existence of this other operating system. You'll find that an entry for both your operating systems will magically appear in your boot loader menu.

Preserving Your Data

When you've been using a computer for a long time, you amass a lot of data. Forget software— the data is the most important thing on your system , and you need to get it backed up. Whether you dual boot or not, I want to stress that you are going to be doing some major changes to your hard disk. Please don't take any chances with your data. Make a backup.

Because Windows backup programs aren't necessarily going to be helpful in getting your data onto a Linux system, you should copy the various word processing documents, spreadsheets, graphics (all those pictures you took with your digital camera), music files, and anything else that you will want later onto some kind of media, whether it is a ZIP drive, diskettes, or a CD.

If you have large amounts of data, it might make sense to keep a Windows partition around long enough to copy from one to the other. Most of the major Linux distributions will not only notice the existence of your Windows partition, they will also provide you with an icon on your desktop so that you can easily access that data. Although this may seem like a great way to avoid backing up your data, please don't ignore this step. In fact, if you haven't been backing up your system, your system has been living on borrowed time. If in doubt, back up .

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