is Studying one Operation System is Enough?

sergeyna · 08-05-2014, 11:15 AM

i am currently Windows Administrator and i begin self studying linux ubuntu,
i wonder if its a good choice? or should i choice diffrent operation system for studying?
cause from what i understand there is diffrent between the operation systems, i wonder how big the diffrent and if i know well ubuntu does it mean i can manage centos? or red hat? or each operation system should be studied ?

business_kid · 08-05-2014, 11:35 AM

If you are a windows administrator, I would not neglect studying windows :-).

"Linux" is unix for the pc with GNU operating system and a linux kernel. Many things are configured from files in /etc.

Distributions 'make life easier' by adding configuration tools, which have the effect of hiding what is actually going on. You need to know sendmail.conf, apache.conf, and how to get by with a 'kill -hup' signal when your urge is to kill the process totally. If you have 1000 users on a web service and apache dies, that's bad news!

Do a LFS http://www.linuxfromscratch.org. That makes you learn the basics. Red Hat use Selinux, and you might need to learn their tools (selinux and systemd) to survive. Then try doing stuff. Set up a vm with a web service and a email service with spam control and suffer like we all did. you'll learn loads.

273 · 08-05-2014, 12:09 PM

It depends what you want to achieve. Maybe read job adverts?
I know plenty of people who are making a good living out of being Windows administrators and a few making money from being Linux administrators.
If you want money it really doeasn't matter about technology.

szboardstretcher · 08-05-2014, 12:28 PM

Along with the previous advice,. I would say starting with Centos would be best. I see it out in the field on servers more than I do Ubuntu. Plus Red Hat is a huge contributor to the Kernel, GNU and many of the Linux standards bodies. You will likely benefit from familiarity with RHEL and its descendants before you do with Ubuntu.

Plus you can get training and certifications in Red Hat. Whereas Debian, Ubuntu and Slackware don't have training, certifications or paid 24/7 support contracts afaik.