UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Where to start... I am a system administrator who didn't think he would ever be one. My first work was on Window 2000 as a tech(hardware, installs, stuff like that). Then we got Macs (I work in photography and Videography). The I was sent to Mac cert school. Set up a Mac Xserve and about 100 clients. Then I realized I really like working with computers. Starting playing with a little command line (Darwin with a bash shell of course). Now I use Ubuntu Linux at home; why, because its open-source. Now I realize... I know nothing again. I am really impressed with the software/programing freedom movement. And want to be apart of it. But I don't have the knowledge. So my questions are.. Where is a good place to start? Is there a good Computer Science school that you would recommend? Is there a best school? Is there a worst? Is Ubuntu a good Linux distro for newbie programmers? What OS should I use if I want to get serious? These are the question I have, and this type of information I am looking for.

I am sure all of you experts had that first passion when it came to computers and programing. And you probably were looking for a point in the right direction. Well, can you help point me? Please.

Hello -

A pretty open ended question with lots of embedded issues. I am not an expert but have been working as a UNIX/ Linux Admin for about 3 yrs.

Pretty good place to start (IMHO) are some UNIX sys admin books. A few authors off the top of my head: Tom Limonicelli (sp?); Evi Nemeth, et al; Aeleen Frisch. I am sure I am forgetting some. These books (ie the O'Reilly Essential Unix System Administration by Frisch) are really useful as general, broad references. They lead to deeper topics and other books. The books I've read by Tom Limonicelli have been invaluable for learning how to become more professional and systematizing your day to day practice. I find myself going back to these authors over and over.

As for CompSci programs - it is always a good idea to go to school if you have time+money but I am not sure that it is completely necessary to become a sysadmin. I have take graduate cert courses at a local engineering school (Stevens Tech) and some were really valuable. I even took a course in Unix Systems Administration but I am not sure it is still offered...

One general theme of sysadmin books is the idea that the field is more akin to a guild than an academic discipline. As with a craft or a trade, your learning is typically an alternation of practice and study. And learning from master craftspeople. I have found my local LUG (NYLUG) pretty valuable and try to keep abreast of discussions on groups like SAGE and LOPSA.

You are already on this list which is a fine one. There are more to search out.

See yourself as a member of a guild, I really thing this is a "useful fiction" as System Administration is one of those fields that is hard to define.

Hope this helps abit with the first part of the question...

As for Linux/ Unix distribution choice. Just keep trying them. You will probably gravitate towards a particular way of package management/ software installation and that will be your distribution.

I happen to be on Ubuntu for work and it is fine. I like Debian so Ubuntu is a comfortable fit.

I worked on NetBSD for a while and found pkgsrc really interesting. Likewise for OpenBSD which I have on a laptop at home.

I havent met too many distributions that I didnt find worth checking out, though I don't tend to choose RedHat or SUSE.

best of luck

Michael

mbubb - Thank you for all your info. I wasn't sure if anyone would actually take the time to answer because it was a pretty open question. And I do like the whole 'guild' theme. I'm not sure why but it makes my ambition seem so much cooler.