Some suggestions for FreeBSD novices
ZER4TUL
As a BSDER, the up to the Internet is the Unix related forum. In the process of contact with many novices, it is found that some people have turned from Windows (almost "vast majority"), studying FreeBSD will encounter a lot of difficulties, and even if the UNIX class system is extremely difficult, here, I summarize my experience for your reference.
The first thing is how to get the problem, even some Linux, such as redhat, mandrake, etc., but unix, freebsd, netbsd, etc., there seems to be available yet - at least Chongqing is the case. The best way to get BSD is to download through the web, such as FreeBSD's official site ftp://ftp.freebsd.org ,ftp: //ftp.cnfug.org, or some specially providing free software download sites, such as http: / Both the system and the application can be downloaded / www.wormwang.net. If you don't have a condition to download online, you can find a look with your friends in the same city, usually everyone will be happy.
Second, install it. Installing an operating system must involve partitioning. However, the partition is a nightmare of many people ... Because the partition means that the data loss or even the loss of the entire partition table. Especially the partition of BSD, it makes a lot of people's headache, because BSD inherits UNIX traditional disk management concept, and the PC has not appeared, so there is no PC in the traditional disk management mechanism in BSD. "This concept. It is divided into a slice to manage (if friends who are interested in freebsd can refer to Wangbo's "FreeBSD Using Daquan" or "FreeBSD Handbook"). The reason why Slice is introduced is because it is closely related to the "mount point" concept. Since there is no partition in UNIX, BSD cannot understand the concept of "extended partition", so it must be installed in the primary partition. Then divide slice in it. Moreover, Slice is transparent to programs and users in the file system, not as visible like partitioning. After allocating the slice, you have to assign a "mount point", which is equivalent to WINDOWS, which is the same as partition allocation. Only SLICEs assigned a mount point can be mounted and available. UNIX file system composition is also completely different from Windows, which will be detailed later. Of course, in order to be compatible with other operating systems, FreeBSD installations also provide FDISK that supports the "partition" concept. However, FreeBSD must be installed in the primary partition (but also need a separate SWAP partition like Linux. FreeBSD's SWAP is just a slice of its partition), so freebsd does not support the logical partition, it only shows the extension partition, And do it as a primary partition, everyone must be particularly careful at this point. After the partition is completed, start installing, this step is nothing special, the only special virtue is FreeBSD that can not install the GUI (Graphic User Interface, graphical user interface).
After the file replication process is completed, start configuration, but the configuration process is not difficult, see what to do. Next, X-Window configuration (note! Is x-window, there is no X-windows this is a mistake that is easy to commit to users under Windows). X-WINDOW is now able to identify most hardware, especially Mainstream hardware, so there is no need to intervene too much. After the X-WINDOW configuration, we must select Window Maker or Desktop Environment, otherwise you can only use the default simple TWM interface. Here to explain this: UNIX class system itself is character, X-WINDOW is a program running on the UNIX class system and the most commonly used GUI of the UNIX class system. Enter STARTX under the character interface to start "xfree86", which is the most popular branch of "X", X-WINDOW. However, it is very ugly that X is set (unavailable, Windows95 is better than it). However, you just saw the most primitive face, and after carefully dressed it, it can even better than the Mac OS X! X 's design philosophy is very similar to UNIX design philosophy: "Tools, no policy! (Tools, not strategy!)" These things do not specify what end users do, but provide tools, what they do is made by users. X did not specify what it provides for the GUI looks like, but handed this task to another program to complete, this program is "Window Maker". There are many such programs such as Afterstep, Blackbox, Enlightenment, CTWM, FTWM, Sawfish, WindowMaker (note that the Window Maker is distinguished), and so on. Their appearance is a thousand, some look like Mac OS, some look like landscape painting, some look like something in science fiction, and even look like Microsoft Windows! There is another concept that "Desk Environment", which is actually a collection of window manager and application software, where the most famous representative is KDE and GNOME. It is recommended that new users use KDE or GNOME because they are configured to help you learn FreeBSD in a shorter time, rather than being complex settings. Of course, after familiar with the system and X, try a different style window manager is also a good idea! ^ _ ^
After the installation is complete, you can restart the machine to enter the system. Remember a little (very important): UNIX class system does not return to the password (that is, you can't see the familiar weapon prompt under Windows when you enter the password), at least in the character interface. Don't mistake it to be a keyboard! ^ _ ^ This is for security considerations, because it means that it means that the length of the password is exposed, this is unsafe. After entering the system, we must understand its file system to operate. Just said, SLICE is transparent to the user. You can't see familiar C:, D:, E:, but a lot of files and directories. The UNIX class system uses the inverted tree directory structure, and the partition or SLICE is loaded by mount points, and the user does not feel their existence. In the FreeBSD system, the root directory (/) is the vertex of the directory tree, which is / dev (where the device file is located), / etc (the directory where the configuration file), / home (ordinary user start directory), / root Root user start directory), / bin (directory where the normal program), / SBIN (the directory where the system management program), / TMP (the directory where the temporary file), / MNT (the directory where the temporary mount point), etc. There are still many small catalogs below, such a first-class level derived ... You can browse the directory by entering LS, which is equivalent to entering DIR / W in DOS or Win2000 / XP / 2003 CMD window. . If you want to know more information about the file, you can enter ls -l. In addition, the LS does not have a paging display parameters in DIR, but you can achieve the same purpose by LS | More or LS | Less. After browsing the file system of UNIX system, you can find that their file system is a unified (only one root directory), complete (not divided into Slice or partitions to Similar C:, D:, E: Parallel "partition"), complex (available in each directory) tree structure.
In addition, a problem that is loaded separately. Traditional UNIX management methods do not automatically load any file systems other than their own file systems - even if it recognizes them, especially the disc and floppy disks. FreeBSD also inherits such a management method, so any file system other than FreeBSD is usually needed to load, maybe you think this is very troublesome, but this will be safer. The loaded command is Mount, as for the usage, limited to the space, I will not say much. It will be described here that the UNIX class system uses traditional management methods for any other partition, so in FreeBSD, they are / dev / ad0s1, / dev / ad0s2, / dev / ad0s5, / dev / ad0s7, Instead of Windows C:, D:, E:, F:. Explain here. Under FreeBSD, AD represents a hard disk device (note: FreeBSD 3.x and its previous use WD), 0 indicates the first master device (the main device of the first IDE), S is the abbreviation of Slice, 1 Refers to the first primary partition, 5 is the first logical partition. And the name of CDROM under FreeBSD is / dev / ACD0 (first CDROM device number is 0), (note case, UNIX class system is case sensitive, this is the case in any case! Therefore / dev / cdrom And / dev / cdrom is definitely not the same thing). You can also reach the automatic load by adding related entries to / etc / fstab, but don't automatically load CDROM and floppy drives, otherwise the system will complain if it is started, even start an error. To automatically load the floppy drive or disc in use, consider using "AMD (Auto Mounting Daemon", automatically load daemon), please refer to the related material. Another point, many friends may find a lot about the introduction of books on the UNIX class system command, and the most powerful place in UNIX class is its order! Just as Unix's design philosophy said: "Tools, No Policy!" We can use them to do anything. Here, you will remind you, UNIX system has a more powerful online help system than Windows - "Man"! If you want to know more information about a command, you can find it through the man command name, there will be no harvest. FreeBSD and some release Linux can even find command names related to actions or topics through the Man -k keyword, such as looking for commands related to printing, can enter man -k print. Unix class system commands, it is estimated that no one can remember all commands and its parameters (otherwise that person is not genius is a madman). In addition, FreeBSD Handbook is also a good information, it is recommended to see.
Finally, let's talk about UNIX's design philosophy - Tools, No Policy! That is, it is often said to "toolbox". Typical UNIX commands - such as ls, more, less, print, sort, etc., all of which are only one or a few specific work. The LS is the directory list command, the Less or more is a paging display command, and the sort is the sort command, and the print is the print command. It seems that they seem to be unrelated - at least under DOS and Windows. However, their combinations allow you to get the results you want. For example, you want to list the directory and display it. The command is LS | Less. Maybe you feel trouble, it is better than Dir / P. However, if you want the directory list, sort it, then display it, what should I do if Windows or DOS? Under UNIX class, you can simply add a sort command --LS | Sort -n | Less. If you still want to print out the results, then add a print, you can LS | Sort -n | Less | Print. Is it very convenient? ^ _ ^ You don't need to find a program to do this, just need to use the tools in your hand. Commands or programs under UNIX have their own characteristics and functions. When you use it alone, they are not strong, their flexibility is their powerful places, you can combine commands according to your needs, so get what you want (some pictures of a small time you play). In Unix, "Tools" is everywhere, because UNIX itself is a toolbox, only fully understand and accept this concept, you can use it better! Ok, the above is my personal experience. Due to the relationship between time and level, it is not particularly comprehensive, and it is a throwing brick. But I sincerely hope that it will give you some help. ^ _ ^ If you are interested in the UNIX class system, you can come to our cnfug (China Freebsd User Group) http://www.cnfug.org.
