What projects can I do to become a linux power user?

Mackyboy123 · 09-29-2020, 08:28 AM

Hi,

Reccently, I read the thread about becoming a power user. I already know the basics of linux, so I wanted to dive deeper and understand the barebones. As the thread said, I installed Slackware. I made quite a few mistakes and learned a lot. Now, I have a fully working Slackware vm on my computer, but I'm not sure what to do with it. Does anyone have any ideas?

berndbausch · 09-29-2020, 08:56 AM

Configure a DNS server, an LDAP server, a web server. Create and use keys and certificates for TLS. Use keys and certificates to set up password-less SSH.

Perform complex text processing with tools like awk, sed, grep, cut, tr and so on. Use those tools to process log files under /var/log.

Learn about the content of /sys and /proc. Play with different filesystem types. Set up thinly provisioned and mirrored LVM volumes. Take LVM snapshots and use them to restore a file that you "accidentally" remove. Explore the effect of the many many mount options.

Explore Slackware startup and service management (it's not based on systemd, otherwise I would have told you to explore that). Learn how to configure system boot. Change kernel variables, for example changing the resolution of your console. Set up a serial console.

Create virtual networks, storage and machines on the command line (libvirt, VBox, VMware(?), doesn't matter). Yes, you can create a VM inside a VM, even one that is practically as fast as a physical machine. Depends on the "outer" VM technology you use.

Use the syllabus of fundamental and advanced certificates for more inspiration - Linux Profession Institute, Linux Foundation, Red Hat, SUSE, doesn't matter.

Mill J · 09-29-2020, 11:45 AM

What helped me more than anything was building LFS(Linux From Scratch). You'll be pretty comfortable with command-line and compiling source code when you get done. Not to mention knowing how the kernel, bootloader, init system, etc works.

pan64 · 09-29-2020, 01:42 PM

who is a power user at all? Am I a power user? Or any other member here?

boughtonp · 09-29-2020, 05:51 PM

Ok, this didn't come out anything like I originally envisioned, but it was a quick bit of fun anyway...

Quote:

I already know the basics of linux, so I wanted to dive deeper and understand the barebones.

As Mill J says, that definitely sounds like someone who wants to build Linux From Scratch.

berndbausch · 09-29-2020, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pan64

who is a power user at all? Am I a power user? Or any other member here?

Let's settle on "Guru".

frankbell · 09-29-2020, 07:50 PM

You may find some of the posts in this LQ thread helpful: https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...re-4175682536/

pan64 · 09-30-2020, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berndbausch

Let's settle on "Guru".

and that is still meaningless

Mackyboy123 · 09-30-2020, 04:35 AM

https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...ide%5D-704907/

Quote:

Okay, once you've learned the basics, you're ready to dive in. Distros good for really learning are Arch, Slackware, and Gentoo (I would avoid somewhat for this, though... they've had a lot of problems lately, and the documentation is a bit scattered right now. I think even the most hard-core Gentoo fan will agree.). Debian (minimal) and Sidux are also possibilities, but they tend to be less build-your-own and less standard than Arch and Slack. Linux from Scratch is not for users who have not somewhat mastered one of the above Not that it's hard - you'll just end up typing in commands like a monkey and not learn much. Hey, I did the same thing, with the same result.

boughtonp · 09-30-2020, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mackyboy123

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranguvar

...inux from Scratch... you'll just end up typing in commands like a monkey and not learn much.

Sure, if all you do is parrot commands, you'll only be practicing reading and typing, and you seem capable of those already.

Learning requires active participation - you should understand each command/option you're typing, and if not then go consult relevant documentation first. (And if it's something you feel LFS should have explained but hasn't, there are various support channels you can raise that on.)

That "becoming a Linux power user" guide was written ten years ago, and is the opinion of someone who's profile has their occupation as "high school". That doesn't automatically make them wrong, but their experience is likely limited. If you want more qualified opinions, it's probably worth a thread in the Slackware forum asking whether LFS will help you to understand the barebones, or whether Slackware users recommend a different approach to learning.