Best Way to Learn Linux?

[halfpower]

I have zero experience with Linux, and know very little about it. I have a decent background in Windows, and can build PCs about as well as somebody who has an A+ certificate.

What is the best way to learn Linux? Should I pay $150 for Redhat? Should I get a book and the Fedora core? Should I get a second hard drive to install it on? About how long will it take to learn?

 

[Infohawk]

Have another system with compatible parts, then choose one of the "hard" distros, preferably one that doesn't have too many peculiarities so that you can apply the knowledge everywhere. I think slackware is a good example. This will force you to figure out the fundamentals even though it will not be pretty. The problem with the hand-holding distros is that they eventually fail at holding your hand, and you will be forced to rely on the fundamentals in the end.

If you don't have much experience with shells, I also suggest checking out a webpage that talks abou basic commands and such. You have to know how to use the shell and be comfortable with it.

 

[Nothinman]

About how long will it take to learn?

Months? Years? Decades? Depends on how much time you put into it and how quickly you pick up the basics. I've been using Linux for probably 7 or 8 years now and I would only consider myself like a 6 or 7 on a scale of 1 - 10.

But I don't mean to discourage you, I now run Linux on all of my machines and have it doing everything I need. It's just that if you're comfortable with Windows it takes a while to get all of the bad habits out of your head.

And I suggest Debian or Ubuntu. The installation is simple and the package management is best in it's class.

 

[halfpower]

Why should I use a separate machine?

 

[keeleysam]

Originally posted by: halfpower
Why should I use a separate machine?

So you can look things up when you break it

 

[bersl2]

Slackware is a wonderful distro to learn "the fundamentals." I learned more about computers in 6 months with Slackware than I did in the 15+ years of my life before that.

 

[Fokks]

I would second the suggestion of Ubuntu for the distribution. They have a great forum that is active and helpful for new users.

A second hard drive is a good idea. Since you're just starting I might just disconnect your Windows drive and connect the drive you're going to use for linux, so your early tinkering with linux won't wipe or disable your Windows install. That way a quick drive swap back to Windows will let you get online and google for what you just broke

If you just want to dip your toes in the water, you could also try Knoppix, which will just boot and run off of a CD.

I'd agree with Nothinman that learning linux is a never ending hobby. I've worked on it for years also, and wouldn't consider myself an expert either. I guess it all depends on what you're looking for?

A book could be a good idea if that kind of thing works for you, but there are also a ton of free resources online.

 

[P0ldy]

The problem I've found in looking for Linux books is that nothing seems to be up to date. You might try to O'Reilly books, maybe on Knoppix. But I think the only real place to read stuff on Linux is usenet, forums, online docs. Gets tedious reading so much on the computer, so printing a lot of stuff off and sitting down with it is your best bet.

Of course, it's best to put it to use immediately. Interactive Linux tutorials like LinuxCommand.org will help you apply practical use of the basic commands as opposed to memorising them.

 

[halfpower]

Will I have to tinker with Linux for very long before I fiddle with it and not seriously damage my Windows setup?

I'm considering setting up a Linux digital audio workstation. This could potentially be a more amusing way to learn Linux. Does anyone know if PlanetCCRMA would be decent distribution for learning Linux? Is the audio workstation method a bad idea? What would be a good OS distribution if I wanted to learn both Linux and Unix?

 

[Nothinman]

Will I have to tinker with Linux for very long before I fiddle with it and not seriously damage my Windows setup?

The chances of you damaging your Windows setup are pretty slim, worst case is that when you dual boot you get frustrated and delete the Linux partition without removing the bootloader and you end up with a machine that won't boot. But that's easily fixable. There's a chance that you could delete your Windows partition during installation of Linux, but as long as you understand PC partitioning and pay attention during installation that shouldn't happen either.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Best way to learn linux? Use it.

 

[Looney]

I found the best way to learn Linux is to have a purpose in using it... whether it's because you want to fully move to Linux, or you want to setup an HTPC, etc. Get Fedora or Ubuntu, and not only install it, but try to get everything to work... such as your wireless card, TV-out, etc, and you'll learn a lot in the process (TRUST me, it's not as easy as just installing the OS and having plug and play find everything... at least not always)

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Best way to learn linux? Use it.

agreed.

Pick something you want to do and then learn how to do it.

Don't go 'what can I do'?
go 'I want to do this', then figure out how to do it. If there is something you don't know, look it up, learn it enough to understand basicly what is going on, then move on to the next issue.

 

[ColKurtz]

What's the best way to learn a foreign language? Get all the books you want, take all the classes you want... That will teach you the basics, but you'll still suck at it. You really have to live in a foreign-speaking culture to really become fluent.

Same for a foreign OS. You will have to run it as your primary OS on your laptop or home machine to become fluent. Simply reading books, or having it on a "test machine" will get you nowhere fast, as it's too easy to put aside when you get stuck. Solving problems, even minor ones like screen resolution, etc, will force you to learn.

Dive in head-first.

 

[imported_fictionised]

Beaten.

"Use it" Best idea!

 

[TGS]

Do a Gentoo install. Try a stage 3 load. If you run into problems, and networking is functional, open a second console and use Lynx and google to solve your ailments. It's not pretty but it gets some damn funny looks...

 

[LBmtb]

Fedora, Ubuntu, SuSu, or Mepis are usually the easiest to learn on. I would start off with those and then move on to slackware or gentoo.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: LBmtb
Fedora, Ubuntu, SuSu, or Mepis are usually the easiest to learn on. I would start off with those and then move on to slackware or gentoo.

What makes them "easiest to learn on?"

 

[LBmtb]

Package management, the amont of documentation/support out for them, and relatively easy installs. I use Fedora and it has a bunch of gui administration tools that make it pretty easy.
Mandriva is another somewhat newbie friendly distro also. Check out www.distrowatch.org. I've never used Gentoo before but I've read that it's a pretty difficult on newbs because of the amount of control you have with everything (and consequently have to configure everything manually). Distrowatch describes it as "geared towards developers and network professionals." I've read mixed things about slackware, that might be my next distro after I get real comfortable with Fedora.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: LBmtb
Package management, the amont of documentation/support out for them, and relatively easy installs. I use Fedora and it has a bunch of gui administration tools that make it pretty easy.
Mandriva is another somewhat newbie friendly distro also. Check out www.distrowatch.org. I've never used Gentoo before but I've read that it's a pretty difficult on newbs because of the amount of control you have with everything (and consequently have to configure everything manually). Distrowatch describes it as "geared towards developers and network professionals." I've read mixed things about slackware, that might be my next distro after I get real comfortable with Fedora.

Slackware has package management. Slackware has documentation. Slackware has support. Slackware's install is pretty easy.

What does a gui administration tool teach you about Linux? What does a package management tool teach you about Linux?

EDIT: I'm just curious what you think. I'm not trying to say you are wrong or anything, so hopefully I don't sound like an a-hole here.

 

[LBmtb]

I've always been curious about slackware because those who run it usually like it, but like I said I've read mixed things on it, that's why I hesitate to recommend it to a newbie. And yes the gui admin tools in Fedora help out, but that's all they do is help. I still had to edit the fstab, set my own enviorment variables, do some configuring of iptables, I still install from source sometimes, etc etc. Someone who is 'completely' new to linux might appreciate the gui admin tools so that they dont feel so hopelessly overwhelmed the first time they try linux.

Once you get comfortable with something like Fedora you can skip the gui tools and do everything manually and install everything from source or move on to a distro like Gentoo.

Just my opinion.

 

[Tarrant64]

I'm running Fedora right now. Trying to actually use Linux as much as I can at home right now to learn it. Getting used to it pretty well. I've had it installed for about 2 weeks now, didn't have time to really get into until the past couple days. So far, my plans for having it as a file server is working out pretty cool. I can mount my windows shared drives to the linux box, back them up, or whatever really. I have moved all my Anime to it, and can access those files when I need it, as well as word documents and what not. It's really starting to gain my interest, and soon enough I am going to convince my dad here to pick me up a book(saw some networking sys admin book that interested me other day). Fedora has been a pretty good experience for me so far.

I also use Debian at my work. Best package management IMHO. And I love "apt-get". I don't think there is something like it in Fedora. What I've been spoiled with is an actual GUI manager for packages, which I remember when I started linux with Debian I didn't have that. Either way, they are both working out well. In my experience Debian has gotten me more down and dirty with using the shell. My first time ever using it the graphics card wouldn't start the x-term or whatever the gui is called...so it took me a couple weeks but finally figured out how to edit config files and what not and had to set the correct resolutions and change drivers. It was actually fun.

I suggest using more than one distro. So far, I've used 3. I used RedHat, and found it wasn't enough shell for me, Debian was too much shell, and Fedora(based on Red Hat i believe?) has been a little bit of both for me. Knoppix is also another good one. Hope this helps.

 

[TheWart]

Install/use Gentoo.

I am serious...I learned more doing that than weeks with Mandrake/Redhat

 

[LBmtb]

How is apt-get? I keep hearing good things about it. Is it anything like yum in Fedora?

 

[nweaver]

For a noob, I would say stick mainstream for a few weeks, set a few tasks (configure web, dns, samba, custom app 1, shell script to automate task x) and when you feel comfortable, switch to a more "hardcore" distro, like gentoo. I tried gentoo off the bat, and sank quick. few weeks of RH9 and I was feeling better. I moved to gentoo and I love gentoo. I still have redhat boxes (sucks "waiting for it to die" to rebuild it as a gentoo box) running some stuff. One thing I would tell you is to default to no gui on boot, so you have to learn a few commands for basics. Install lynx, it's actually my # 2 browser (that's scary).

Above all, don't just install and ask "what now". Set tasks for yourself, and reach for those. Such as "I want a PHP driven apache website compiled from source" or "I want iptables firewall/nat serving my network".

After package managers, windows update seems lame.