UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users

Hello Everyone,

This post is a result of my search and quest to build a Unix Server at Home. I am familiar with the most of the systems such as, Solaris 10, HP-UX & Linux.

Can somebody help me with more information about How to Build a Unix Server right from Fundamentals.... ?


I have been searching website from quite a few time and some good information is available, but not good enough to understand the Core of Unix.

I am trying to connect the dots from all these time and have gained a good knowledge and experience in the process.

Not sure i quite understand the question. Can you elaborate a bit more?

You don't need to understand the "Core of Unix" to be able to build a server. The installation process is very much interactive / automated on most of the installs your likely to come across these days - there are exceptions though when it comes to distros like gentoo / crux linux etc.

for the most part all you need to do these days is decide on a disk layout for your OS and the packages you'd like the installer to install for you.

if your just messing about as a learning process - (certainly in my experience) you'll end up installing the entire application suite and playing around with any configuration tools that are provided as part of the install.

this will give you a baseline for future installs as you'll then be able to learn how to install / configure packages / patches etc ...

only then will you want to rebuild the server installing only the things that you require.

put in cd/dvd and follow instructions...

What do you mean "build from scratch"?
Build the system from source? Take a look at Linux from scratch
Build your own Unix-like OS? Learn from Minix
Assemble the hardware yourself? There's probably not much we can help you with until you've decided what you want/need.

Gentoo allows you to "roll your own" Linux...

Gentoo Linux -- Gentoo Linux News

Distrowatch usually helps out:
DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.
If you are talking exclusively about UNIX however then one of the BSD distributions would come to mind: FreeBSD, OpenBSD or NetBSD in particular. They are well suited to be configured as servers.