Terence, I am currently running Oracle8i on Mandrake-Linux 8.1 with
kernel 2.4.16.

Oracle8i Release 3 can be installed on a RH type Linux distro. It's not
easy, but here is a link to a set of installation procedures: 
         
http://linuxlab.dk/fcl/technotes/ora_817_3.html

There are other installation procedures and a How-To available on the
net. However some of them are for older versions of Oracle. 
I don't have links to them but they can be found via Google or
any other search engine. 

Oracle is a great database and worth the effort that it takes
to master it. However, before you take on Oracle you should have a
working Linux box connected to an IP network. Be sure the box is working 
with no pre-existing problems before installing Oracle onto it.
Also, Oracle needs lots of RAM and disk storage space.

--------------
W. E. Brooks


On Sun, 2001-12-09 at 00:06, Terence Chang wrote:
> Hi Folks:
> 
> I am new to Linux. I have been playing with Oracle on the UNIX(SUN Solaris without knowing UNIX Admin) and Windows for a while. I am thinking to use Linux as the foundation for the Oracle, because Linux could be free or an affordable price. However, I have never successfully installed Linux and had bad experience on installing OpenLinux 2.2 and Redhat 6.2 long time ago. I gave up!
> 
> I would like some suggestions on which Linux dist. I should use. SUSE 7.3 or RedHat 7.2? I really want to learn Linux from the bottom and will use the System as my Desktop and both Oracle Server. 
> 
> This is my questions. 
> 1. My first few bad installation experience were related to the xconfiguration (640x480) and Network card. My old hardware just won't works, because I don't know how to change the configuration files after installed the system. It there any pre-build box I can purchase for Linux? So the machine will works. Or I can buy any type of hardware and learn the hard way to configure? 
> 2. I had troubles to boot from LILO into Linux and Windows and clean up the boot area. Where can I find more info about setting the LILO? It sounds simple from people's post but just did work the same way for me. :-)
> 3. Do I have to know C, C++ or other language in order to know how to make kernal, if I need to upgrade the kernal?
> 4. I don't know where to start and where to get right information about where the software are installed to (what folder) and how to uninstall them? When the system general error, I am kind of panic... :-) Also is there any searchable version of HOW-TO Document? 
> 
> I really want to give Linux an other tries.. but would be happy to get some suggestions from other folks. Any information helping me on learning Linux will be great appreciated. 
> 
> Terence Chang
> peanutlen@yahoo.com
> 
>