Geek self-study
November 9, 2007 3:00 PM Subscribe
What is the best book for a self-study course on learning to use Linux. This would be for a sophomore in college studying Computer Science, but a person totally unfamiliar with anything other than Windows. I am looking for something where the student would install, then go through a series of tasks: configure networking, mount a remote smb drive, configure firewall, set up new accounts, configure apache, etc.
Are you looking to get more of a Sysadmin point of view, or a Linux internals point of view? The dichotomy between the two is immense, and will help myself and the rest of the linux brethren on the hive to help you out.
IE: Do you only want to know how to get stuff going vs. do you want to know why you need to do it that way and often in that order, and also how it's doing what it does underneath the hood?
posted by zap rowsdower at 3:18 PM on November 9, 2007
IE: Do you only want to know how to get stuff going vs. do you want to know why you need to do it that way and often in that order, and also how it's doing what it does underneath the hood?
posted by zap rowsdower at 3:18 PM on November 9, 2007
somehow my brain went over the "learning how to use" part of the question and focused on the "CS student" aspect. If you're looking for an intro on how to get around then Happy Dave is on point, and a thousand apologies.
posted by zap rowsdower at 3:21 PM on November 9, 2007
posted by zap rowsdower at 3:21 PM on November 9, 2007
Response by poster: Thanks for the replies. I am looking for the system admin and here is how to compile and configure free software points of view. Not the internals, including memory management, etc. I'll check out that book, looks like it might be on target. Other suggestions still welcome.
posted by about_time at 6:01 PM on November 9, 2007
posted by about_time at 6:01 PM on November 9, 2007
first learn how to use linux, then learn how to administer it. There is a difference, and unless you have remote logins to other *nix machines, you will probably confuse the idea of root/user. Try getting a normal account on another server and doing mundane things. This only applies if you want to learn things the command line way. If you are using ubuntu, then just ignore everything i said above.
Oh, what's the best book? The internet. I've never bought a linux reference book.
posted by mezamashii at 6:51 PM on November 9, 2007
Oh, what's the best book? The internet. I've never bought a linux reference book.
posted by mezamashii at 6:51 PM on November 9, 2007
Best answer: Linux Administration Handbook is the best book for someone who is seriously interested in setting up Linux. The same author also wrote The Unix System Administration Handbook which covers other Unix types such as FreeBSD and Solaris as well as Linux. A computer science student may find the Unix book more useful.
posted by calumet43 at 8:26 PM on November 9, 2007
posted by calumet43 at 8:26 PM on November 9, 2007
Install a Linux distribution that doesn't hide shit from you.
For learning how to configure specific things, you can't do better than the Gentoo wiki
posted by blasdelf at 2:36 AM on November 10, 2007
For learning how to configure specific things, you can't do better than the Gentoo wiki
posted by blasdelf at 2:36 AM on November 10, 2007
Response by poster: I have a copy of Unix System Admin Handbook, it's quite good. I'll check out the Linux Admin book.
Just to clear up confusion, I am an ubergeek who is trying to lead mostly via email a series of students who want to learn linux over a few weeks time. I want a book that they can use mostly on their own, and where I will be a backup. I am purchasing the books, so it doesn't have to be free. The Internet is full of wonderful materials, but I want a polished, structured book so that the lot of them can be synchronized as we progress.
Thanks again for the replies.
posted by about_time at 4:10 AM on November 10, 2007
Just to clear up confusion, I am an ubergeek who is trying to lead mostly via email a series of students who want to learn linux over a few weeks time. I want a book that they can use mostly on their own, and where I will be a backup. I am purchasing the books, so it doesn't have to be free. The Internet is full of wonderful materials, but I want a polished, structured book so that the lot of them can be synchronized as we progress.
Thanks again for the replies.
posted by about_time at 4:10 AM on November 10, 2007
This book won a few prices (original is in german) here. I can recommend it personally, because I own a copy. I'm using Linux for 9 years now and I can still find interesting tips and hints in it.
posted by donut at 5:06 AM on November 10, 2007
posted by donut at 5:06 AM on November 10, 2007
At my university, there's a Linux User Group. Maybe your/his/her university also has one?
posted by theiconoclast31 at 5:33 PM on November 10, 2007
posted by theiconoclast31 at 5:33 PM on November 10, 2007
Response by poster: Just to follow up on my own question, the ubuntu book suggested by Happy Dave was a good choice. Thanks.
posted by about_time at 6:53 PM on February 20, 2008
posted by about_time at 6:53 PM on February 20, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Happy Dave at 3:17 PM on November 9, 2007 [1 favorite]