Linux knowledge/experience seems to be in high demand in my area

Pay seems to be high for Linux admins with not many years of experience. I've always had a genuine interest in learning, but found it intimidating and never knew where to start. There is definitely an incentive in learning and developing my overall skill set to include Linux.

Where do I begin?

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wgroom

Download the flavor of your choice, install it on a machine, and begin reading. No better way to learn than to have your hands on it.

chopsticks

I'm also starting out. I just bought a book, read from chapter 1 till chapter 3 about the history, basic structure and installation steps for Linux, and then as I'm munching my bread now, I pull out the companion DVD and start installing my first Fedora Linux.

djentlemetal

I know a quick Google search could provide me with the obvious answer(s), but I'd like to know where to start as well. I have some experience messing around with Ubuntu, Knoppix, Mint and CentOS (for Asterisk). Are there any good books out there? Or is it best to start with forums, blogs, etc.?

puertorico1985

I learned Linux by going through the Linux+ certification videos made by CBT Nuggets. It gave a general overview of the basics and fundamentals that relate to nearly any version of Linux and/or UNIX. I would recommend starting out with a non-OS/non-vendor specific training material before diving into RedHat, Solaris, or any other (non)commercial product.

ccnxjr

If your looking to take on a few home projects to put your reading to use you can start by
-Setting up a minimal CentOS install
-Add a couple users
-Set up a LAMP
-Set up puppet (optionally later)
-Puppetize your LAMP (Optionally later)
-Set up a file server
-Set up a web interface to the file server
-Grant user permissions to the file server
-Set up an internal caching DNS
-Start using the internal DNS you created as your default DNS server at home
-Now add a DNS entry for your home file server

All the while documenting it.
Most importantly, when you see error messages, keep track of the specific messages what you did to attempt to resolve them!

N2IT

Here in the Midwest it's still running strong. Lots of Linux positions out there and they pay well.

linuxlover

Get these two books, Linux for Dummies + Linux Bible. By the time you finish them you'll know what to do next. After that I would suggest Ubuntu Unleashed 2014.

Xyro

I used an older version of this book:
Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification (Networking (Course Technology)) 3rd (third) Edition by Eckert, Jason W. (2011): Jason W. Eckert: Amazon.com: Books
which worked very well for me. It also has a matching lab manual and lab connect DVD if the interest/want is present.

Its contents were identical to:
Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification (Networking (Course Technology)): Jason W. Eckert: 9781418837211: Amazon.com: Books
which is the International version of the book above.

NetworkingStudent

These links look like good places to start:

https://linuxacademy.com/

Nixie Pixel - YouTube

New episode every Tuesday! OS.ALT covers the indie/hacking/geek community, including open source alternatives to operating systems and gaming. I'll have Android hacks (rooting, comparison vs. iPhone, preview apps, workarounds & tinkering), Linux for newbs, plus audience questions & answers. Your source for open source.

SteveFT

The Linux Command Line

Get this book. Unbeatable at the price. Really well rounded book to get you started if you have no background.

Danielm7

https://www.edx.org/course/linuxfoundationx/linuxfoundationx-lfs101x-introduction-1621#.Uz9DgFfp-Ds
This is starting in a few months, was a paid course, this will be the first time out free. Can't hurt to sign up and follow along.

gkca

SteveFT wrote: »

The Linux Command Line

Get this book. Unbeatable at the price. Really well rounded book to get you started if you have no background.

+1 excellent book.

Deathmage

We use CentOS extensively at my current job, we have a vendor called Kiwiplan that does everything in CentOS.

http://www.kiwiplan.com/

jvrlopez

A book and playing around with it is a great starting point.

Needed to pick up basic commands (navigating, remote copy, text editing) for work and that sufficed.

Nyblizzard

You guys are awesome

[Deleted User]

Play with Linux as mentioned by jvrlopez and maybe take on the CompTIA Linux+. This is a good book. I still need to find time to take this on/read it. Amazon.com: CompTIA Linux+ Study Guide: Exams LX0-101 and LX0-102 (9781118531747): Roderick W. Smith: Books

RHEL

Download VirtualBox and have at it. Learn to install, configure, and reconfigure.

Set up multiple VMs, have them interact with each other, play around.

Use CentOS -- it is the same RHEL which is what every larger corporation uses. Learn trending tech such as Puppet, Chef, cloud stack technologies, virtualization, and clustering.

Pretty much all of this can be done on your own and for free.

jeffgibbs

For what its worth Professor Messor has some free videos availible on his website that could help jumpstart your learning. I agree with the others who posted here already - pick a distro and get it installed so you can start playing with it. Start using it to do work and you will be amazed at what it can do. Good luck in your endevours.

SixtyCycle

Pardon my ignorance, I'm new at this. I downloaded VirtualBox but don't see CentOS in the menu. Which should I use? Any other flavors of Linux worth checking out?

RHEL wrote: »

Download VirtualBox and have at it. Learn to install, configure, and reconfigure.

Set up multiple VMs, have them interact with each other, play around.

Use CentOS -- it is the same RHEL which is what every larger corporation uses. Learn trending tech such as Puppet, Chef, cloud stack technologies, virtualization, and clustering.

Pretty much all of this can be done on your own and for free.

Screen Shot 2014-04-08 at 7.24.01 AM.jpg

RHEL

CentOS is essentially rebranded Red Hat -- so I'd go with 32 or 64 bit Red Hat Enterprise Linux depending on which ISO you downloaded.

sasnimrod

SixtyCycle wrote: »

Pardon my ignorance, I'm new at this. I downloaded VirtualBox but don't see CentOS in the menu. Which should I use? Any other flavors of Linux worth checking out?

I think the first step is to determine whether you have downloaded the 32 bit or 64 bit version of the CentOS ISO file. Afterwards I think that it would be safe to choose either the Red Hat (32 bit) option or the Red Hat (64 bit) option, depending on the version that you have downloaded. (side note: CentOS is completely derived from Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)).

As for other flavours that you might want to check out, I think it depends on what your goals are. If you want to learn a Linux OS that enjoys great usage within enterprise environments, I think that CentOS / Red Hat is the way to go. Otherwise if you want to pursue a beginner cert such as the Linux+, Ubuntu or any other Debian based OS would be a good choice since the Linux+ cert has questions on both RPM based distros (such as CentOS) and Debian based OS (such as Ubuntu).

Hopefully I've answered your questions

jdancer

If you are real comfortable with the command-line, I suggest Arch Linux. You customize it to the way you really want. I use it as my NFS and SMB/CIFS server to my Windows machines and Mede8r media network streamer.

SixtyCycle

Thanks for the replies. I'm running a 64-bit Intel iMac so I guess it's RedHat 64-bit. I will soon start studying the Linux+ book by J. Eckert and it comes w/ Fedora 13 (current version is 20). I guess I'll be installing that too, hopefully I won't be too confused by learning 2 distros at the same time. I want to be RedHat certified in the future but I still want to have a good grasp on foundational knowledge before branching to vendor specific technology. I started studying for CCNA but it was evident from the first chapter of the book that I need to know the concepts presented in the A+ & Net+ courses (digging the Messer vids) otherwise it goes over my head.

N2IT

Death do you work in manufacturing? Kiwiplan was great for scheduling the jobs on the manufacturing lines.

NightShade03

Load up VirtualBox or VMware to create a virtual environment. You should download and install Centos 6.5 (32 or 64 bit doesn't matter), Centos 5.10, and Ubuntu 13.xx. Once you have all three installed you should run through some of the basic tasks like adding users, creating passwords, isntalling web servers, etc. All three of these distros should give you exposure to a majority of the Linux OSes used in the enterprise world today.

Any specific questions we are all here to help

SixtyCycle

What is the reason why I need to install the older Centos 5.10? Isn't the newer version preferred? Also, I know I have to learn Centos however my Linux book comes w/ Fedora and its exercises are for that OS. If I start on Fedora, how big of a learning curve is it to use other distros later on?

NightShade03

Fedora is the "bleeding edge" version of Red Hat. Essentially Red Hat / Centos / Fedora are all derivatives so the learning curve isn't steep and you should be fine.

The reason for the older version of Centos is so that you can look at some of the differences among the versions. Quite a bit changed from 5.x to 6.x and yes the 6.x branch is preferred, but sadly there are still a bunch of clients/orgs that are still running on the older platform. I would learn everything on 6.x first and then go back and look at how they have changed since 5.x. This will also help you when 7.x comes out later this year to learn the differences faster.

SixtyCycle

NightShade03 wrote: »

Fedora is the "bleeding edge" version of Red Hat. Essentially Red Hat / Centos / Fedora are all derivatives so the learning curve isn't steep and you should be fine.

The reason for the older version of Centos is so that you can look at some of the differences among the versions. Quite a bit changed from 5.x to 6.x and yes the 6.x branch is preferred, but sadly there are still a bunch of clients/orgs that are still running on the older platform. I would learn everything on 6.x first and then go back and look at how they have changed since 5.x. This will also help you when 7.x comes out later this year to learn the differences faster.

Thank you for the clear explanation. Much appreciated.

ITcognito

Welcome to the bright side. Once you go Linux, you don't go back. Wave goodbye to Windowz.

prdemon

ITcognito wrote: »

Welcome to the bright side. Once you go Linux, you don't go back. Wave goodbye to Windowz.

Man this statement is so true!