First time Linux user needs help

I just downloaded and bunt a Knoppix CD bootable linux version, and am writing this post using Konqueror. First time I have ever seen linux.

I downloaded the SL Linux alpha, now what?

I don't know how to install the program. I do seem to have manged to to expand the compressed download.

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the submit button for submitting this post is nearly illegible.

Hope you like what you see - Just don't assume the knoppix experience is the same as a normal install (personally I find it frustratingly slow)


First, we need to verify you have hardware 3D working.

open a console and type

glxinfo

it will print a load of stuff about your box's opengl capabilities, scroll up to the start of the output and look for a line that says 'direct rendering:'. If it says yes, then you have the right drivers and you can run second life.

If not (more than likely), you will have to get the correct graphics card drivers installed. This i am afraid is where my knowledge of knoppix falls down, I have never needed to install 3D hardware drivers, there might be an item on the 'K' menu to install nvidia drivers (if you have a nvidia card!)

Can someone who knows knoppix step in here?

As for running the game, once you have it extracted, open a console.

cd directory/Desktop/SecondLife

(or where ever you extracted it)
then

./secondlife

Its best done in a console, then if it fails to start, you can see why.

Easiest if you use my unofficial Alpha installer script, though it, too requires a bit of Linux knowledge:
(You have to have Perl, tar, bzip2 and wget on your system)

The installer:
http://www.idojarasrendeles.com/sl-alpha-installer/SLInstaller.pl

And it's forum thread:
/263/fa/92836/1.html

Just save this .pl file to your home directory, make it executable (chmod +x SLInstaller.pl, or use the GUI of knoppix to modify file properties), then run it.
It will download and unpack SecondLife on your system, then you can just go to the SecondLife/current directory under you home, and start 'secondlife'.

Beware, though! SL for Linux is not yet ready for the 'average user', it takes some challenge.

First I think it is important to know is that a bootalble Linux CD will not give you a complete working Linux. It is ok to test Linux but in the end installing onm hard disk should be preferred.
This is because CD-ROM/DVD is much more slowly than a hard drive and you can not save configuration on a CD.

You can also install KNOPPIX on a hard drive. IFor info about that look here: http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Hard_Drive_Install_FAQ

You can also decide to install a "Linux distribution".

I think KNOPPIX will not come with the needed 3D graphic drivers, does it?

First you need to know what graphics card you have installed. Do you know? You might use "lspci" in terminal to find out. It gives out a list of installed cards. The line mentioning probably ATI or NVIDIA are the interesting ones.


Vinci

If the grid were up right now (and the Linux client current), I'd have a go at running it under Knoppix and write up in brief form exactly what needs to be done. As it is it'll have to wait, and depend on my memory. I detect one or two of the other posters in this thread succumbing to "alpha geek syndrome", as will I if I attempt to tell you how to do it from memory, so I won't.

As for using it being more technical than the Windows client, there's only a little bit in the setting up really, and afaik Zonax's setup script will deal with it.