Total Noob to linux needs help

[Gotenks98]

I recently applied for an IT position that involves learning Linux servers and something about BSD. I currently have a strong background in all the microsoft servers and clients. How hard will it be to learn about linux servers and bsd? What are some good books that I can get that get me a crash course in learning it?

[offroadaaron]

Install an OS and play in terminal is the best bet.... You can get a book and read it and never understand the concept..

So install and create your own server, google everything.... You'll learn so much quicker...

CBT Nuggets Linux would probably be a good video tut to look at getting as well.

Also this book is wicked just incase you don't do the above:

ISBN: 0-619-13095-4

Also you can ask questions here if need be :)

[+BudMan MVC]

I would second the suggestion of installing and playing.. Use virtualbox if you don't have any spare hardware to play with.

FreeBSD or OpenBSD are great to play with.. Then as suggested play with setting them up for different services, http, ftp, dns, etc. Play with using samba to share files between your home windows machines and the linux/bsd boxes.

Problem lots of windows admins have is quite often they lack understanding or and experience with a command line interface -- sure there are gui and gui tools for lots of admin features on linux.. But it quite likely that linux/bsd servers in a work setup might not even have gui interface at all.. I don't run them on my freebsd router or ubuntu server on my home network even. Just no point to them on a box serving up ftp, http, dns, files, email, ssh, providing dhcp, routing, firewall, etc.

MS finally is finally moving this way with the 2008 Core.. very limited gui access. Its not needed to provide server type services.

[Growled Member]

My friends all ask me how I know so much about computers. I've told them that if they had broke as many computers in their time as I have, and then sit down and worked to fix them, they would know a bunch too. + 1 for installing and playing around with it. That's the best way to learn. And the neat thing about Virtualbox (for an example) is you can save a snapshot and always have a good configuration to go back too.

[xoq100.]

I recently applied for an IT position that involves learning Linux servers and something about BSD. I currently have a strong background in all the microsoft servers and clients. How hard will it be to learn about linux servers and bsd? What are some good books that I can get that get me a crash course in learning it?

The Linux From Scratch project compiled a hint about reading prerequisites before attempting to build our own GNU/Linux distribution.

Linux From Scratch Reading Hint

That's well worth checking out.

While I agree with the others about experimentation, I disagree with just jumping right in there, it helps to have some background about UNIX and the philosophy behind it; otherwise you'll hack your way around and develop false assumptions about its technology. Lots of people get told to just read the man pages when their stuck, that's OK for simple commands where the functionality is very obvious, but you just will not be able to understand a lot of the information in man pages if you don't understand the basics of UNIX.

Or as Eric Raymond put it

This document [unix and Internet Fundamentals] is intended to help Linux and Internet users who are learning by doing. While this is a great way to acquire specific skills, sometimes it leaves peculiar gaps in one's knowledge of the basics ? gaps which can make it hard to think creatively or troubleshoot effectively, from lack of a good mental model of what is really going on.

Once the basics are down however, you'll be able to take full advantage of the manuals, which once you get used to them, are your most precious source of information.

(Hint: I've found the NetBSD man pages to be of the finest quality)

You should read the following document before you get started. Its a bit dusty, but all the basics are there, and are explained very well.

Unix and Internet Fundamentals

[breed]

Strongly recommend you go check out http://www.thoughtpolice.co.uk/vmware/ for links to FREE VMware images for most major flavors of Linux and FreeBSD. There is a link to go get VMware Player or Server (either is free) and you can just download or torrent these images and start playing with them.

I have used the CentOS image here for a few test servers and it was a big time savings over building images from scratch.

[Abhishek kapoor]

From above site just download VMware player or server and also download the VMware image of the Linux OS ... and after running VMware player just load Linux OS Image no need to install again and again from cd or DVD when OS get corrupted .. is that right?

Right now i m using Window 7 and what to try Linux OS ... want to run virtually ... so which software and how to do that .. if anybody can help me on that would be good?

[Syanide]

From above site just download VMware player or server and also download the VMware image of the Linux OS ... and after running VMware player just load Linux OS Image no need to install again and again from cd or DVD when OS get corrupted .. is that right?

Right now i m using Window 7 and what to try Linux OS ... want to run virtually ... so which software and how to do that .. if anybody can help me on that would be good?

3 Easy Ways To Try Out Linux

[Abhishek kapoor]

^^ thax ..

but what breed has said and what me understand is that right ?

[breed]

Yes, with the images from the site I referenced above you do not need install media. You should be able to download the zip file, unzip and load the *.vmx file with your preferred VMware application (player, server, esxi, fusion, etc.).

If you are a beginner to Linux, I would recommend getting a LiveCD, such as Knoppix, Knoppix-STD or several others, and starting from there. That way you don't need to fool with VMware, dual-booting, repartitioning your hard drive, and other painful issues. Just boot from USB or CD/DVD and you are all set.

[Abhishek kapoor]

Thax for help ...

I m beginner in Linux and really like to start with that ... i have ubuntu live Cd .....

and also have fedora version what can i do is installation, internet working, mount a cd writer or USB drive and DNS and DHCP that is what i learn while is was doing course ..

when ever i install OS can't do anything after that.

[Baboo]

man pages