Hi all,

I need to get familiar with Linux. Not only because of my career but also because I finally want to switch from Windows to Linux.

I will run Linux on my Dell E4310 laptop.

Here we go:

I want to use Linux CentOS as it's an enterprise Linux and I don't want to buy Red Hat. I did install it once on my laptop but it didn't install all drivers e.g no WLAN driver. I have absolute no clue about Linux and didn't even know how to install something as simple as a WLAN driver.Hell I don't even know how to install simple software or how to extract .rar archives.... So my first question is if you know any decent, if possible free, Linux tutorials for beginners? I know Youtube but I assume that 95% of the tutorials on there are useless.

I also will have Kali Linux as dual boot. I need this to advance in my career.

Thank you very much!

Hello and welcome to the LQ forum!

Here is some good stuff to begin with Linux:
http://www.tldp.org/guides.html
Introduction to Linux
Pocket Linux Guide
Linux on the Road
The Linux System Administrator's Guide

However, if you face any challenges or have any doubts, you can ask here on LQ!

Hope this helps!

Welcome sharky84

http://www.tldp.org/

Start here
http://wiki.centos.org/
with the FAQ and Tips and Tricks

A quick web search for "centos wlan driver" revealed masses of information. If you want a computing career, you should have been able to work that out for yourself!

If you are going to add extra software to CentOS, read
http://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalRes...epositories%29
http://wiki.centos.org/PackageManagement/Yum/Priorities

unrar is available from RPMforge. Linux users don't generally use rar, but if you need it you have to use it from the command line:
unrar e whatever.rar

CentOS 6.4 because it is a rebuild of RHEL 6.4 assumes that you already have a lot of red hat experience
or at least a fair amount of other Linux experience

Also something to keep in mind
RHEL ( and CentOS ) are first and foremost designed for running a headless server
or for use with a Desktop in the Office

support for laptops was just an after thought

Centos and RHEL will mostly work mostly well on most laptops .

there is a VERY steep learning curve you need to over come
like RHEL CentOS is rather " manual " in it's set up and configuring

Now CentOS dose add things to make life a bit easier for Home desktop installs , but not laptop installs .
common issues on laptops are
No sound
no Mouse pad
buttons on the mouse pad not working
built in 3d chips, not supported ( or not well )
very short battery life ( yes and no on that , it depends on the hardware and OS installed )

and KALI is by far NOT for new users
even their web sites states so
--- to quote the kali site ---
http://docs.kali.org/introduction/sh...use-kali-linux
from this
misuse of this OS can land you in jail !!! ( or at the least ,standing in front of a Judge!!)

A lot of people like Mint Linux
they target to the new to linux user

there is also Fuduntu
http://www.fuduntu.org/

it looks to be a "back to fundamentals "
with explicate designs for use on laptops

1 members found this post helpful.

Kali Linux is based on Debian testing. So why not try Debian first?

Yes I know to what the misuse of Kali can lead. I am starting PenTesting (not in production but I'm learning it) and therefore want to use Kali sooner or later.
I thought CentOS would be a good way to go because it's based on RH and RH is used in production, if I'm not mistaken.

@etech3;
You said Kali is based on Debian, so would Linux Mint Debian be a good choice?

**EDIT**
I do like the look and feeling of CentOs though, although I have no clue what I'm doing in Linux atm.

Thanks again.

"You said Kali is based on Debian, so would Linux Mint Debian be a good choice?"

You could, why not just use Debian?

I have used Centos and Debian for years.

There are a few thing different in each, one that comes to mind is the chkconfig package (service command). That can be added to Debian with APT.

As a beginner, go for a distribution that is known to be especially beginner-friendly, like Linux Mint, *buntu etc. and go from there. Once you're familiar with a few things you may then choose to test a few others until you found what you like/want.

Can we have an end to this Red Hat / CentOS are only for servers, please. Red Hat's release announcement for version 5 claimed "significantly improved laptop support". Businesses use laptops and Red Hat knows it. Also, CentOS adds extra support of a wider range of hardware.

CentOS has advantages over Debian in terms of configuration tools for the beginner. Compare the management of daemons, the firewall (which Debian doesn't even install by default), etc. For example, I use USB speakers. In CentOS I can switch between internal and external sound devices with 4 mouse clicks. In Debian, I have to edit a configuration file and reboot.

Maybe I should have been clearer about my experience. I'm a Systems Admin since over a decade. But never really touched Linux. I am now switching in to Network Security and would like to get familiar with Linux. My second thought is to become a Linux admin, never know.. it's my plan B.
It doesn't have to be the simplest Linux. I don't know Linux so I can't tell if a "beginner" Linux dist like Ubuntu or Mint is missing "in-depth" features, which is exactly what I don't want (getting used to a Linux dist just to find out that I have to switch to a different dist because the current one lacks features).
I will study Linux books and probably even check out some training videos.

In that case CentOS 6.4 might be a good choice
just check the hardware compatibility list for the laptop
-- a bit old --
http://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalResources/HardwareList
--- use redhat's list
https://hardware.redhat.com/?offcmp=TBD

Kali( like backtrack5) is normally installed to a usb
as a live image and is encrypted with persistence

see the install documentation on the site

or
in a dual boot

Again do a lot of research

I will go with CentOS. I won't use Kali soon but I will eventually have to know it.

Thank you all!

*buntu-like distros aren't really "missing" much, but they're not meant to be heavily customized. These distros are more for the "home" folks with rather modern, standard equipment and for use in not-too-complicated setups.

If you want to dig deeper, maybe you want to move over to Debian, Slackware or maybe even Arch or Gentoo, as you're saying that you're not afraid

one of the big mistakes i make ( and others) is not asking the background and the knowledge of the "new" user
and what exactly their needs are !

A Windows sys. admin. will still have a learning curve to get past
but not one as steep as a non-technical " point and click" then pray it works, standard ( read "? average ?" ) windows user .


different distros have a very different "targeted user market"
Some are aimed at the windows " point and click" user

Others are aimed at the terminal only typing everything user

Others for server and office use

and everywhere in between



my apologies

But most "new to Linux" users that ask about certain distros like kail .
Do tend to be 13 year old "scrip kiddies" that think it is " cool" .

and there has been a trend around here that people install RHEL and do not know that a license is required
nor that there are some FREE rebuilds around ,and if they do...

This leads to installing centOS and wanting a windows xp replacement that dose everything for them
then have problems with installing the need software to watch a movie dvd or listen to music mp3's
because they have never used the terminal before .