10-08-2012
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I would suggest you learn about using the Bash (or other) shell on Ubuntu first like previously suggested, much of what you learn will transfer to any Unix-based OS which also has the Bash shell (most of them, I think).
Use the terminal to accomplish tasks like you suggest, but also learn to use it for tasks like file management, configuring programs to do what you want, and especially to get an introduction to scripting, or writing a series of commands in a file which will accomplish a certain task. This can all be done from inside the Desktop environment just by using whatever Terminal program you DE has.
Getting familiar with this way of running and managing a Linux machine means you can then progress to running an Ubuntu server, if you choose to stay with Ubuntu. This would normally be managed completely by command line, it does not install with a GUI by default. This can of course be run as a virtual machine in VirtualBox.
As a side note, Ubuntu is largely what I learnt on, and the UbuntuForums are very good for specific help. I now manage RHEL and Solaris servers for a living.