How to learn linux when you're working in windows environment?
 

Hi there,

I'm a system engineer come from China. Now I'm working for a european company that using windows everywhere. Since I'm a junior guy on IT area, they want me to get CCNA and MCSE certification. It will take me a lot time to pass them.

I like Linux and hate Microsoft. Free OS lead to free heart.
What should I do? How can I study Linux as I do not have enough time?


Thanks.

you could use vmware to use linux while on windows, not the best option however..

Perhaps just install it on your own computer??

Where I work I installed Cygwin/X on my desktop. I am able to use the same coreutils programs then in Windows that I would in Linux. This will at least familiarize you with using the bash (or other shell) in Linux. You could even ssh into a Linux or Unix machine running X and have the program show up in a window on the Windows desktop.

By the way, I like your quote: Free OS lead to free heart.

QEMU's always lots of fun too. You actually get to see the installation process of the OS. Not many distros install properly to QEMU (I've only had 3 work for me), but you don't have to burn any CDs or format any hard drives.

Plus, you can annihilate a QEMU virtual harddrive with no real consequences on your real one! I find that very useful.

Hmm... so is Cygwin free?

I'm not sure I understand it... Once I install it, I can use 'linux'-like commands to administer my XP workstation, so I can become more familiar with the commands?

Exactly. Cygwin (free) is a good start for the command-line aspect of linux (not as seamless but close enough). For the GUI part, nonewithstanding the obvious similarities (tark bar, notification area…), you just have to try it in real to get the real experience.

Yves.

Virtualbox
 

I'd recommend using Virtualbox http://www.virtualbox.org/

I use Virtualbox to test things before going into production. It's extremely stable, and 100% free. It emulates an x86 PC, so you can install any x86 OS to it.

Using this, you will be able to go through the entire installation process, to familiarize yourself with it before taking the plunge and removing Windows altogether.

As for IsharaComix's mention of QEMU, that may work well for this, but I'm just not familiar with it.