Is it possible to self-teach Linux?

Question

I am an MCSE, MCITP and I have a bachelors, but I see many jobs that require knowledge of Linux. I'm curious though, it seems that linux is one of those things you either have to be obsessed with or work with everyday or there's no way to become good at it. Too many distros, too many different ways and command lines, and too much time needed to learn. Seems like it takes years and years. Is it possible for me to learn just enough to say I have some knowledge of using it? I have installed Open Suse 11.3 and Ubuntu, but i'm not sure if that's enough. What all do I need to know about those to have a general understanding of all Linux? Red Hat and Fedora seem more command based and difficult, must I know those as well or is Open Suse and Ubuntu enough?

Answer 1

You don't need to become obsessed by it but there is no substitute for simply putting the time in - you wouldn't expect to claim proficiency of Windows after only a couple of weeks experience after all. Frankly the choice of distribution is largely irrelevant if you learn the right way - by editing the config files manually, and yes, using the command line. This isn't difficult - in fact it is frequently far faster that navigating through sequences of dialog boxes - but does need effort to learn. If you are only able to administer using GUI tools from one or two particular distros then in my book you don't understand Linux at all.



My My suggestion would be to install Slackware or even NetBSD - although the BSDs are not Linux based they are close enough that it makes no difference. However, both those systems lack the dumbing-down of some of the more popular Linux distros. Learn to use those effectively and you can work on any Unix system with minimal adaption needed. Yes, you are talking about hundreds of hours work, but if it was easy it would not be such a valuable skill to have on your CV.

Answer 2

Yes, it is possible to teach yourself Linux. Many have. So sit back, take a deep breath - things are not as complicated as they seem

All distros use the same Linux kernel. The files may be organized a bit differently, but once you get under the hood, they are basically the same

Different distros have different priorities, so the have different looks and get them by using different window managers that are tweaked in different ways

But Linux is at it's heart a command line based system. The standard command line interface is BASH, and you will find a CLI in every Linux distro. The command line will work rhe same, no matter what distro you are using.



To figure out what to learn, first decide where you are going to use Linux. Are you going to be using it in the back office as a server, or on the desktop?

Let that guide you as what distro to choose and what areas to concentrate in

Red Hat leads the pack in the back office

Ubuntu on the desktop



All use the same networking tools, all are blood brothers under the hood.



Welcome to Linux

Have fun

Answer 3

the two Suse and Fedora are comparable. different than for the upload-on admin approaches there is rather much no difference. And each and all the longer working distributions are on the fringe of Unix. ALL equipment managers have not have been given any relation to Unix. oftentimes you could desire to income to place in and collect classes manually in case you desire to be a extreme administrator. And different than for some ideal human beings, the money isn't that solid. and because cut back-backs it many times turns right into a short-staffed job. This many times potential very long shifts, and no one assist you to bypass to that important celebration, Christmas occasion or something on an identical time as there is an unresolved subject. Plus you many times get the blame in spite of is going incorrect. This incorporates whilst somebody deletes ALL of a listing from the server, remembering there is not any recycle/waste bin over the community