Total Noob to linux needs help


Recommended Posts

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?

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/818394-total-noob-to-linux-needs-help/
Share on other sites

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 :)

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.

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.

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

  • 1 month later...

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.

  • 2 weeks later...

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?

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

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.

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.

  • 1 month later...
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Microsoft confirms Windows 11 26H2, urges IT admins to prepare for release by Usama Jawad Windows 11 typically follows an annual update cycle, but Microsoft recently broke that tradition a bit by releasing a "26H1" version in the first half of this year as a "scoped" build for select new silicon PCs only. This version was not available for customers using 24H2 and 25H2 builds, as Microsoft is busy preparing version 26H2 for them, confirmed officially for the first time. In a Windows IT Pro blog, Microsoft has urged IT admins to prepare for the upcoming release of Windows 11 version 26H2. The company has confirmed that this will be a small enablement package (eKB) that will simply light up certain disabled features that are already present in the operating system's code base. This means that the "refined" Windows update and deployment experience will be simpler and quicker, with minimal disruptions, as the feature update will simply toggle a few flags rather than performing a complete replacement. Microsoft has explained that this is all possible because the standard Windows 11 releases share the same servicing branch and hence, the same source code. However, this also means that Windows 11 26H1 users won't be able to upgrade to 26H2 as that is a different branch, but this is something we have known for a while now. Similar to previous annual feature updates, Windows 11 26H2 will offer the following support cycles: 24 months of support for Home, Pro, Pro EDU, and Pro for Workstations editions 36 months of support for Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise, and Enterprise Multi-session editions Microsoft has not confirmed a concrete release date for Windows 11 26H2, but noted that it is "coming soon". If we go by the ongoing release cadence, we can expect it to begin rolling out in early October 2026. As such, IT admins have been encouraged to begin validating Windows Insider releases in the Experimental Channel, plan rollout rings, and strategize the utilization of their existing deployment tools.
    • Windows 11 gets new audio improvements in the latest builds by Taras Buria Today's Experimental builds (26H1 and Future Platforms, formerly Canary) pack several audio-related improvements. If your device is enrolled in the Experimental Channel (26H1), you can download build 28120.2315, while those in the Future Platforms version have build 29613.1000 to try. Here is what is new in build 29613.1000: [Audio] Following up on our previous improvements, we’re making some more adjustments to Settings > System > Sounds based on your feedback. Namely, we’ve updated the “All sound devices” page so: You now have the ability to change default devices from this page. Each of the devices displayed on this page now has a little volume meter next to it to show if there is audio actively playing. We’ve adjusted the page design slightly so now you can filter whether you’re viewing input or output devices. We’ve added toggles so you can choose if you want to hide or show disabled, disconnected, and unplugged devices on this page. We’ve also updated the input and output audio properties page for devices in Settings to now include jack information for those that need it. And here is the changelog for build 28120.2315: This update includes a small number of minor bug fixes and improvements. [Accessibility] This update improves caption style responsiveness by redrawing captions immediately for caption style changes. If no current caption is visible, a sample caption string is displayed. [Audio] This update improves the reliability of the inbox HD Audio driver. You can find the official release notes for build 28120.2315 here and for build 29613.1000 here.
    • I agree with what I think you are saying, just not in the way you are saying it. Like any tool, the amount it represents your work is perorational to the effort you put into it. It is similar to why 2nd grade math students learning to add and subtract are not allowed to use calculators, but a high-school calculous student is. For the 2nd grader, that tool would completely replace the work they are doing, for the calculous student the same tool allows them to work far more effectively while in no way replacing their effort or knowable. If you spend 30 seconds writing a prompt, then the image that comes out is no more "yours" than if you found the same image with a Google Image search. However, many of these generative tools also support highly iterative processes that allow back and forth, and merging generated images with photos or human created images. I am sure you would agree that a human spending hours of time working on a project, even if AI was involved in the process, still reflects that human's work.
    • Windows 11 version 26H2 is now available for testing in the latest preview build by Taras Buria Friday Windows 11 preview builds are here. Insiders in the Experimental (formerly Dev) and Beta Channel can download builds 26300.8697 and 26220.8690. There are no new features, but Microsoft is officially moving the Experimental Channel to version 26H2. In addition, Microsoft is improving the copy dialog in File Explorer, the Start menu reliability, and fixing virtualization issues. Here is the changelog: [General] With today’s build, Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel will see the versioning updated under Settings > System > About (and winver) to version 26H2. For more information, see the Windows Insiders blog. [File Explorer] We’ve improved the visual consistency and reliability of the Copy dialog in Dark mode, including its launch experience and the expanded progress view. [Start menu] - Also available in Beta Improved reliability of Start menu reflecting newly installed or removed apps without requiring sign-out or restart. [Taskbar] Fixed an issue for Insiders using the new smaller taskbar option, where the system tray might get cut off or pushed off screen. [Settings] - Also available in Beta Improved reliability of Settings > Apps > Startup. [Virtualization] - Also available in Beta This update addresses an issue that could result in bugchecks citing HYPERVISOR_ERROR (0x20001) and KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (0x1E) errors after installing the latest flights on some devices during system restarts, virtual machine operations, or while running some gaming applications. You can find the official changelog for the Experimental build here and for the Beta build here.
    • I've always preferred this possibility. There is something that feels good about the idea that all matter in the universe will eventually come back together and maybe even result in another big bang. The idea that the universe would fizzle out over the eons and forever drift apart is a little depressing. I realize it is not logical to let a basic human desire for life to have a grand everlasting meaning change the way I feel about a scientific theory, but I am human, so that is how I feel :-).
  • Recent Achievements

    • Collaborator
      ryansurfer98 went up a rank
      Collaborator
    • Week One Done
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Year In
      Skeet Campbell earned a badge
      One Year In
    • One Month Later
      Sharbel earned a badge
      One Month Later
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      577
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      190
    3. 3
      Michael Scrip
      77
    4. 4
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      76
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      73
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!