Getting Started with Linux

You don't want to just sit there and RTFM; modern Linux distributions have become too easy; what can you do to actually learn Linux? My advice: setup an Internet server.

Some reasons why this is a good learning experience:

• Objective, incremental goals (eg: this weekend I'm setting up Apache, next weekend I'll tackle Sendmail)
• You can leave X-Windows until later, which is good because X-Windows is either too easy (everything autodetected by the distribution's install) or too hard (hacking modelines in XF86Config)
• You can use a more esoteric distribution (like Debian or Slackware) without having to worry if you can't get X-Windows working (see above)
• Your skills will be useful (in the Real World, even!) after the first few hours and will progress steadily
• You can use an old box, especially one without lots of hard drive space
• Linux is good at being a server
• There are lots of neat toys for servers (see FreeNet and OpenNap)
• There's something more substantial than a funny-looking desktop to show for your trouble

Step to success:

1. Try to have another Internet-enabled computer around for looking things up.
2. Depending on your level of experience with Linux, choose a distribution somewhere between Mandrake and rolling your own.
3. Make multiple copies of any installation floppies (if it crashes mysteriously during install, try another floppy)
4. Install a minimal system and gradually add more components (this is a dream with Debian's apt-get).
5. Get connected to the Internet first.
6. Look up some basic security tips (smart people will suggest you do that before going on-line).
7. Start adding services, one at a time; don't start with the next one until you're successful with the previous or have completely given up.
8. Add weirder and weirder things until you run out of hard drive space or get a job as a Linux consultant and start the process all over again on a client's computer.
9. Go on-line and share what you learned.