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Where to start

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by jabulani

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I have always used MS Operating systems from DOS 3.3 to W2K. Where would I start, to learn UNIX. Whats the difference between UNIX and LINUX and would I be better off learning LINUX and still what version

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by pschuvie

IX's are alot like DOS's and WIN's they share somethings in common and then vary depending on what flavor your slurping that day.

UNIX's are generally owned, developed, LICENSED, and supported by one company or another and they usually don't comecheap. LINUX is a "open source" GPL freely available code set. The Linux flavors vary by how they ease or enhance this open code and the installation/use processes. Generally the biggest thing LINUX companies offer is the packaging of code elements, support and documentation.

So if you learn some UNIX your part of the way through the LINUX learning. Or you learn some LINUX and you've learned some UNIX.

The most popular LINUX, for a business environment is probably RedHat or the Caldera offering.

Starting to learn - well right here - try the Tech Pro Guild books on line - 30 days free - seems they have one or more IX books to get your feet wet. Or the local library or book store all have LINUX or UNIX's For Dummies (great book series) or IX's in 24 hours/days. Great foundation builders. Many include a CD with a version that you can load and practice with, and believe me hands on practice makes or breaks IX learning.

Have fun and IX away.

by pschuvie

Just a clarification to the post below. In general Unix was not implemented on Intel based PC's. However, SCO-Unix was specifically developed to run on Intel (PC) chips, very successfully, but mostly in business environments.

by mjuhrig

You cannot install unix on a pc it doesn't work. Heres 2 sites to check out
sunsite.dk/linux-newbie and
redhat.com (they have some good getting started stuff and walk you thru an install)

by bsan

Hi,

To decide whether you should learn Linux or UNIX depends on how you would be using your new found knowledge.

If you are going to be part of a larger company that will have UNIX boxes to support the corporate business, then pick UNIX.

If you are going to be part of an organization that uses UNIX boxes to provide the servers for their website, then pick UNIX.

If you are attempting to learn more about other desktop operating systems and/or do some development for UNIX then Linux may be the best choice.

If you have a decent machine at home you could dual boot using Linux, you can't do that very easily using UNIX.

Once you have decided which flavour you are going to learn first you could pick the appropriate "In a Nutshell" book. I find them as a great starting point as well as a reference that you will use forever.

So the option would be Linux in a Nutshell or UNIX in a Nutshell.

In the first section of the Linux book there are some references to other sources of information about Linux. One site is
www.linuxdoc.org/

I hope you have fun which ever direction you choose.

Brian

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