Installfest 49

November 5, 2011 / thomas / 0 Comments

Curious about Linux? Want to learn how to use a Unix environment on your own computer for class, for fun, or for your résumé? Attend InstallFest 49!

InstallFest 49 will be on Saturday, November 5th, 2011, in Tentatively in Skiles room 257 from 11 AM to 5 PM.

Directions
The Skiles Classroom Building is off of Cherry Street, near the Georgia Tech Library. A map (provided by the Georgia Tech Alumni Association) can be found below.

Click to view the Skiles Building on the GT Campus Map

Parking for the InstallFest is difficult due to construction. If you have a GT parking permit, the W01, E41, E44, and E40 (Klaus deck) lots are the closest to the Skiles building. If you do not have a GT parking permit, the best place to park is in the Area 2 visitor parking, next to the Student Center, or, if you only need to stop by for a moment, there are nearby parking meters.

Click to view the GT Campus Parking Map

Skiles room 257 is in the northeast corner of the building. Signs will be posted to direct people to this room.

Distributions
Linux comes in many “flavors” called distributions, each geared towards a different type of user. This article has more information about Linux basics, including what a distribution is. Below is a list of distributions available. For more information about the various distributions, try the following outside links:

At the InstallFest, we will have most major distributions available. However, if you are not sure if we will have what you want, it cannot hurt to burn the bootable ISO for that distribution to a CD before coming. We will have recordable media at the Installfest, too, so if you do not have time to burn it, we can do it for you.

If you are unsure of which distribution you want, don’t worry! We will set you up with an easy-to-learn distribution of Linux (most likely Ubuntu or Red Hat). If you require Linux for a class, you will most likely need Red Hat Enterprise Linux. However, you should still check with your professor or TA to make sure.

Getting Ready
To learn how to prepare your system for the InstallFest, click here (don’t worry, it’s not difficult!). The most important thing to do is back up your data beforehand (in the unlikely event that something goes wrong).