Wanting to Explore Distros and Learn about Linux by doing Exploratory Projects
 

Hello all! I'm glad to be a member here on linuxquestions as I have just recently begun to REALLY delve into Linux. So far, I'm loving it!! I just had a question for the experienced Linux users out there and this is this: what projects or really neat things to experiment or play around with on any Linux distros would you recommend? What things have you played around with on Linux? I ask because I learn new things by being hands on and so that's what I'm doing with Linux. Diving right in! I've already set up a linode and installed and configured ISPConfig but I want to continue expanding my knowledge in Linux. Any suggestions or ideas are greatly appreciated! Thank You!

Hard to recommend anything without knowing what exactly it is you want to look into, we are talking about an OS here, one that can be used for near any machine driven task imaginable. Are you looking at networking, servers, desktop, etc, just something to help filter it down a bit.

I'm currently looking at servers and networking mostly at the moment. I've already begun to fiddle with the servers side of things as I currently am hosting my own DNS, website, and email on a Debian 8 Jessie server. That filter it down a little more for you? I'm just curious as to whether there are distros more suited to certain tasks than others? I know it's Linux so I hope that's not a dumb question.

I would approach your question very differently because of what I do with Linux, and it is not related to servers.

The question is not dumb, but nor is r3sistance's point. And the short answer to your question is "yes", there are different distribution types available for different types of exploration or use.

I feel there are a few categories. There are a small few which concentrate on security testing, another few which concentrate on scientific analysis, there are very many which concentrate on being servers, and many which concentrate on being desktops. The more specialized your needs, the more detailed you might end up being with the Linux you use, almost to the point where you create a custom kernel. I feel that most all end results of a distribution, as installed on a system, become more customized than even what you started with.

As far as how you're going about this, you've started to work with the specific technologies which you are interested in. I'd recommend you target distributions which are servers, or the forms of distributions which are servers. If your preferences change, then perhaps one of the other distributions will become more suitable.

Another suggestion, given that you seem to be concentrating on servers, it to familiarize yourself with things like cron jobs, how to create and manage them, and shell scripting. Learn a lot about the command line. Use the manual pages available with your distribution, or on the web. Refer to the associated commands referenced in the first manual pages you review, and then visit the other recommended commands to see if they are also helpful for you.

Thank you rtmistler and r3sistance!! I appreciate your feedback and advice! I'm going to use to in my continued exploration and usage of Linux!