Totally new to linux...

[Jomkiatz]

So, I'm totally new to Linux; I've been a windows user all my life, and I'm looking to try something different. I'm too invested in my laptop to dare mess with it, but my brand-new PS3 (which can easily back up my game saves) seemed like a good introduction to the OS.

I've been doing some reading on this forum, wikipedia, Terrasoft's website, etc. and I'm pretty sure I know what I'm getting into. Despite knowing nothing about typical Linux operation, I'm confident that I can get a handle on it...and I expect it to be a fun learning experience.

I'm downloading the ISO image right now, and I've got quite a ways to go before its ready. Don't worry, I don't plan on asking questions such as, "How do I burn the ISO to a DVD?" or anything like that...but I am left with plenty of time for learning.

Any general tips? Threads of particular importance? Caveats, warnings, or horror stories? Good resources?

Thank you to any and all who reply!

[oobuk]

Here are a couple of tips.

YDL 6.0 does not need you to reinstall the boot loader in the PS3 OS to do a reinstall. Just pop the DVD/CD back in while in YDL and reboot, you will get the option to overwrite your installation. Don't be afraid to blow up your installation. I know that I learn from mistakes.

Look for the thread here about disabling services to get performance. Big difference in display speeds. The PS3 is memory starved when it comes to Linux, but as long as you don't multitask too much it is very functional.

Look for the thread here about installing YUMEX. Yum and Yumex give you much better GUI ability to install, update and uninstall software and features. Make sure you edit your confs to PROTECTBASE before you start installing and updating too much. Don't forget to put in the extra software repositories

Remember, though it takes a while, you can easily reinstall YDL 6.0 and start over. You don't have to reformat via PS3 OS as long as you just stay with your YDL 6.0 disks.

Oh, I think you will find XFCE to be your best performing desktop environment that still is fairly intuitive and looks nice. Fluxbox is even faster, but you have to know the command lines to start most apps and it takes time to configure. You can also load up KDE and anything else you want and choose which to run at startup. I like KDE a lot, but it is way too slow on PS3. XFCE is pretty decent and much snappier than Enlightenment, Gnome or KDE. You will still want those available so you can learn about the different desktop environments.

If you just need a session to run one application that needs some extra horsepower and memory, it is good to have Fluxbox available too, for instance for a game like Wesnoth.

VLC is a very good media viewer and handles most WMV files as well as MPGs etc. Make sure you do PROTECTBASE before installing via YUM or YUMEX, I blew an install like that.

Having YUMEX loaded will give you a good install/update of GNASH so you can run most Flashes in Firefox. Firefox 3 does not appear to be available in PPC format yet. FF2 on PS3 will run must plugins like NoScript, AdBlock Plus and TrackMeNot. I haven't tried TOR on PS3 yet but will eventually if there is PPC version.

The Yellow Dog PS3 forums are good for learning, lurking and support. You will see some of the same people here on that forum as well.

[Jomkiatz]

Those are all excellent nuggets of information. Thank you very much! I plan to follow all of those as soon as this download completes. Gosh, this thing is slow...17 hours and counting.

[oobuk]

You doing via a torrent or ftp/http?

You might find the ftp/http sites faster since there are so few torrent peers available for ydl6.

Prolly too late to switch for you anyway, but maybe you can run simultaneosly and beat out the torrent if that is what is hanging you up.

[Jomkiatz]

I'm downloading via http, from one of the mirrors listed on Terrasoft's website. It started out at about 100 kbps, but it's going along at a raging 20-30 kbps now. All said and done, it looks like this will have taken 24 hours to download when its through.

It looks like my first challenge is going to be getting working internet access. I found an excellent resource for getting wireless up and running...

[Please register to see this link. ]

...and that will for sure be my first task. I don't want to use a wired connection, and the only wireless I have access to is encrypted, which makes this a somewhat difficult feat, but; I remain hopeful. After that, yum and yumex, then Snex9x, and finally VLC.

Of course, messing with desktop environments, learning system commands, and familiarizing myself with the general workings of the OS will be a constant and ongoing process.

[Jomkiatz]

The amount of problems I have had just downloading the file and burning the ISO image to a DVD are absolutely ridiculous, but I won't start into that now, although I'm ready to put an axe into anything with electronics at the moment.

...I'm at the first-time bootup of the Linux install...and great, it failed and timed out. Let me go pull up that error message again.

Ok, when I try to tab over to "install" at the kboot prompt, I'm given this message...

"UDF-fs: No VRS found"

...then it says....

"/init: eval: 1: /dev/sr0:/ppc/ppc64/vmlinux-ps3: not found"

...then it gives a blank kboot prompt, passes it, and I'm left with a blinking cursor on a blank line. Any command I type is ignored, including "boot-game-os".

Any ideas?

[hackerwanaB]

I was stuck at kboot:_...trying to upgrade from 5.01
Everything worked out fine, and I didn't do anything. Let me start by saying computer work at their own speed now ours.I left it alone for a few mins(10-12) it cut off and I came back into the room and to my surprise the screen had came back on and progressed to a familiar point I reconized downloading 5.0. I don't claim to be a computer wiz, but maybe this will help. I'm not joking I was about to give up and go back to 5.01