seeking to learn linux

[crows27]

I was wondering if anybody has a recommendation on what book or books would be "definitive" guides for someone who hasn't worked with Linux..yet.

thanks

 

[RhythmAce]

I paid almost $70 for a book on linux that was supposed to be the only book I'd ever need on linux. It told me how to set it up on my computer and gave me some basic user commands. The rest told me how to use some of the stuff such as how to use a browser and how to setup an e-mail client. Most books are aimed at the lucky few who live in a perfect world. The fact is, you can buy the perfect hardware and install the perfect software but if you play with it, you're gonna break it. You'll find books only help with the most common problems. What I suggest is you just get in there and start playing rough. When you break it, join a forum and others who have been there, will help you fix it. It's the best and quickest way to learn. Before you know it, you'll be reading a question and say "Hey, I know that one. I had the same problem once". I think you'd miss out on a lot of fun just learning by yourself from a book.

 

[crows27]

thanks....is there a particular version of linux I should start playing with? are they all pretty similar (learn one = know all?)

 

[RhythmAce]

That is pretty much correct. Linux is a unix clone so there is not much difference at all. The differences in the differnt linux distibutions is what they put in the package. Some, like Red Hat will wait for something to be proven and considered "stable" before putting it into their new release, while others might want to get a jump on the rest and put it in the first chance they get. Other than that, the only big differences are the directory structures and how you configure your system. They all pretty much have the same stuff.

 

[ifincham]

Hi,

Its a bit out of date but you might like to look at an on-line version of the Redhat 6 Unleashed book -->

http://infobase.informit.com/linux/content/bookframe.html?0672316897

. Or similarly, for Debian, theres the O'reilly book -->

http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/debian/chapter/index.html.

Hope this helps