From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon May 2 23:55:50 2011 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9714F106566B for ; Mon, 2 May 2011 23:55:50 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from jerrymc@gizmo.acns.msu.edu) Received: from gizmo.acns.msu.edu (gizmo.acns.msu.edu [35.8.1.43]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 44B428FC13 for ; Mon, 2 May 2011 23:55:49 +0000 (UTC) Received: from gizmo.acns.msu.edu (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by gizmo.acns.msu.edu (8.13.6/8.13.6) with ESMTP id p42Nr7Av085409; Mon, 2 May 2011 19:53:07 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from jerrymc@gizmo.acns.msu.edu) Received: (from jerrymc@localhost) by gizmo.acns.msu.edu (8.13.6/8.13.6/Submit) id p42Nr7ZT085408; Mon, 2 May 2011 19:53:07 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from jerrymc) Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 19:53:07 -0400 From: Jerry McAllister To: Louis Marrero Message-ID: <20110502235307.GA85269@gizmo.acns.msu.edu> References: <000001cc091a$e041f380$a0c5da80$@com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <000001cc091a$e041f380$a0c5da80$@com> User-Agent: Mutt/1.4.2.2i Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: For My Edification X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 02 May 2011 23:55:50 -0000 On Mon, May 02, 2011 at 06:47:11PM -0400, Louis Marrero wrote: > Gentlemen, > > I have a number of really dumb questions that I hope you might be able to > shed some light on. > > Although I am familiar with basic computer operation, I've been trying to > understand a very experienced programmer friend that mixes Linux/Unix > terminology in his vocabulary under the assumption that everyone knows the > language. > > Being familiar only with general knowledge on the Windows XP that I use > daily, I've gone on the web to find out more information on some of the > terms used by this programmer, such as "BSD", "shell terminal", "nc -u", > etc. Since my friend knows that my computer is strictly MS Windows, when my > friend writes down something like "In a shell terminal type nc -u > 10.101.97.200 5555." it makes me wonder what I'm missing. > > Here are some questions that can help my understanding: > > 1. I know that Windows is an OS, and Linux/Unix as well as FreeBSD > are other Operating System. My very basic question is this: Is it even > possible to install a second OS, like FreeBSD on an existing Windows-based > computer? Yes. In fact, the machine I am currently typing on is 'dual booted' Win XP and FreeBSD. The FreeBSD Handbook covers how to do it quite well, though it might take a little studying to begin to get the picture. One note -- you need to install the MS system first and then the FreeBSD system because MS does not like to play friendly with other systems. Study the handbook first so you have a more useful idea of what things are and then ask more questions. > > 2. Is it possible to link my Windows laptop to a web server with > Unix or FreeBSD and exercise Unix/Linux commands. If so, how is that done? > I don't think I understand what you are asking here well enough to respond to this. By the way, BSD stands for Berkley Software Distribution referring to University of California at Berkley software development group which originally took the Bell Labs experiment and built it up in to a real OS and distributed it. Then there is a long soap opera of law suits and companies springing up to try and make a quick $$$buck and finally some people put a fully free version. That story has links on the FreeBSD web site too. Have Fun, ////jerry > > > I'd be grateful for any information. > > > > Louis Marrero > > _______________________________________________ > freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe@freebsd.org"