So, I find myself looking around through the operating system in my new shiny Linux install (Ubuntu 6.10, Gnome desktop)... and wondering, "What are all these files? What do they do? What can I do with them?"

But it's a bit daunting. There's a LOT! But I want to start being able to tinker with it and learning how everything works and where everything is, and what it all does.

So, at this point, what I would find terrifically helpful would be sites that have information about individual configuration files, what they do, what they mean, and so on. I've already read all those sites on the different commands and such to use. Now I need to dig a bit deeper.

Any links you guys have that you think would be excellent learning for a newbie like me would be most appreciated!

Ok let me tell you first that instead of going through many sites, i suggest you to get a complete linux bible, that way you will learn a lot. Also don't forget the trial & error method, it matures as you learn.

As for the links here are some.
http://www.dsl.org/cookbook/cookbook_toc.html
http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-linux.htm

I agree with shrikant. I started using linux a couple of years ago, and know exactly what you are talking about. Here are my resource websites:

A "windows to linux" roadmap from IBM, helps a little:
http://www-106.ibm.com/developerwork...l-roadmap.html

A website full of useful information
http://www.tuxfiles.org/

The linux documentation project:
http://www.tldp.org/tldp-redirect.php?url=/

linux - Google Search
http://www.google.com/linux

Will help you find pretty much anything you need to know. Remember Google is your friend.

Here is another site that explains the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard. It is a very good reference.
http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-2.3.html

Another idea is to just work on one idea at a time until you solve it. For example, if you want to tweak you dekstop by editing a config file learn which file you need to edit, available option and synatax before making any changes and don't start experimenting with video drivers at the same time. And when you find answers write them down or print the web page.

Good sources of information are definitely Google and LQ . Try to get a downloadable a copy of the users guide for your distro. Try to do things manually instead of through the GUI. In other words: get your hands dirty and forget the wizards and automation that comes with Windows.

Just found this out: if you want to learn more about the file hierarchy do:

Well, I have done more than my fair share of googling for stuff... but typically what I've come up with are lists of commands and the like. Ideally, I would love sites that say, "This file, xxxxx.xxx, is for this part of the operating system, and here's what it does, how it works."

Some of those links are really helpful. I appreciate it greatly! I know the value of trial-and-error but having a roadmap so that I'm not just blindly stumbling around is awfully nice!