Linux Poll

[jcmkk]

I have a couple of questions for all of you linux gurus.

1. How did you learn linux?
2. What verision of linux do you use?
3. What good books are out there to help me learn linux?
4. Do you think linux or unix is more secure? Or any OS for that matter.

 

[Abzstrak]

1. Installed it and played with it.

2. I like Redhat and Suse, used alot of them though... kinda depends on your preferences

3. Lotsa good books, just as good as web sites in my opinion though... I think that installing it and forcing yourself to use it will make you learn it as good as anything.

4. Unix is a pretty generic term that covers a number of OS's, but Linux CAN BE just as secure as any true Unix, but like any OS you must be able to secure it properly.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

1. read online, read here and asked here also asked at linuxnewbie.org forums.

linuxdocs.org, linuxnewbie.net (i think .net), google

2. Tried Mandrake 8.0, something went wrong and it all went to hell from the get-go. not to say mandrake is unreliable, tons of people use it w/ no problems. but in my situation for whatever reason it did not cooperate. then i installed redhat 7.1 and have been crash/freeze free. i am soon to move to debian, debian is more for the advanced linux user (i am not), but with some work you can figure it out, however for your first linux install it would not be a good idea. debian is probably the most "pure" linux, it is non-profit and only uses stable stuff (i.e. it is at kernel 2.2x whereas we are up to 2.4.9 now i think?), also the apt-get function makes isntalling apps a million times easier. wait till you deal w/ rpm's and dependencies, and source that wont compile, etc etc and you will see what i mean.

3. not sure of specific books, o'reilly books in general are good though, also a "for dummies" or "idiots guide to" type book would probably be a good start.

4. like it was said in the above post, unix is a general term, you cant really install "unix" on a system, unix is a blanket term which includes bsd, linux, hpux, solaris, and god knows what else (osx, which is bsd). bsd seems to be the most secure, there is openbsd, freebsd, and another one which i dont remember. wait till n0cmonkey shows up, he can tell you alot more than i can.



<< Or any OS for that matter. >>


well, win9x is not secure at all, and that is no stretch. there is no user based security, no file system permissions, nothing. winNT(2k and xp too) is alot more secure and is probably secure enough for any "normal person" but there are plenty of holes (>>IIS<<), look at nimda and code red for example. like i said, winnt is secure enough for most people, but it's not perfect (nor is anything, but you get the point)

good luck

 

[fivepesos]

1) i learned by trial and error to get it installed. then once installed, i learned from howtos and the SysAdmin Guide (www.linuxdoc.org).

2) slackware almost exlusively, i use redhat or suse when i want a good desktop without a lot of fuss though.

3) www.linuxdoc.org and their guides and howtos

4)i place a lot of faith in the security of linux, run as few services as possible and keep your box up to date. red bugtraq and keep informed. but if u do the same for win nt/2k youll be safe too (provided microsoft release patch intime).

 

[FOBSIDE]

1. installed it as the only OS on the box.
2. Redhat
3. I do all my reading online.
4. Just unplug the network cord?

 

[Joe2Cool]

1. online/friend lend me copy
2. redhat, maddrake,a nd SuSe...i like mandrake.
3. online/one book called 'linux weekend crash course' in CrapUSA..blue cover..less than 10 bucks.
4. what the ppl said up there

 

[KenCleanAirSystem]

<< 1. How did you learn linux? >>


Installed it and messed around. Read alot of man pages, web pages, forums, ect.



<< 2. What verision of linux do you use? >>


Right now I dont run any version of Linux ... FreeBSD has my interest at the moment. I have run Mandrake, RedHat and Debian in the past.



<< 3. What good books are out there to help me learn linux? >>


The O'Reilly books are suppose to be very good. There is a list of reccomended books to learn Linux over at LinuxNewbie.org.



<< 4. Do you think linux or unix is more secure? Or any OS for that matter. >>


Some distributions are more secure out of the box than others, but when it comes right down to it any distribution (or any operating system for that matter) is only as secure as the operator makes it. If you dont pay attention to what services you have running, stay up on patches, etc. you aren't secure regardless of what version of *nix you are running.

 

[BlackOmen]

1. I learned linux by reading lots of stuff online, and just playing around and getting frustrated and overcoming the frustration. This resulted in several broken linux installs that wouldn't boot (or I didn't know how to get around it and fix it at the time).

2. I started by using Mandrake for about a month or so. Used my friends computer with slackware and I instantly saw the light. Started using slackware on my on box and linux knowledge has gone up quite a bit. Use it almost exclusively now (little bit of win2k for gaming.

3. Didn't use any books. You want Linuxnewbie.org and Google/Linux

4. I think that any os can be made secure. It just depends on what you know how to do and how much time you put into it. At the school I goto, cs department network admin hates linux and loves windows. And you can tell with his half assed linux lab, and his rock solid win2k lab. Same goes for Unix; it depends on what you know how to do (or more specifically, which os you took the time to learn how to secure).

 

[Nothinman]

1. How did you learn linux?

Persistance and lots of reading.

2. What verision of linux do you use?

Debian

3. What good books are out there to help me learn linux?

I had a RedHat Unleashed book that wasnt too bad, most people recommend the O'Reilly "Running Linux" book.

4. Do you think linux or unix is more secure? Or any OS for that matter.

The man at the helm decides that.

 

[RangerBFK]

1. Trial and error
2. Slackware 8.0
3. Linuxnewbie.org is a great resource, plus o'reily's running linux is excellent
4. The BSD's seem to be more secure, but i think Linux is coming along nicely

 

[jcmkk]

Thanks everyone for their posts and keep them coming. I think I'm gonna take a stab at slackware linux 8.0. And to the guy that suggested slackware, what files do I need to download from the FTP sites to install slackware and the main programs. I have tried Mandrake and Corel in the past, but didn't get into them much because I had a winmodem and couldn't get on the internet. I ended up phasing them out all together. I didn't have even near the experience that I have now though. I think I'm ready to take the plunge and stick with it until I get this linux thing down. I feel that I have mastered Winblows, and it is frankly getting really boring. Again thanks for all the posts and keep um coming.

 

[CTho9305]

1. break it, reinstall, break it, reinstall (repeat 1000 times) and then you'll know enough to get it working EXACTLY hte way you like. and constantly bug people who know more than you do
2. redhat.
3. not exactly a book
4. a system is as secure as the sysadmin makes it.

 

[NorthenLove]

1. Trial and error and not giving up helps a bunch.

2. Suse 7.3

3. Running Linux, Linux in a NutShell, ( all by O'Reily ), and my favriote book of all time.........Your Unix, The Ultimate Guide ( by Sumitabha Das ). First two will help you to troubleshoot and setup stuff in Linux. The third will teach you about *NIX based OS's ( primarliy Unix based ) and how they work plus it will teach you about commands and how they work as well and their options/arguements and what they do/add to a command. As well some shell scripting and info about regular expersions, and it will also teach you how to use Vi and Emacs editors etc...

4. Linux and Unix are more secure then most OS's ( more so Unix ) out there but keeping up with secuirty flaws, loop holes, and hacks are a must with any OS. The thing about *NIX based OS's is that they were built with secuirty in mind and thus they tend to make your life a little easier in some aspects when dealing with security issues.

 

[n0cmonkey]

1. Read about it (technical info and other stuff) for about a year and a half off and on. Then played with it.
2. Slack 8 (just installed linux and Im trying to remember how to use it nothinman beware )
3. Anything by O'Reilly press.
4. Dont start a flameware n0c. It all depends on the admin... /me bites tongue...

 

[FOBSIDE]

<< 4. Dont start a flameware n0c. It all depends on the admin... /me bites tongue... >>



hahaha, funny stuff!

 

[Priit]

1. I was first leaning linux in high school computer lessons about 7 years back
2. RH 7.2 currently
3. O'Reilly books
4. Depends of the admin

 

[Sunner]

1. Read about it somewhere, and finally installed Slackware, don't even remember what version anymore, high 2.x or might even have been 3.0...

2. Debian, tried just about every distro out there, and Debian combines the comfort of a great package system with the control of a power user OS.

3. I agree with whoever mentioned O'Reilly, they make kickass books.

4. n/a

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

<< 4. Dont start a flameware n0c. It all depends on the admin... /me bites tongue... >>



hah, i was awaiting your arrival to preach to the masses about bsd, but alas you have failed me

 

[thornc]

1. Trial and Error, LinuxFromScratch, (re)install several different linux/unix, man pages, info pages, guides, etc!!!

2. LinuxFromScratch 3.0, RH7.2 ( on the lappy ) ... I'll get SuSe soon!!

3. any of the above! and also as everyone says o'reilley books

4. Well.....secure ?? We're is it?? All OSes have problems....

 

[MajinWade]

1.) Learning through trial and error and reading those helpfull readme files.
2.) Mandrake 8. Was going to try slackware, but after a week my iso MD5sums don't match. , if icepack isn't corrupted I'll try that next. I don't like Red Hat, but havn't tried it since 6.1.
3.) I have two that are only good for reference, so I will not reccomend them. One is a Dummies, the other is that big hardcover Premium edition based on 2.2.x.
4.) My Linux box isn't, but that's because I'm lazy.

 

[Electrode]

1. I have a friend who knows almost as much about Linux as I do about Windows NT. He walked me through everything I didn't know.
2. Debian
3. If you don't have a Linux-savvy friend, look online. There are lots of sites that can help you get started.
4. The only way to make ANY OS secure is to unplug your network card.

 

[Kell]

1) A cube buddy at MCI got me started on Slackware 3.3 three or four years ago. Three distros later, with a lot of trial and error, and I'm a lot better than I was.

2) A mutated LinuxFromScratch based on post-3.0 CVS. I started with Slackware, went to Redhat when I saw how easy it was, went back to SlackWare once I saw how broken RedHat was, then went to LFS. Somewhere in there, i gave Caldera a once-over.

3) Hmmm...linuxdoc.org is good. For actual hardcopy books, the only ones I ever got serious use out of was a RedHat Unleashed book and a Maximum Linux Security book. I got my hands on some others but never got around to using them.

4) The only way to keep any O/S reasonably secure is to keep your software up-to-date and restrict your services. Absolute security doesn't exist unless you just don't even have a computer.

 

[pedrog]

1. Installed it on a dual boot system. When I had work to do I'd do it on linux if there was no reason that I had to use windows (e.g. MSOffice). And I didn't give up until I did the job.

2. Right now I'm flipping back and forth between Debian and FreeBSD. They are both a bit less intuitive during the install but easier to maintain in my opinion.

3. The only Linux book that I ever purchased was Running Linux (First Edition). It was very helpful. The First edition is not so useful now (It was kernel 2.0.XX and the hot window manager was FVWM - oh how times change) but I know that there is a Second edition which I haven't looked at. There is so much information online today. You may wish to simply look online for info when you need it and start browsing different Linux books after you get your feet wet.
4. I think this really depends on the person running the system. There are a lot of services that all OSs run that may not be needed. As far as being safe on the internet there is a program called nmap which will scan your computers ports to see what ports your OS has open (open doesn't mean insecure). If there are services running that you're not sure about (ftp, telnet, portmap etc.) find out what they are and how to shut them off. Folks can likely do this on any OS.

Be careful though - I did step 1 longer and longer and I ended up not using Windows anymore

 

[jtshaw]

1. Through Howto's and Man pages mostly. And of course some good old fasion hacking around.
2. Slackware-Current with the newest kernel I have bother to compile and install (usually I am too lazy to actually reboot my machine). Right now I have the 2.4.14 kernel.
3. Running Linux is a decent boot, the Unix Bible is good as well.
4. Security is a matter of the administrator. Linux can be very secure, but it can be very open as well. OpenBSD is more secure by default then most linux OS's but that doens't mean you can't easily lock down linux. Good first step is to disable telnet and ftp. Use SSH for everything. Between ssh, sftp, and scp (sft and scp are part of the ssh tool kit) there is nothing else most people ever need.

 

[jtshaw]

oh..and www.google.com is too broad of a reference, www.google.com/linux is where it is at