[lug] Linux Starter Guide

[John Dollison]

A friend of mine (he's a software tester) just asked how to learn about Linux.  I sent him the e-mail below.  Did I miss anything?
 
 

----------------------------------- Original Message -----------------------------------
Subject: Linux Starter Guide
From:    "John Dollison"
Date:    Sun, September 12, 2010 4:48 pm
To:      "Ed"
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Ed,
If you want to learn UNIX / Linux, you absolutely will need a working, modern
distribution on a laptop so you can play with it anywhere, anytime.  It's easy to make
your laptop dual-boot either Windows or Linux; setting up a third NTFS partition takes a
bit more work, but is worth it.
 
My suggestion is starting with Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/).  It's one of the easiest
distributions because of the hardware auto-detection, etc.  You'll have a working
installation in under two hours.  The current stable version is 10.04 (from the Download
Now page), and there's a beta version 10.10 that you can download if you want (it will
become the official latest stable version in October).   The website has an amazing
amount of step-by-step tutorials, often with pictures.  Take the time to read through it
all.
 
I have 6 books on Linux that you're welcome to borrow; I'm sure there are dozens more at
the libraries.  Stay away from the reference books for now; look toward the step-by-step
tutorials.  Books that include their own CD are preferred; it means the steps in the
book should match how your system works.  I can't tell you how many times I've read
something in a book only to find out it will only work on Distro X, versions 1-4, and I
have some other Distro or version that doesn't include that command or tool.
 
I think classes are easier than learning from books (unless you already have a Computer
Science degree or some similar computer/programming background).  Just about all
colleges now offer Linux classes, and many are available online, which is better for
working adults.  I've also heard great things about O'Reilly School of Technology.  They
offer individual classes, as well as full certificate programs.  If money's tight,
e-mail Trish and ask if any discounts are available; last year she offered me a decent
discount but I just didn't have time to enroll and take the course.
http://www.oreillyschool.com/certificates/system-administration.php
 
I also recommend finding local support; someplace to help you out when you're stuck. 
For me, that's the Boulder Linux Users' Group (BLUG).  I used to attend all their
meetings; now that I live further south I just hang out on their e-mail list and ask
questions.
http://lug.boulder.co.us/
 
There's also a South Denver group, the Colorado Linux Users and Enthusiasts (CLUE).
http://www.cluedenver.org/
 
And, of course, there are tons of resources online.  The Ubuntu forums are FABULOUS. 
Just about any problem you run into is probably already solved and described on the
forums.  Sign up and start reading.
http://ubuntuforums.org/
 
If you want to get more advanced, there are hundreds of Linux or BSD distributions that
you can try for free.  (BSD is another variant of UNIX that doesn't use the Linux
kernel, but most of the commands are essentially the same.)  Check out DistroWatch;
specifically their "Top 10 Distros" page.

http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major
Or, you can really get into the nuts-n-bolts of Linux with the Linux From Scratch
project; it's like building your own airplane from a box o' parts.

http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/
Let me know if you have any questions!
-- 
John Dollison
Westminster, CO 80021

 
 
 
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