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Lazarann
Caldari Darkstorm Command Ethereal Dawn
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Posted - 2009.04.04 13:45:00 -
[1]
So I've always wanted to get comfortable with Linux and know it as well as I know Windows, but I don't really know where to start. I need suggestions. Both on what distro's would be good to start with, and what the best resources are to learn...stuff. So far Ubuntu is the only one I've really used. Any help is appreciated.
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Sebastien Chevalier
Gallente The Trendy Squid Trading Corporation
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Posted - 2009.04.04 14:26:00 -
[2]
You might be interested in the Linux Starter Pack available at Tuxradar, created by staffers at Linux Format magazine. Find it here. It's a touch out of date now but probably 99% of it is still accurate.
If you're using Ubuntu you are already using the best distro for newcomers IMO. Hang around the Ubuntu forum; almost every question I have has already been answered there and help is a search away.
Having said that, if it's the technical side you want to learn, have a browse through Gentoo's user manual. It's best suited to Gentoo, obviously, but Gentoo is probably the best-documented distro there is and the manual covers all sorts of stuff that applies to all distros. Debian has excellent documentation too. As for where to begin...that's up to you! What interests you most?
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Lazarann
Caldari Darkstorm Command Ethereal Dawn
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Posted - 2009.04.04 14:33:00 -
[3]
Thanks for the suggestions. As far as what interests me, that's kind of hard to answer, but I know most of Windows inside and out, I'd like to be the same way with Linux. I know a lot of Linux can deal with command line stuff, which is something I don't know much about, but I'd be willing to learn. I know some things obviously don't work in Linux that would in Windows, but ideally I want to be able to sit down at a PC with Linux and feel just as comfortable with it as I do with Windows. Also, is there anything special I need to do when it comes to network Windows and Linux? Sharing files, etc.
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Victor Valka
Caldari Kissaki Corporation
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Posted - 2009.04.04 15:12:00 -
[4]
Originally by: Sebastien Chevalier If you're using Ubuntu you are already using the best distro for newcomers IMO. Hang around the Ubuntu forum; almost every question I have has already been answered there and help is a search away.
I'd say that Ubuntu is a terrible choice if you want to learn Linux -- it's only a good choice if you want to use Linux.
So if you want to become a Linux user, pick Ubuntu.
If, however, you want to learn Linux, pick Arch Linux. You'll learn more about Linux from installing Arch Linux then you'll learn about it from using Ubuntu for a year.
Originally by: Spaztick You are not outnumbered, you are in a target-rich environment.
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Sebastien Chevalier
Gallente The Trendy Squid Trading Corporation
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Posted - 2009.04.04 16:56:00 -
[5]
Originally by: Victor Valka I'd say that Ubuntu is a terrible choice if you want to learn Linux -- it's only a good choice if you want to use Linux.
...which is why I suggested Gentoo and Debian. And I think the OP will learn more about Linux from Gentoo than from Arch Linux. Arch isn't really a learning distro, it's simply a distro for powerusers who want as stripped-down an installation as possible. Gentoo is the one that will really teach about the inner workings of Linux. Actually, now I think about it, maybe Linux From Scratch is a good idea - it does exactly what it says on the tin, comes with a really good manual and an ISO image if I recall correctly.
Lazarann, when it comes to network shares between Windows and Linux, look no further than Samba. It's been around for a long time, is extremely mature and stable.
The command line is a shell, and probably at least 95% of distros use Bash, the de facto standard. It's incredibly powerful but takes some learning. You can do all sorts of stuff by learning how to script with it (try this guide) but it's also how you use various command-line tools, many of which are installed as standard as the GNU coreutils. These contain the Linux equivalents of commands such as DIR, CD etc.
But the scope is huge. Samba will start you off with network shares between Windows and Linux (try something like NFS for Linux-Linux) but to learn effectively, IMO, it's best to decide what you want to do and then ask about how to do it.
Have fun!
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ReaperOfSly
Gallente Zetsubou Corp
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Posted - 2009.04.04 17:40:00 -
[6]
Gentoo? Seriously???
Do NOT let a Linux noob anywhere near Gentoo unless you want to traumatise them for life. ____________________
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Sebastien Chevalier
Gallente The Trendy Squid Trading Corporation
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Posted - 2009.04.04 18:26:00 -
[7]
Edited by: Sebastien Chevalier on 04/04/2009 18:27:38 If you read the whole discussion, you'll realise that I wasn't recommending Gentoo for a newbie. Just saying that it's excellent for learning the underlying fundamentals of Linux. I also recommended a few other things that the OP could look at using a simple Ubuntu install.
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Blane Xero
Amarr The Firestorm Cartel
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Posted - 2009.04.04 18:40:00 -
[8]
Originally by: Sebastien Chevalier Edited by: Sebastien Chevalier on 04/04/2009 18:27:38 If you read the whole discussion, you'll realise that I wasn't recommending Gentoo for a newbie. Just saying that it's excellent for learning the underlying fundamentals of Linux. I also recommended a few other things that the OP could look at using a simple Ubuntu install.
Learning as in......Throwing it into the nearest fire in a fit of rage? ______________________________________________ Haruhiist since December 2008
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Sebastien Chevalier
Gallente The Trendy Squid Trading Corporation
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Posted - 2009.04.04 20:09:00 -
[9]
Heh. To be fair, Gentoo is incredibly well documented. When I tried it the only thing I got wrong was compiling a custom kernel, because I couldn't be bothered to find out every single aspect of my processor architecture. But as long as you follow the manual and use a ready-made kernel it's surprisingly easy.
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Jim McGregor
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Posted - 2009.04.05 13:49:00 -
[10]
Edited by: Jim McGregor on 05/04/2009 13:50:37
I think using Ubuntu is enough in the beginning for a Windows user. If they start with Gentoo they will be so frustrated and probably quit.
Actually running Ubuntu AND having Gentoo or something else run in VirtualBox is probably the best idea, because then they get a usable Linux system and can still mess around with Gentoo without ****ing things up. :)
With Ubuntu he can learn about shell scripting, the startup files, applications and everything else without running into problems every step of the way.
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Cetshwayo
Veto. Veto Corp
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Posted - 2009.04.05 22:23:00 -
[11]
Originally by: ReaperOfSly Gentoo? Seriously???
Do NOT let a Linux noob anywhere near Gentoo unless you want to traumatise them for life.
Depends on the person. I learned about linux from installing Gentoo from a Stage 1 amd64 tarball. If you are determined to learn, Gentoo really is one of the best options. It has great documentation and the support forums are second to none.
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ry ry
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Posted - 2009.04.05 23:14:00 -
[12]
don't listen to the linux evangelists telling you you'd be best off getting gentoo source, print it out onto A4 paper and manually transferring it to your HD with a magnetised needle. they're posing, and rather nerdishly at that.
get ubuntu, use it for a bit to get your head around the way linux does stuff without all the pain and *THEN* think about going for a different distro to flex your geek muscles if you think you've 'outgrown' ubuntu.
i like ubuntu.
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Taedrin
Gallente Nabaal Engineering of Haarsuk
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Posted - 2009.04.05 23:30:00 -
[13]
Edited by: Taedrin on 05/04/2009 23:34:06 Step 1: Ubuntu - easy to install, easy to use, works for most people and has the largest audience (and hence possibly the most support) Step 2: Tinker with Ubuntu - try doing things such as installing a different desktop environment and new desktop manager (they are not the same thing. A desktop manager is the log in screen from which you can select the desktop environment of your choice). Step 3: Try installing something without the aid of a package manager like Synaptic. At the same time, learn how to resolve software dependencies on you own. Step 4: Discover MAN pages. Step 5:Take a look at various configuration files and try fiddling around with them. Step 6: Learn how to use the console, console applications, pipes, stream redirection, etc... Step 7: Graduate to another distro. If you are unsure of your self, try another "easy" distro such as Fedora. If you want to go off into the deep end, try Gentoo.
All through this entire process, you should be doing research on problems that you encounter. Don't give up if you encounter a problem, google is your friend.
EDIT: About Gentoo - the installation process for gentoo is to give you a barebones command line liveCD. They then tell you to build all of the little building blocks that Linux is made out of bit by bit until 6 hours later you have a (barely) working operating system. And I really do mean "build", because Gentoo's software repositories only contain source code - NOT the actual executables. For most programs your computer has to compile the software on it's own. The idea being that programs are can be optimized for your specific machine and set up if they are compiled there.
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Cetshwayo
Veto. Veto Corp
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Posted - 2009.04.06 11:04:00 -
[14]
As long as you do not become an Ubuntard. It makes it easy to use linux which is not the same as learning about the innards of the system and how it fits together.
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Sebastien Chevalier
Gallente The Trendy Squid Trading Corporation
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Posted - 2009.04.06 17:28:00 -
[15]
Originally by: Cetshwayo As long as you do not become an Ubuntard. It makes it easy to use linux which is not the same as learning about the innards of the system and how it fits together.
Hehe. Oh dear. Another sad blog by someone as annoyed that $DISTRO is the flavour of the month as his favourite band suddenly getting airtime on the radio.
Ubuntu is absolutely fine. It's popular because it's good. It's used by people who value productivity more highly than ****ing about in config files.
You can learn the innards of Linux with any distro. The main difference is some force you to while others simply provide the option.
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Draeca
Tharri and Co.
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Posted - 2009.04.07 03:44:00 -
[16]
Originally by: Sebastien Chevalier
Originally by: Cetshwayo As long as you do not become an Ubuntard. It makes it easy to use linux which is not the same as learning about the innards of the system and how it fits together.
Hehe. Oh dear. Another sad blog by someone as annoyed that $DISTRO is the flavour of the month as his favourite band suddenly getting airtime on the radio.
Ubuntu is absolutely fine. It's popular because it's good. It's used by people who value productivity more highly than ****ing about in config files.
You can learn the innards of Linux with any distro. The main difference is some force you to while others simply provide the option.
Ubuntu is good but not better than the others, and it's popular because it's easier and faster to install than Windows and almost as easy to use too. It's good for people who just want a reliable OS that works and aren't really so interested or don't have the knowhow of tweaking and configuring it to fit their needs better. And of course it's possible to learn Linux with Ubuntu, it's a Linux afterall. The difference between other more advanced distros is that you don't really learn Linux with Ubuntu through casual use, you really have to want to learn it and put some work on it.
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