Setting up a Computer on my router Network to run something other than Windows

[[BTF]Sigma]

Pretty much just what the title implies. Sorry if I'm not specific enough off the bat. I'd like to be able to use this computer as a media storage box and possibly a server.

I don't want windows on it b/c I want to try something new. What is the most simplist and easiest OS I can use and learn from? I can use my main XP box to burn the image files for installing the new OS's. I'd like to try a free OS that is stable. Who has the suggestions for me? I'll be in IRC for a bit.

[[BTF]Sigma]

Getting Ubuntu and going to try to get that running.

Any extention Proggy's or widgets that are handy?

[console]

Any extention Proggy's or widgets that are handy?

You'll most likely want to install samba, so that your windows boxes can access files on your linux server.

From a root shell, you can install it by typing:

apt-get install samba

...Then the fun of configuring it begins.

[[BTF]Sigma]

Oh joy

[The Happy Friar]

I setup a FTP server on my old linux box to transfer files.  Honestly, that was easier then trying to get Windows Networking on the Windows boxes. 

[[BTF]Sigma]

This is good experience....hehe spent about 2 hours last night spinning my wheels. Samba needed the latest autoconf, autoconf needed the latest m4, now m4 needs another thing.


hehehe can't wait to get it all sorted.

[console]

This is good experience....hehe spent about 2 hours last night spinning my wheels. Samba needed the latest autoconf, autoconf needed the latest m4, now m4 needs another thing.

...?

Were you building samba from source or something?

apt-get install samba

^^ should have handled all the dependencies for you and installed all the needed packages


Regards,

[quadz]

I'm pretty sure ubuntu uses apt, based on debian testing instead of debian stable... (?)

[[BTF]Sigma]

I did the apt-get thing and it did nothing.

[[BTF]Sigma]

After typing "apt-get install samba" i get:

Code: [Select]

E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (13 permission denied)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg), are you root?

Then back to the prompt

[quadz]

Code: [Select]

E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (13 permission denied)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg), are you root?


The key error is "are you root?" 

Need to run it from a root shell (or use sudo).

Try: sudo apt-get install samba


Regards,

quadz

[[BTF]Sigma]

I found out that I could get it all to run using the ad/remove applications panel

I'm on my way now