Good resources for Linux sysadmin tools, techniques and practices [closed]
Coming from a Windows background, i'm a little lost in terms of Linux so are there any good resorces etc for an experienced sysadm who is unfamiliar to Linux.
Solution 1:
You should start from the Linux Documentation Project pages.
Some interesting references are listed here.
But you should run through this guides page and probably also other pages on the site.
Based on your existing understanding it would be good to select the correct guides straight from there.
- Introduction to Linux
- The Linux Administrators guide -- also a PDF version on the main guides page
- Advanced Bash scripting guide -- there is also a beginners version
Once you get into things, the HOWTO pages should help for specific things.
Solution 2:
When I was wetting my feet, I don't mean to sound trite, but Google was a huge help: "Samba slackware 10 conf tips".
Linuxquestions.org was also a totally invaluable asset. I could ask specific questions about specific distros, or a very complex iptables scheme, and usually get a friendly answer.
O'Reilly publishes several great books too, which I have on my desk even today:
Linux Network Administrator's Guide, Third Edition. By Tony Bautts, Terry Dawson, Gregor N. Purdy February 2005 Pages: 362 http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596005481/
Linux iptables Pocket Reference, 1st Edition. By Gregor N. Purdy http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596005696/
Linux Server Security, Second Edition. By Michael D. Bauer. January 2005. Pages: 542 http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596006709/
And last but not least: a sandbox. Get a cheap used computer and install some distro on it (I recommend Ubuntu if you want something simple, or Slackware if you want a steeper learning curve.)
Solution 3:
I'm in the same boat, just been only a while since I switched to Linux. I used the following resources:
- Wrox Beginning Shell Scripting (ISBN: 978-0-7645-8320-9)
- Linux from Scratch
- If you're going to work with Debian system: http://debiansystem.info/ and Debian Administration
- Get a good understanding of some Linux Filesystems (ext3)
- Take a box, install your favorite linux distro, and setup dns, mail, kerb, nfs, web, etc., and the likes :)
- Understand the package management systems- apt, rpm, etc.
- Finally, some good configuration management system for linux- cfengine, puppet, slack, etc.
Of course, this is by no means a comprehensive list(more so since I'm a beginner myself), but I feel its a good one to start with. It certainly helped me. Hope it does help you too!
cheers.