System to use to practice Linux?

[Arowa704]

Hi,
I want to practice using Linux. I want to get a separate second system, probably a very old one. What's the minimum requirement that i should get? Thanks

[Budfred]

I was running a distro on a Pentium 266 for a while and I believe you could get by with less than that. However, faster systems than that are available these days for less that $100, so I would go with the fastest you can afford....

[setoguro]

If you have dial up you should try to get an external modem for your rig. Most systems will have a pci (winmodem) in them and you will have a really hard time trying to get on line if at all. An external will get you there with out a problem.
I run a distro on a P2 266. It's a little slow but works fine for trying stuff out.

[iamsjn]

If all you want to do is practice in a Linux Environment might I suggest LNX-BBC (http://www.lnx-bbc.org)

This is a nifty "mini" distro that runs soley on a mini cd. It turns ANY machine into a linux box. When the CD is removed, you have your original OS back. Its a great way to get familiar with Linux without investing in another box.

Once you become Linux proficient, this distro is invaluable! It's saved my but a number of times! I keep a business card CD of LNX-BBC with me at all times!:D

[aaronwrx]

linux is a matter or personal pref. you may like to practice with knoppix.

http://www.knoppix.net/

knoppix is a bootable linux distro on a CD complete with a window manager and does a good job of dectecting and configuring hardware.

I've had luck with knoppix on most systems!

--Aaron

[sleddog]

Originally posted by Arowa704
Hi,
I want to practice using Linux. I want to get a separate second system, probably a very old one. What's the minimum requirement that i should get? Thanks

Depends on what you want to gain experience with: Linux as an end-user desktop system, or Linux as a server -- where you will be working solely in a command-line environment?

[setoguro]

I've never used knoppix so i can't say too anything about it good or bad. I'm thinking though that if you want to learn you should pick a distro and install it (which can be a learning process in itself). By having a distro installed on your computer you'll be forced to do things that that maybe you won't have to do if you are running knoppix. For one thing you won't be able to pop out the cd and go back to Windows when you get frustrated. You'll be stuck and have to figure out the salutation to the problem to go on.