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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    England
    Posts
    49

    Best way to learn linux

    I want to learn Linux Systems Administration so that I will be comfortable when I get to the co-location stage and want to setup a test server at home to play about with.

    Firstly what distr do you recommend.

    And Secondly, any books/tutorials that would be beneficial?

  2. #2
    For beginner's I recommend RedHat or Mandrake.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Spokane, WA
    Posts
    262
    I've been doing what you're about to do. I would strongly suggest Red Hat 7.3, as it's what seems to be on 90% of Linux servers.

    As for books there are tons out there, I've been reading an older book called Essential Linux - Limited Edition. It's for like RH 5, but it has tons of useful information still.

    Linux for Dummies is my next book to get.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    England
    Posts
    49
    I have decided to go for RH 8 partly because I already have it

    does anyone know of any Step By Step Server Config guides?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    26
    Mark Jervis
    admin@protechhosting.com
    http://protechhosting.com No Hassle Hosting. Fully managed accounts.
    Looking for an Admin for your server? http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=136076

  6. #6
    Setup RH, since it's probably what you will be using as your server.

    a good place to find info and some howto's http://www.redhat.com/apps/support/resources/

    and dont' furget linux.org also, lots of great docs there.
    Carlos Rego
    OnApp CVO

    The Cloud Engine

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    112
    I'd recommend RedHat as your distribution and O'reilly's "Essential System Administration" -- it's like my bible.

  8. #8
    if you want to get down and dirty with linux and learn the in's and out's... check out http://www.linuxfromscatch.org

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    Vienna, Austria
    Posts
    2,531
    http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/ would be the correct link ( you are missing letter R)

  10. #10
    I would really recommend that you start out with slackware or debian, i remember when i first started. I had to use slackware 3.6 or redhat 5.2, i chose slackware 3.6 and i literally had to configure everything which i learned to do manually and not with some little cute program.. I learned alot from fixing and configuring stuff and it really helped me out.
    Rogelio Hackett
    Remedy Hosting Services
    RogelioH@RemedyHosting.Com
    RemedyHosting.Com - Providing A Remedy To All Hosting.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    Netherlands
    Posts
    236
    Gues I'm still learning, and one tip I most definitely recommend:

    do NOT install a gui. Forget about clicking "next" and "ok", and do everything manually. That'll teach ya
    Hmm, what does this do... Oops!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    26
    Originally posted by Pingu
    Gues I'm still learning, and one tip I most definitely recommend:

    do NOT install a gui. Forget about clicking "next" and "ok", and do everything manually. That'll teach ya

    Whats a GUI ???

    Mark Jervis
    admin@protechhosting.com
    http://protechhosting.com No Hassle Hosting. Fully managed accounts.
    Looking for an Admin for your server? http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=136076

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Toronto, Canada
    Posts
    286
    Best way to learn linux
    Trial and Error, lol


    but to avoid the Error.... try the book RedHat Linux Unleashed.
    www.prolinker.com - free automatic linking to your website

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Posts
    231
    Graphics User Interface (GUI)

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Ottawa
    Posts
    959
    install debian , no gui (x ) and then get linux the complete reference (one of the earlier editions the new ones have pictures!) and read it cover to cover . Thats what I did , it took a long time there is probably a better way but I seriously remember the stuff . Also read before you go to sleep , more likely to go into long term memory . Once you have read something the night before try it out the night afterwards without using the book (if possible) otherwise use the book and do it .

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    101
    Buy an old PC or server, put it in your network, install Redhat (the most used distro in the hosting world) and play! Just try what you want, and with the help from readme's, how-to's, forums and maybe a book it will work
    You're reading my signature, can't you do something useful?

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Ottawa
    Posts
    959
    not to turn this into a distribution war , but debian is a much better distribution for hosting . It has free auto updates for security patches , an easy upgrade feature and convient ways to install more software . Redhat uses there own RPM format , where as debians package format can almost always resolve the dependicies automatically during installation . Redhat is reducing its free erate list down to 1 year (they wont bother keeping an erata for the public for longer than a year after the release) where as debian has no such plans to restrict its self . Redhat tends to be very bloated when compared to other distributions . Debian on the other hand is not nearly as bloated . While redhat may have a niecer GUI , this is a server were talking about almost everything you do is either going to be CLI or through a web admin pannel .
    Now I have probably angered quite a few people with my post so I await your response(s) as to why redhat is better.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Port Arthur, Texas
    Posts
    1,650
    First of all, RedHat 8.0 is horrible .. probably the most horrific Linux distro release so far.


    Anyway, once you really get into administration, try this book:
    Title: Linux Server Hacks
    Author: Rob Flickenger
    Publisher: O'Reilly


    There's no better way to learn than to find and manage known exploits and basic implementations.

    Of course, you need to get the basic command/structure down first.
    Become an ISP; a great value-added service for any web host.
    http://www.vispprovider.com

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    California
    Posts
    142
    Check out the site safari.oreilly.com for books published by oreilly (a publisher that has I think the best technical books). You can create a subcription account for free for I think 2 weeks. You can then check out about 10 books in that period. If you do not cancel you credit card will be charged for a month (I think $15 or something). Search for "linux adminstration" - 2 of the books in the search "Running Linux" and "Advanced Linux Adminstration" are good linux adminstration books. You can also do search and preview other books for example search for "apache" and "bind" for good apache and dns/bind books. One of the best resource finds on the net IMHO.

    www.tldp.org remains probably the best free resource of linux documentaion. Check out the guide "Securing and optimizing Linux: The ultimate solution" and other guides too for a wealth of linux admin information. It may be a bit dated but it's all worth it.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Posts
    619
    Heh..

    I started off with mandrake..

    I thought that mandrake linux was pretty cool..

    Then, I learnt about FreeBSD.. LoL

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