Hi! I have been using Win 95/98 for a fair amount of time and have recently switched over to Linux. Currently I am using RH 7.1. I just basically use the computer for surfing, word proccessing, gaming, playing mp3s and vcds.My question regards system maintenance of a linux PC. In Win 95/98, there are programs such as scandisk, defragmenter, antivirus/security programs, registry checkers, ways to view devices including their drivers and properties, and ways to view yur hard disk and find out how much space is still available.

I know this somewhat encompasses a range of more specific questions and I apologize for it, but being a long time Win 95/98 user I have read a lot of features and articles that entertain this topic (on Windows). I am quite new to Linux and I admit that it may not be appropriate to view this topic with a Win 95/98 perspective and a lack of linux fundamentals but I would think most newbies like me would appreciate something on this particular question.

Thanks in advance...

Well basically, Linux does have a file system checker, you can run it from the command line as fsck.
Linux has no need for a defragmenter as its file system is capable and the way it is designed, there is no need for it ever, unlike Windows and other OS's. There is a program out there that defrags a Linux filesystem, but even the creator recommends not to use it, its unstable and can do more harm to your system than help it.
Antivirus programs, I do know I think McAfee is creating one, not really sure of any others, but with the built in firewalls that come with Linux, you have all the security features you would want with the basic distro's out there.
Registry, no need, that is Windows.
Usually to view devices and drivers and properties, the eassiest way is under either GNOME or KDE, both usually come with GUI programs to veiw device listings and other goodies within their control panels.
If you want to check the amount of hard disk space, issue a df command followed by the hard drive. man df for more options with this command.

I guess that might answer any of your questions in a nutshell.

Thanks trickykid! as usual, the "nutshell" was very helpful.

Ill try to give a slighty less sparse overview.
(started writing this before tricky's answer)

Scandisk = fsck
Linux comes with fsck which is a container for apps that check filesystems like fsck.ext, fsck.vfat, etc. On startup Linux automagically checks ure (auto)mounted filesystems on integrity, so u don't need to do that. Only if Linux experiences a "dirty" shutdown due to brownouts or u pressing the pwr button and it can't get up itself cuz some files seem corrupted, then uve gotta run fsck.

Diskdefrag
Even tho there's an app to defragment, ext2 partitions won't need it.

Antivirus
Linux Antivirus products are divided into roughly 2 kind of apps. "Regular" AV products and MTA related products.
The MTA (Mail Transfer Agents) related AV products scan/filter/change f.i. messages for viruses, file extensions, MIME parts of messages etc. for Qmail, Exim, Sendmail before mail is delivered to the user.
Regular AV products are just like any W32 type scanner, some have on-the-fly protection with a running monitor.
Some rough test results u can find on my own page but basically Ive had bad results scanning my virlibs with HBDEV, Sophos and older versions of AVP. Ive had good results with RAV, newer AVP. The best scanner I recommend is Mcafee's Uvscan.

Security
The amount of passive/active steps to take depend on the usage of the box, but priming post-install security measures should not be bypassed: (not exhaustive) local security on accounts, passwords, various filesystem bits like immutables and set UID, paths, maintaining and checking of integrity, preparing network access denial and filtering.
The best practices are offered in AUS-CERT's document called UNIX Computer Security Checklist (ftp)
*Remember Linux is way more powerfull in comparison to the std windoze box, read this, for more go to cert.org, sans.org, securityfocus.com, secinf.net, or search the web for the Linux Administrator's Security Guide (LASG).
Any security related questions are always answered at LinuxQuestions.org Forums > Linux - Security forum.

Registry checkers & ways to view devices including their drivers and properties
Ofcuz Linux dont have no registry :-]. A lot of info can be catted from /proc just like system commands like ls and ps read their info, the kernel doc sez: "The proc file system acts as an interface to internal data structures in the kernel. It can be used to obtain information about the system and to change certain kernel parameters at runtime (sysctl)." Linux comes with a lot of tools, f.i. for info on kernel modules ("drivers") use the modutils package (lsmod etc). If u want some info on what partitions ure HD's got, just do "cat /proc/partitions". The column "major" shows the type (22 for ext2.fs and 3 for vfat), "minor" the partition number and blocks and name speak for itself. This way u can also get DMA usage, interrupts, kernel version, SCSI/bus/USB/IDE usage etc. etc. More tools that automate this like si (system info) can be found on freshmeat.net or rpmfind.net.

Ways to view yur hard disk and find out how much space is still available= df and du
Df summarizes free disk space, and du summarizes disk usage. Tools like Xdiskusage can show it graphically.

HTH

[Edited by unSpawn on 06-13-2001 at 07:05 AM]

Not to nit-pick, but for a Windows user, the closest corollary to a "registry" would be the package management database. For Red Hat, that would be the RPM database. This is similar to a registry, but it is not crucial to your system performance, the way the Windows registry is. The RPM db simply enables you to manage your software installations. Debian's package management system (DEB) is a little better with dependency checking that RPM, and with the added advantage of APT, is superior to the Red Hat system.

So no, Linux doesn't have a registry (thank goodness) but it does have a software management tool that is similar in concept. In addition to that similarity, one might also draw an analogy between a registry and kernel mods, but that's another story all together. Registry entries can't be inserted and removed on the fly the way the Linux kernel uses mods to load drivers. Another good reason to like Linux.

Wow! Thanks guys.... I think I get the picture... right now i'm trying to find docs and stuff about viruses and security for linux.... and trying to find out what someone like me... an ordinary dektop PC whose only connection to anything else would be dial-up acces to the Internet... could and should do about it...

The Windows registry is not just a list of installed programs and dependencies, it also is the configuration file for many programs. In this case, Linux is closer to the older Windows style of ini files. Linux tends to use configuration files that are text based and readable in a text editor (vi, emacs) rather than the enigmatic registry. Again, a change in style. Linux empowers you, Windows tries to hide things (you can hide, but you can't run??).

Tripwire is tedious to setup correctly but it will check all of your files that you tell it too(the tedious part) and alert you to any missing or changed files and you can just restore them if possible.