How to be familiar with Linux system?

Question

I am an electrical engineering (with computer science option) student I'll be applying for major-related jobs in the Fall quarter in my college. Many jobs have the requirement that says something like "familiar with Linux system" or "have experience with Linux." However, I have no experience in Linux, so I hope to gain some experiences during my summer break. So, here's a list of questions I have, and it'll be great if you can answer all of them.

1. Someone suggested me to download Ubuntu first. What is Ubuntu? And is there any other recommendations besides Ubuntu?

2. I am not sure what to do once I downloaded Ubuntu, so I am thinking about buying a Linux beginner's guide. Any recommendations for Linux book? I heard that there are also good guides online, so, any recommendations for good Linux learning sites?

3. I also heard I'll be doing shell programming/scripting, so I am also thinking about buying a book for shell programming/scripting. Any good recommendations for shell programming/scripting books?

4. What is Linux Kernel? And should I be worrying about Linux Kernel yet? If so, any book/site recommendations on this topic?

5. I am out of questions for now, but if you have any other suggestions that can help me get started on learning Linux, that would be great.

Thanks for your time.

Answer 1

1. Ubuntu is definitely the easiest to learn the basics of Linux with because it is very user friendly. Fedora also makes a good choice, but has some issues that they are still working out with the 64 bit version.



2. Basically anything you need to know you can find out with the Ubuntu forums or AskUbuntu, Ubuntu has a very large community backing it up.



3. http://www.amazon.com/LINUX-Shell-Programming-David-Tansley/dp/0201674726 looks promising, has some good reviews.



4. The Kernel for any operating system, as I understand it, is basically a large script that tells the computer what to do in what situations and how to handle different hardware.



5. To get familiar with linux id recomend learning how to do tasks in the terminal first before doing them with the GUI, because it definitely helps knowing how. Tasks can be completed much faster like that.

Answer 2

1) For a beginner, I highly recommend Debian. http://www.debian.org/



2) Try to gain a basic understanding on the command line. You don't really need a book since there are hundreds of tutorials out there.



3) http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Bash-Prog-Intro-HOWTO.html



4)

> What is Linux Kernel?

It's a kernel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel_%28computing%29



> And should I be worrying about Linux Kernel yet?

Not really, although building a configuring kernel can be quite an educational experience once you have a GNU/Linux system going. If you become interested in making modifications to it, it will be necessary to learn C.



5) I guess just jump right into it instead of planning. If you have trouble installing it, there are plenty of forums you can go to for assistance. I'd say linuxquestions is among the most active. http://www.linuxquestions.org/

Answer 3

Linux is an operating system much like windows or Mac OS. Ubuntu is a "Distro" which contains Linux and number of other packages that make a complete Desktop operating environment. Many other such Distros exist, including Mint and Zorin OS which will be more familiar to Windows users.



To use it you have to have it. Fortunately it is free and widely available.http://www.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/why-use-ubuntu, http://distrowatch.com



You can 1) download it (go to distrowatch.com to find them) and 2) burn it onto CD or USB and 3) boot from it...with option in most cases to "try it live" or "Install it". Your best bet is to get Linux Magazine...most have a bootable coverdisk with a Live Distro of Linux.

"Live distros" allow you to try Linux without installing or even touching the Operating System on your computer. A very portable Linux is PuppyLinux which I carry about with me everywhere on my USB stick.

Another alternative is to install Ubuntu in Windows using either Wubi http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/windows-installer or co-operative Linux. http://www.colinux.org/



The best Beginners guide and shell programming guide is the Internet, but O'Reilly do an excellent series http://www.freeos.com/guides/lsst/



The Linux Kernel is the "core". All programs run on to of the kernel which allows this programs to interact with all the hardware on the system. the Kernel also supervises these programs many running at the same time and prevents conflicts, and cleans up etc.



Best is to keep an open mind, and persevere. Most problems you will encounter have already been encountered and Linux has a very extensive network of support on line. Good luck