Unix, where to start?

I want to learn some basics in Unix administration. What distro can you recommend? I found Open Solaris in google and it seems a good one to start. Will it work well in vmware? Where can i find free learning material for unix? thanks in advance.

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dynamik

I'd say that and FreeBSD are a great way to get started. I've had both going in VMWare.

This is a great (and cheap) book to get you started: http://www.amazon.com/Learning-UNIX-Operating-System-Fifth/dp/0596002610/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213589115&sr=8-2

astorrs

I agree with Dynamik, FreeBSD and Solaris are your best bets.

There is a comprehensive CBT available from http://www.unixcbt.com/products_unixcbt_feat_solaris10_edition.php covering Solaris 10 if you're into that kind of thing. But alas it's not free - it's US$495 - but it does include over 60 hours of videos and covers lots of great stuff.

UnixGuy

Finally somebody mentioned Unix in this forum :P

I recommend Solaris 10 (why Open Solaris) ?? Solaris 10 is free, download the x64/x86 version that works on intel PC. you can install it on any old PC, or you can always use VMWare.

After than, go to http://docs.sun.com

search for document called "Basic System Administration" , go with it step by step. Then you can jump to "Advanced system Administration".

ladiesman217

I'm confused with solaris. Is this the same OS? <<<<<

Open Solaris which is 685mb
http://www.opensolaris.com/get/

Solaris 10 which requires 5 iso images and its too huge.
http://www.sun.com/software/solaris/get.jsp

I haven't tried any unix distro before and i feel stupid.

UnixGuy

ladiesman217 wrote:

I'm confused with solaris. Is this the same OS? <<<<<

Open Solaris which is 685mb
http://www.opensolaris.com/get/

Solaris 10 which requires 5 iso images and its too huge.
http://www.sun.com/software/solaris/get.jsp

I haven't tried any unix distro before and i feel stupid.

Well no, Solaris and Open Solaris aren't quite the same.

Listen, all Solaris versions are now FREE, you can just download and use.

Sun has made Solaris open source and released the source code, so the open source community are now working on what's called "OpenSolaris". So many modifications are made to that.

Don't bother with Open Solaris now.

just go and install Solaris 10.

Note there are two versions of Solaris 10, one for SPARC Architecture (Sun hardware arch. only), and one for X86/X64 architecture (that is Intel Based PCs/Server, which u can use on ur PC).

If you have any further question just ask

for good Introductory Unix tutorial go to

www.ugu.com

I suggest you start with Solaris for now. Other distors you can try later. First LEARN one distro, then the rest is easy.

hypnotoad

In the states, one can often find "basic" unix books in public or university libraries. These are good for learning Bash, file system, how the kernel works, etc. I would recommend checking them out.

ally_uk

I would say install FreeBsd and tinker read man pages and learn i'm the kind of person who learns by breaking things sounds silly I know.

sthomas

ladiesman217 wrote:

I'm confused with solaris. Is this the same OS? <<<<<

Open Solaris which is 685mb
http://www.opensolaris.com/get/

Solaris 10 which requires 5 iso images and its too huge.
http://www.sun.com/software/solaris/get.jsp

I haven't tried any unix distro before and i feel stupid.

You can download a DVD iso of Solaris 10 which is only one file that is only a little over 2 gig. Just thought I would throw that in there. I plan on downloading it and installing it when I get time. I have a friend who is a Linux Admin who told me he did not like Solaris at all. I am curious to see how it works and I have always been interested in Linux/Unix administration.

UnixGuy

sthomas wrote:

You can download a DVD iso of Solaris 10 which is only one file that is only a little over 2 gig. Just thought I would throw that in there. I plan on downloading it and installing it when I get time. I have a friend who is a Linux Admin who told me he did not like Solaris at all. I am curious to see how it works and I have always been interested in Linux/Unix administration.

Linux Administration is different that Solaris administration.

it might look the same, concepts are similar, and basic stuff are similar, but administration is very different.

Linux can be fun to use on desktop, but Solaris is not a desktop OS at all. It's, however, a very sophisticated OS for server side, too stable, and with so many advanced options.

Just learn the administraion tasks from Sun documents and then administration will be alot of fun

liven

Plus Solaris skills will pay the bills.

I am more of a linux admin, however I have friends that are Sun admins and they are banking.

I have two buddies that are averaging around 100k as unix/solaris admins.

Personally I have done way more linux administration than solaris administration. However having strong linux skills made solaris much easier to wrap my head around. BUT there are many differences and solaris has tools that I wish linux had (maybe in time)...

ladiesman217

liven wrote:

Plus Solaris skills will pay the bills.

I am more of a linux admin, however I have friends that are Sun admins and they are banking.

I have two buddies that are averaging around 100k as unix/solaris admins.

Personally I have done way more linux administration than solaris administration. However having strong linux skills made solaris much easier to wrap my head around. BUT there are many differences and solaris has tools that I wish linux had (maybe in time)...

I'd add to that there seem to be lesser competition for Unix Administration job.

undomiel

Really? All of the pure unix/linux jobs that stated salary ranges seemed to pay higher than the comparable windows jobs.