Hi Everyone,

This is totally embarrassing. I've been in computers since the mid 70's, and keep “shoulding” on myself. You know: I should know this, I should know that. The truth is, that the older I get, the more I realize I don't know.

It all stated in the Salinas Valley of California. To escape agriculture, I enrolled in a Data Processing class at Hartnell College in Salinas, due to the fact that I was 24 years old, still living with Mom and Dad, had a go dead end job with the Green Giant company, no girlfriend, and no hopeful prospect for a better life. ALL of my friends were either in jail, headed there, or were dead. The service was out as Viet Nam was in full swing, and I was a chicken shit to join up. (Now I wished I had). Computers was an escape for me from a really bad family and social life.

Now I'm 60, thankfully employed in Columbia, Missouri by a company that does Vehicle Research and sells reports based on a custom database that has over 10 billion records in it. Sounds cool, but not so much for me.
I am a OpenVMS systems engineer/developer by title. In short I usually get the coffee and doughnuts. Big F'n wow.
The Company's VMS cluster are able to scan those 10 billion records in 2.4 seconds because of the patented database that the founder developed. It is just awesome to watch. Unfortunately the company is moving away from OpenVMS for, (get this) security reasons. If you know anything about DOD contracts and the Government's security standards, you'd just shake your head.
OK you ask, why the heck are you here? Answer I need to learn Linux as a server. Now for the honest part. I am burned out on the computer industries (including academic arena) hype. Over the last 40 years I've heard sooooo many promises and absolutely no real delivery on those promises. So I am going into this jaded to the max.
So Where do I start with this Linux stuff. I'm told that I will be working with a carved up Red Hat version butchered by Oracle. (I just shake my head).
Could anyone, anywhere, please point me in a direction that isn't hype and empty promises, filled with labor in vain, that could get an old frustrated, out of his element, soul from the bench to the batter's box. I know nothing about Linux.
Thanks x 1024 x 1024

-FrustratedSoul
27 July 2012
0930 hours
Missouri time

http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

Migth be a good place to start. Though I feel a bit wierd posting that to anyone who used computers in the 70s.

Why do you wish you had joined the military when Vietnam was stil going?

I could sort of understand it if you could have joined before the 'US and allies are going to lose' writing was on the wall (Tet offensive). Post Tet, not so much....

1 members found this post helpful.

Is there *anything* that gives you some fun in computing? You should start from that, I think.

1 members found this post helpful.

Where do I start:
Do not worry we all have to start at the same point - zero. Everything starts from there .
You would be working with RedHat:
In this context I would advice you to install centos (scientific linux is preferred) so that you are comfortable with RedHat. RedHat is just another linux - just with a big corporation supporting it (not that I am saying this is evil) but this will give you a first hand experience about what you are likely to face dealing with RedHat.
Hype and empty promices:
I do not have an idea what you want to say here. Read any readme file or the gnu manifesto - they say that they do not promise anything - not even the fitness of the software to do its job properly (but then it always does - that is another thing entirely). Linux is not a hype - it is a reality and it is here to stay. Perhaps linux will outlive every other OS (IMHO).
Linux as a server:
Yep, linux powers more server than the other OSs put together so spending time with linux is not a waste. There are some things in Linux that have not changed for decades and most of the times Linux tests new ideas and software thorughly before it is given to an end user or a company. For some reasons Linux is obssessed with uptimes and the testing of ideas and softwares makes it possible to make sure that linux has a minimum downtime. Some servers (simple ones) have uptimes for years.

Hope this helps.

1 members found this post helpful.

So how good are you?
At least some of your knowledge of how to work with programs is going to serve you well when you check out Linux.

So are you going to be the one setting everything up? ...or you are just talking doing something like installing CentOS on a spare computer at home and getting some real experience doing something.

1 members found this post helpful.

I would start with installing CentOS on either a VM, another partition (making your machine dual boot), or a spare machine in your home. Just start using it for every day life, research problems when you encounter them, and you should get the hang of it pretty quickly. Don't be afraid to use the command line...unlike Windows, the CLI is really the power behind Linux.

FYI - CentOS is basically a free RedHat distro without the support that you pay for when you buy RedHat. The packages and functionality are identical, so that's why I and others here are recommending you start with CentOS on your machine in order to get the feel for RedHat.

1 members found this post helpful.

Good morning,
Thank you everyone for responding. Wow! I am extremely impressed with your responses. Seriously all are like a cold drink of water on a really hot day.

Cascade9: The link you supplied was excellent. It was the perfect place to start (for me anyway). I can’t thank you enough.
About the military thing – It is probably survivor’s guilt. Some of my friends lost their lives in Viet Nam, and both parents served during WW2. Dad was in the Navy, Mom was a pilot.

Mara: VERY good question – “Is there anything that is fun in computing?” Really makes me think. The answer is that not much of this is fun anymore. It has become just a job to earn money to pay bills, and hand over to wife, kids, and the various charities we support. The fun part about my job is the people. They are good bunch. Maybe I should dig up my old flight simulator(s) and start playing them again. That was fun. This is a good question because it made me think about what life has become. Darn fine question.

Honneybadger: Thank you for the Red Hat or (Hed Rat – I’m dyslexic - lol) and Centos. And most of all, starting from the same point – Zero – very, very, very good and wise advice. About the Hype thing – one word “SALESMEN”. Have had some career altering experiences with them (Computer Associates , Oracle, IBM, etc). By the way, love your handle “honneybadger” – they are tough little guys.
2damnommon: Good questions. It points out that I need to have a clear mission in mind before I take another step. Thanks
Suicidaleggroll: I will probably use a spare machine at home for starters. Thanks for pointing me towards CentOS. I am definitely going to do that


A couple of things: I’ve heard that the space station was run using 286’s and CLI Linux. Does anyone know if that is true? If so, that is awesome.

Thanks again everyone. You have been a tremendous help, and if this is what a Linux society is like I am totally impresses.

Well, better get back to work. You all have the best day possible.

Sincerely

FrustrateSoul

Ok; as above, if your company will be using OEL https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_Linux (Oracle's re-build of RHEL) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux, then both have to be paid for (basically support+updates).
Centos https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centos is a free rebuild of RHEL; you get updates but not support.
These days you have Google (and indeed LQ ), so that shouldn't really be an issue for a self-teach scenario.

Linux https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux is effectively a free version of Unix and a very solid OS.
(eg NYSE runs on Linux).
Havea good google around.

If you are familiar with VMS, then learning a new cli should be no problem.
A gui is also optional in most installs, and you can open a terminal from the GUI anyway.

Here's a good tutorial http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz

Welcome to LQ

I'm glad the link helped.

Survivor’s guilt makes sense. Though I never really seem to hear about it when people remember the people they have lost in silly incidents or 'the war on drugs', it seems to be far more common if someone managed to avoid a national war (I've lost a farily large number of people to car accidnets, drug problems/overdoses and suicide myself).

286s I sort of doubt, by the time the ISS was up I'd guess they were using at leaast a 386 or 486.

As for linux, have a look here-

http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/3024

http://www.scribd.com/doc/6699887/Li...-Space-Station

The community varies depending on where you go, and what you are asking. At times it can get pretty heated.

I'm glad for you that you did not join and I say that because I know the life of living with Post Traumatic Stress (X- Roommate).
It was a nightmare. Anyway; http://linuxcommand.org and linuxsurvival.com/ might interest you.

Frustrated Soul,

I'm betting you have some great camp fire stories given your years of experience. There are many frustrated souls like yourself that seem to find their way to or stumble upon Linux.

FYI, you might want to see if there is an active Linux User Group (LUG) near where you live. Having a human connection with common interest might be a really good thing. You did say that it was the people that made your job fun. There is more to Linux than just tapping the keys on a keyboard or clicking a mouse... its the people, the flow of ideas, jokes, etc.

Edit:
I Googled out of curiousity and... http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...x-users-group/

Welcome to the club