UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users

Hi guys,

I believe most of you guys are guru here.
I'm actually linux/unix programmer and understand some of linux language (sh, bash, perl).

I would like to jump into more technical role which is sys admin which I need to do something like :
- Veritas backup and clustering (I heard our sysadmin use gpfs software about this)
- Unix backup and file restore (I know how to create tar and extract, I read sysadmin usually use dump command)
- install software (I know how to install rpm files, which usually following the readme file, but what about SUN package file?)
- Monitoring software (How sysadmin usually do this? via top command? or any 3rd party software like tivoli)
- Layer 2 and 3 networking like SMTP, DNS (I know some command about this to scan port, check port open using nmap, netstat -ar)
- Web hosting (I know about IIS and abit apache)

If I wanna know all of these, which the best I should start via books or course and certifications? build one box and play around but we need number of boxes to play around about clustering and networking...

So, if you guys can shed a light where should I start and do, that would be appreciated..

Thanks heaps guys,

The unix and linux O'Reilly books are really good

Administration is a lot a question of experience...
Reading books will help of course but cant replace the "workshop"
If you dont have a serve you can play with at work, then opt for a linux at home and so get O'Reilly linux admin book. The essencial practice, you will need, then once mastered, its not that difficult to understand and find your way in all the other flavours of UNIX

I have linux mandrake at home but still can not perform as task above as they need more than one server, do I need to have more than 1 boxes,

can you guys shed some light for each job above please?

virtualize if you need more then one server and don't feel like spending the number. use vmware of instance. also, solaris 10 (and 9) have zones or containers. sol10 zones are pretty big these days and putting them on a zfs filesystem will definitely get you into the realm of sys admin. i'm a solaris admin so much of my resources come from docs.sun.com. if you take a look at the basic and advanced sys admin collections, you will definitely start learning.

all the applications you are speaking about can all be done without any cost to you. btw, man pages are your collective bible.

Hi Guys,

If I install linux mandriva at home as I have got it now,
would it be much different to admin other more popular flavour like (redhat, fedora) and unix.

Or would be the best if I spend some money to buy Redhat and install at home.

Actually, can I buy Solaris 10 Unix and install at home or unix require specific hardware and we need to buy from sun as the package (hardware and OS)?
Because we all know unix is most popular in the world.

Cheers guys,

There is OpenSolaris and it should be free...
If you are really willing to learn, the hard way (but you learn far more...) is to go with a debian server then there is an O'Reilly book of admin for it.
The hard way because there is a lot to do from scratch in Debian. So to my eyes - the best approach : You will know since you succeeded in its installation where all is installed, this is a great advantage when issues occures, you know where to look...
People with pur GUI usually have no ideas where the config files are hidden (Ive see too many claiming they installed... then call for help when in trouble, not to say when X doesnt start...)
About the commercial unix, instead of buying a solaris, look for a box on Ebay or any other site you find servers for less than 100$
That will do the job!
I have 2 HP and a SUN at home ( solaris8 - never finished the installation started in 2002- i lack of time...)