Understanding Linux basics
 

As a 20 year Windows administrator, I'm looking to obtain Linux skills. Where can I obtain an understanding on the terms & methodology?

Welcome to LQ.

A good start would be:
http://www.google.be/search?q=linux+...ient=firefox-a
Install linux on your computer as a dual boot, or in windows in a virtual machine and use it.

Kind regards

That's a broad and slightly vague question.

The Linux Documentation Project (http://www.tldp.org/) is the best place to start. Think about if someone asked you for Windows terms and methodology...how would you (could you??) answer? It's best to tackle it one piece at a time. Ask about how you would manage devices, then drill down into how you'd manage RAID array's, LVM's, and SAN's. Networks? Start with how to set up ONE interface...then go into channel bonding, hearbeat, etc.

Windows is simple, as is Linux...but only on the surface. From an admin level, things get WAY more complicated.

I would recommend studying material for the LPI certifications. Whether or not you plan to take the tests, the material goes over a broad range of topics without going too deep into any of them. While this kind of material won't make you an expert over night, I think it makes an good launching point. Here's a link that might help: LPI Linux Certification

@PCfixers:

Personally, I like reading paper books. (Reading a book on a monitor for more than ~60 minutes makes my eyes go batty.)

If you're the same, I recommend picking up a copy of Linux Administration: A Beginner's Guide, Fifth Edition, by Wale Soyinka. Used copies can be had for cheap. Or, if you're as stingy as me, find it at the library instead.

Hello PCfixers, welcome to LQ,

I'm a Windows administrator as well, but I've a longer experience with Unix/Linux than Windows.

I would recommend to chose a project which you can do with Linux. For example build a Linux-server and put it in a Windows-network, for example as a Printerserver/fileserver with samba and then go further to the more difficult tasks. I suppose you're very familiar with networking, so you'll not need to learn everything anew.

As a distribution for learning I'd recommend Slackware, Debian or Centos (good to learn Linux). Ubuntu and Suse come with a server-distribution, but they are (in my opinion) more similar to Windows.

You may want to read this: http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

Good luck and have fun.

Markus

99% of Linux Learning Resources can be found for free.
 

Usually you can find outdated versions of a Book in PDF form or one that needs a HTML reader like (CHM Viewer). A publisher may make HTML webpages of the entire book available but make you pay for the PDF version or one that is in one continuous file. O'Reilly books are usually like this. They can range from decent to not worth your time. I usually print out a document in paper form if it is long. They make duplex printers that only have one image drum because they spit the page out and reroute it so this type of duplexer is less expensive. I recommend; for the money, Brothers or Samsungs that you can get a pdd file for the driver. Some of the models are like O'Reilly books.:twocents:

The best way to learn it is to do it. Get a spare machine and install it. If you can install Windows you can install Linux. The first few installs will be slow as issues and questions arise, which you can post here, where there are lots of very clever people who will help you. I might even try to help myself.

With due regards to all the above posts....
I think you are at the right place and at the right time! I mean the forum !

So just go ahead and install a variant( May I recommend ubuntu ?!) and then start asking your questions out here !
With the kind of helpful people out here, you won't have to wait for longer than a few minutes / hours to find some useful
responses.

Soon enough you will also be contributing (make it a point to try and help at least one person on a daily basis in the forum)
and that will set you sail for the uncharted waters !

thanks and happy journey
bye
nishith

Wow! thanks to all who replied. I will attempt an Ubuntu or Mint desktop installation on a dual-core Intel with 4GB RAM, I'm hoping that will skip along nicely? Roger