Learn Linux

sumithnc · 05-18-2006, 10:31 AM

Can anybody suggest a Good Linux Beginners book ..
I only have windows experience ..

meng · 05-18-2006, 10:50 AM

What do you want to learn to do? How to navigate your way around the GUI and use a few applications, similar to Windows? Or become a rabid command-line guru? Are you trying to configure a server and needing advice on security issues?

My approach to selecting books is to go to the store thinking about a few issues that I need advice on, and check in the index of several books to see if those issues are mentioned. But don't forget or underestimate the internet! There are loads of tutorials available.

drkstr · 05-18-2006, 11:00 AM

In my experience, learning from a Linux book did me no good. I had to just start using the hell out of it to really learn what's going on. Once I ran into something I didn't know how to do, I looked it up online or asked a question here on LQ if I couldn't find the answer myself.

This was a good starting point for me: DOS-Win-to-Linux-HOWTO.html. A general Linux reference book might be a good investment as well. This is just for what it says though, reference. To learn how to actually "use" Linux, the best way to learn is to try.

regards,
...drkstr

craigevil · 05-18-2006, 11:03 AM

Head over to your local library and check out some Linux books.

There really is no best book, and like meng said it all depends on how much you wish to learn.

Pretty much anything you need to learn about Linux can be found on the internet.

A good place to start is
LINUX: Rute User's Tutorial and Exposition

Quote:

Rute is a technical reference and teaching tool for new GNU/Linux users as well as advanced administrators

Cogar · 05-18-2006, 01:38 PM

My suggestion would be to try a book that allows hands-on learning. Test Driving Linux is one possibility. It includes a live distribution on CD (Move--based on Mandriva) that you can use on your computer without installing anything.

pixellany · 05-18-2006, 01:53 PM

Linux in a nutshell--O'Reilly

But first--install one of the free distributions and just play with it---then when you read the book, things will make more sense.

brianthegreat · 05-18-2006, 02:01 PM

I do not know if O'Reilly publishes the book anymore but Running Linux was not a bad book.

What exactly are you interested in learning? The commands, servers, ect.

Here is a decent link for commands.

http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/linux/cmd/

Not all of the commands presented work with each and every distro.

Couple other websites:
www.freshmeat.net
http://distrowatch.com
www.google.com/linux