[H-GEN] Running SuSE 8.1- NOT!

[Alex Delaforce]

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This is not a trivial whine about Linux. I have put a large amount of
effort into the learning process but, unfortunately, my enthusiasm for
Linux is beginning to wane. I have worked hard at getting a base
knowledge of Linux using SuSE 8.1 Pro, which I purchased in full so that
I had all the up to date documentation. I started my Linux adventure in
Feb. 

I have now been trying to get my system working for 4 1/2 months. I have
read widely and taken the advice generously given by the Humbugs. So far
my system has done nothing useful at all. What I aimed to do was to set
up a testing server using Apache and PHP and MySQL, and then to start
learning PHP based dynamic web site design. I have used ASP and W2K
servers at work and would be at an intermediate website/HTML/ASP
knowledge level. If I got this Linux system running I was considering
having my Tech at work set up a trial of a couple of linux servers in
the school I work at (we run about 7 w2k servers including ISA,
Exchange, IIS etc).

I have attempted to install Samba from source files downloaded from
samba.org - I followed all the instructions in the documentation - this
didn't work, none of the files were in the correct places according to
the documentation, most were missing completely.
I have tried following the instructions in the SuSE administration guide
-  none of the steps have any effect - the service doesn't end up
running, files are missing etc. 

I tried following the 'Running Linux' book from O'Reilly - none of the
files are in the directories listed and most of the files are missing
from the system. Got the Samba Unleashed book from the library - same
story, none of the files are in the places indicated in the book, most
are  missing.

I downloaded the 'Samba - An Introduction' from the SuSE website and
followed the instructions which do not agree with the details given in
the Administration Guide. Files are in the wrong places and most are not
installed.

Each time I have tried a 'new' way, I have reloaded from a clean install
so that none of my fumblings would cause any problems.

In desperation I have tried looking for files referred to in one
document in locations indicated in other sources of information -  the
files are still not available. I have added files using suggested file
contents formatted exactly as suggested in the books and documents
but.......

I have searched for errata and addendum for the manuals, I have found
some information but the files are never where they are supposed to be
and usually are not on the system. 

The methods described in each of the books and documents make sense to
me but do not correlate with the actual file system of SuSE.

Even installing SuSE proves problematic. Each install that I do to clean
up from my attempts to install Samba brings a new set of observations
despite the hardware and partitioning  being identical. On one install
the system will detect three CD devices despite there being only two,
the next install will detect only two, the next will decide to redetect
the mouse on every reboot, the next will drop the volume of the sound
card to 0 the next will not detect the video card or be able to drive
the monitor correctly, the next gives the full range of video modes with
no intervention from me. As you can see I have reinstalled the SuSE
system several times.

Is SuSE a bodgy distribution? Why are the files not where the
documentation (even that from SuSE) say they should be. Is Linux really
this hard to use? As you can tell I am feeling very underconfident about
all this despite putting several months of hard work into the learning
process.

Any suggestions before I give up. 

Alex Delaforce
  Director of Technology 
    Ormiston College
      [**alextdel at bigpond.net.au**]
        [**dir.tech at ormiston.qld.edu.au**]



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