after installing slackware 8 to force myself to learn linux the "hard" way, I have read a lot and interested in getting my hands dirty so to speak configuring files and setting up a linux machine to act as a firewall and masquerade another machine, set up a mail server, filter junkmail, and set up a web server with apache, yet...

I am wondering is this work even worth attempting with only a dial up connection getting 37 kbps...

if there is anyone out there who could offer me a bit of advice about what is worth doing for practicality and for experience with only a dial up connection from home, I sure would appreciate it. I have a lot of motivation, time to study between menial work to pay the bills, and would love to be able to get some stuff going here at home so that I could eventually get a job as a network administrator, or at least have more fun at home someday with a stronger connection speed...

Any advice for someone who is just starting out with 2 machines, a crossover cable, dial up, and spare time would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!!

The fact that you have two computers to work with will allow to do quite a bit in terms of 'gettting your hands dirty' doing a wide array of network administration tasks.

When I started, I simpy got my hands on a well rounded networking / admin book and worked through each of the chapters, slowly building a very small, two computer network in my home.

Once the network is up, you can do the following sorts of things without having to even deal with dial-up concerns:

1. NFS
2. NIS
3. RAID
4. Samba
5. Apache
6. Logical Volume Management
7. Router Setup and Configuration
8. Firewall Setup and Configuration
9. Virtual Network Computing

The list goes on........

Eventually you shoudl try to get your hands on a third system to really tap into router and firewall use if you dont configure your dial-up. You can try hacking and tweaking your own network to see how things really relate to each other and test your skills on a regular basis.

Basically, you dont need Internet access to begin the journey into administration with Linux.

I used/use the following book to get a good feel for Linux admin capabilities:

Linux Administration: A Beginners Guide Second Edition
Publisher: Osbourne

This book is designed to simply get you up and running with a basic understanding of the concepts presented. I found/find it to be VERY helpful.

Also use the Linux HOW-TO's at www.linux.com as often as possible to reinforce or supplement your readings.

Good luck

Many kind thanks... I appreciate you taking the time to put together that list of tasks to try. It brings me happiness to know that a fast outside connection isn't paramount for the learning process to begin. I will begin today!

No problem.

Hope you find Linux to be as exciting and rewarding as the rest of us!