Hello-
I've checked on this site & am unable to find exactly what I'm requesting.
..(if you've seen a similiar question, feel free to link me to it.)

I'm a Network Admin student & want to take an online course in basic administration/usage of Linux. (No boot camp courses....too much in too little time.)

I have ZERO previous experience w/ Linux. I managed to install Fedora, but am unable to function without icons. I managed to figure out mounting, but that's about it. I can't even unmount without rebooting my sys!

I would prefer CD courses I could purchase because of portability & stability (you know how Windows is..am having TONS of trouble w/ adware, spyware, viruses & internet instability), but will settle for RH033 online if no other answers are found.

Thanks,
Sandy

P.S. Our school doesn't have an in depth Linux class at this time

Have you thought about books? -there are some great Redhat books with CD's - I did a RedHat exam a couple of years ago by reading the RedHat Bible and there own exam book.

Thank you for your kind reply, lacerto. I had purchased 2 certification exam books called: RH Certified Engineer-Linux & the second addition. They do have good solid info, but I feel overwhelmed. I'm one who learns best by doing activities mixed with paragraphs of info.

However, I'm encouraged by the fact you're certified & only had the books to work with. Seems as if this is the story w/ Linux...it's not an o.s. for the faint hearted!

Best thing to do is just install Linux and read as much as you can. I actually learned by installing, using and then using some more. Read, read some more and then read some more. I'd install and setup things I wouldn't even use starting off, like Apache for a webserver and sendmail to setup mail, etc.

You can even browse members questions here to learn more. Read a question or problem someone is having and then reading the solutions given by others.

There is just way too much info out there on the internet. Tons of howto's and manuals. But I've found the best way to learn is just to install and use it, play with it, break it and so on. And another nice thing is now (which they didn't really have when I learned) is Live CD's, like knoppix. Linux runs off the cd, no need to actually install. Just boot up and go. When you reboot and remove the cd, Windows or any other OS you have installed is still intact and untouched..

I just found & purchased a training cd set from spidertools.com.

I do appreciate your extra input, though. Hmm...knoppix..I'll have to look into that. It would be a very portable version to work with at school or home.

Thanks!
Sandy

http://www.linuxsurvival.com has a lab-style interactive tutorial that covers command line basics; should at least get you over the icon withdrawal hurdle.

Great link. Linux command line is very comparable to DOS of which I have some experience. Thanks again for the help. (Interesting to note; Windows XP service pack 1a eliminates Javascript support. Bad choice on Microsoft's part if you ask me...) I'm so sick of Windows & all it's baloney. Guess it's time to really learn Linux!

Thanks again for your help.