Learning Linux?
 

Hey guys, im pushing for a promotion at work as a tech, and I think learning Linux / OSX would be a great boost to my resume. So anyone know any good guides to learning linux and the in depth stuff about OSX quickly? I already pretty good w/ OSX, and i know the basics of Linux. =)

The easiest way I learned Linux back on Slack 2.0 was to go to (which, back then wasn't much), The Linux Documentation Project and try to learn about certain things, installing certain programs and actually turning an old box I had at the time into server serving FTP, HTTP, SMTP, POP3 & IMAP4.

You won't learn it in a short time, but do what interests you and you'll learn quicker than most. There is even a DOS->Linux Primer at that site if you're interested, but, if you're pretty good with OS X, then I trust you've seen the command line.

Hrm, I think this should be more in the computers forum, but regardless.

I learned linux by diving head first into debian and reading EVERYTHING about it to make sure i didn't screw up too badly. After getting the basic system running (broweser, chat, email, offfice suite), I just picked other aspects as i needed it. Google, man pages and browsing through the 13000+ packages that debian offers allowed to to play around and experiment with different programs avalible on linux and the basics of setting each one up. I often read through serveral different guides on the same topic to make sure i was getting it right and to decode the different ways different distros did things. I guess it depends on what you mean by learning linux. What is your goal and what do you want to do with linux? Learning the basic workstating aspect and playing around with settings doesn't take too long, but you want to learn how to be a sysadmin, it may take a long time to master linux as well as the other associated skills such as programming scripting languages.

install fedora as it has the most online help...then start using it
u want to watch a movie,ull learn about installing a video player
same with audio player, upgrading, new apps
i learnt everything about linux by other ppl telling me what they wanted on their cmops and me googling it out

you could also grab a live cd, like knoppix, that way you could play with linux but still wont have to go through all the partitioning and installation issues.

I'm gonna plug my own stuff and suggest you read this thread.

I learned on a very old distribution of slackware that didn't have an x server for my video card, so I had to do all the configuration in console mode, and it didn't come with any kind of dialer/PPP program, so I had to write my own script. It was a nightmare. It took me at least a week to even get it running with X (the GUI, the windows like appearence). The second I got it running, I formatted the disk and did it again so I wouldn't be afraid to make mistakes.

It's come a VERY long way since them, and I mean like light-years, but it can still be very frustrating when you start. For that reason, I suggest you use a second box for your linux box, or at least partition and dual boot with Windows. That way, if you get too frustrated, you can reboot and forget about it for the night.

Once you get it running, try to lean the basic commands so you can at least move around the shell. They're generally in /usr/bin. A good way to get aquainted is to do this:

cd /usr/bin
ls

that will list the majority of the commands you will want to be familiar with (and a whole lot more), but if you do whatis on them, it should give you a short explanation. eg:

whatis ls

Once you've gotten comfortable with moving in the shell and have an idea of what kinds of commands you have to work with, you'll at least be able to say you're familiar with it. Then try to install some programs. Use both rpm's and tarballs. You'll have to read instructions with them to get the idea.

Once you've done all of that, you'll know more or less what it is that you want to ask. Then you can read the man pages (like 'whatis ls' except 'man ls') and learn all of your super cool options. By this point you won't really need to ask questions, because you'll already know what kinds of things you can do, and you'll know where to find out how, but you can come back and ask anyway.

You'll also want to read help files for configuring and starting/stopping basic services, httpd, ftpd, sshd, etc. to get a familiarity.

Another, less good, option for learning the shell and basic commands is to download and install cygwin and run it on your windows system.

It can take a while to start feeling kind of comfortable with it.

If you don't mind reading, check out "Running Linux" from O'Reilly press. Best. Linux Primer. Evar. My friend read it cover-to-cover and came away from it with a very good understanding of what makes a Linux system tick.

I intend to buy Linux in a Nutshell and DL Fedora (or a 64bit Distro if I can find a free one) and learn myself up on how to use Linux. It's not something I'll ever need, per se, but I figure I can find use in it, plus it'd just be nice to know what all the fuss is about. If Fry's has Running Linux I might grab that instead since there's actually a recomendation for it here.

I agree.

So... better late than never /moving

Learn linux? You don't "learn" linux. You consume it, much as it will consume you. It will show you frustration, regret, time spent, agony, etc.

Get books. Read. Don't ask people questions without reading first. I've been using Linux for nearly 6-7 years and I still learn new things almost weekly. One more time, READ. There is documentation out there for everything, you just have to find it. Google becomes a good friend of yours, and if you're at odds with Google, then you two need to make up.

If you're planning on using Linux for personal reasons, then start with Fedora or Mandrake. However, if you're going to start learning for Enterprise/Production Server purposes, then start with Debian or Gentoo. For enterprise stuff, don't worry about GUI, as you will hardly ever use it.

Learn to love the command line. RHES sucks. It's for people who want to use the GUI to do enterprise work. That may work ok where they are now, but what if they change jobs and have to do the same thing via command line only. If you already know the command line, then your transition should be quite easy.

Make sure you know about cron and how jobs are run. Make sure you know how to use vi/vim, though I prefer nano. Make sure you know how to start, stop and restart processes running. Regular expressions can be your best friend and worse enemy at the same time.