Is Fedora a good way to learn Linux?

[pamount]

Hi

I've used Fedora before but since I bought my Mac I've haven't been very much into Linux until the last few months. The last few months I've been in my first Semester of University as a part time student in a Business IT Degree. I've completed my Diploma in IT.

In one of my classes we covered Linux using Ubuntu. I used Kubuntu before I bought my Mac. I've got VMWare Fusion.

Apart from using Linux to test web sites in (I have a Web Development Business) would Fedora be better for me to use in terms of keeping up to speed with learning Linux? I've still got Ubuntu 8.10 installed on VMWare Fusion.

I've considered maybe getting RedHat Certification but the courses seem really expensive. I live in Melbourne, Australia.

Thanks

[bob]

Well, here's my worthless two cents on the issue:

Fedora, like Ubuntu and most other distros already have almost everything set up at the install. At least with Fedora, you need to enable a 3rd. party repository to get the 'dirty' codecs and then install them to set up your graphics card and .mp3's, .wmv's, etc. Once again, it's aimed at being as effortless as possible, so I'm not sure what's learned there. Really, like Windows, it's just getting used to where things are and how to use them; the functionality is already built in.

Perhaps Arch or Gentoo would be real learning tools, as would Linux From Scratch.

But, if you're looking for a job and eventual Red Hat Certification, I'd suggest working with CentOS, the no-cost version of Red Hat, to get used to the distro. And, to understand the mechanics of how things are done, I'd suggest some reading material, such as:

http://www.linuxcommand.org/
http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz

Keep in mind that, unless it's your only work station, linux distros are fun to trash while you're trying new things. Build 'em, bust 'em and reinstall - all can be done in less than an hour (I sure have!)

[JN4OldSchool]

I wouldnt class Arch as a learning tool. Yes, you have to basically install the apps you want but it really is pretty easy, just a matter of learning to use pacman. OTOH, Gentoo will teach you a lot of the mechanics behind the scenes. LFS is even better, it may actually be the very thing you are looking for. It is so involved that I have lost interest the few times I have tried it. But...I think it may be somewhat dated at this point compared to what the cutting edge distros are doing. Fedora especially is on the front line of new ways of doing things, such as policykit and HAL policies in place of config files.

I think, as a daily user, Fedora is probably where you want to be. CentOS is also a great choice as it is equal to RHEL. If you really want to stay on your toes try running Rawhide F12. That should keep you entertained and it seems this forum is starting to support this more with a separate sub-forum for it and more people using it.

[bob]

(Actually, I started the Rawhide sub-Forum as a tribute to Rowdy Yates < Clint Eastwood> , but you guys mis-used it... )

[scottro]

I caught it but didn't want to be too obvious. That's how I roll (Get it, rollin', rollin', rollin').

RHCE is incredibly expensive in most parts of the world.

If that's what you're interested in, the Fedora/CentOS are the way to go.

I consider doing a stage1 Gentoo install an excellent way to learn about many aspects of Linux, perhaps even better than Linux From Scratch.

I don't know if the documentation for it is as good as it was when Daniel Robbins first wrote it, but I think I learned more about Linux from the early days of Gentoo than I did with LFS.

Slackware is another distribution that can be useful in learning about Linux.

Unfortunately, with just about every distribution, you spend half your time learning about that particular distribution. I don't think there IS a LInux, so to speak, especially since Linux itself, loosely speaking, is a bunch of drivers. (That's an exaggeration, but it's the basic idea. All the tools like bash, sed, etc. aren't Linux per se.)

If it's anything like the US, however, and your eventual aim is Linux based IT employment, then CentOS is probably the way to go. RH pretty much dominates the Linux server market, at least here in the Northeastern US.

[RupertPupkin]

Any distribution would be a good way to learn Linux. You can compile stuff, fiddle around and tweak all of them.

[pamount]

I suppose I could just install Fedora and see how I go with it. I could still use it for testing web sites in Linux browsers.

With my University studies I should see if I have the time for any extra study towards any kind of RedHat Certification as well as being able to afford the RedHat course. I just thought it might be a handy thing to learn.

Thanks

[NoEffex]

Originally Posted by pamount

I suppose I could just install Fedora and see how I go with it. I could still use it for testing web sites in Linux browsers.

With my University studies I should see if I have the time for any extra study towards any kind of RedHat Certification as well as being able to afford the RedHat course. I just thought it might be a handy thing to learn.

Thanks

Yeah, I think Red Hat/CentOS are the most popular Linux servers. CentOS for smaller servers, usually, and Red Hat for big servers.

Originally Posted by RupertPupkin

Any distribution would be a good way to learn Linux. You can compile stuff, fiddle around and tweak all of them.

Ditto to that

[ppesci]

Paramount:

You can run fedora in native mode too (no emulation or virtualization) in your mac. I am using it in PowerBook and MacBook pro, and run very nice. Not sure if you go emulated, got the real power or full nice effects fedora has. But I think fedora takes the lead in features than other distros doesn't has. Anyway, good luck.

HTH

[aleph]

Actually, running an OS in a virtual machine is a great for learning, I think, especially when you are learning the networking stuff. I learned a great deal about firewalling and network services by working on a virtualized network with a few nodes.

And of course, another advantage of virtual machines is the convenience of making backups. Take a snapshot -> do something crazy -> Proceed if it turns out OK, or just revert to the last snapshot if it goes haywire.

[pamount]

Originally Posted by aleph

Actually, running an OS in a virtual machine is a great for learning, I think, especially when you are learning the networking stuff. I learned a great deal about firewalling and network services by working on a virtualized network with a few nodes.

And of course, another advantage of virtual machines is the convenience of making backups. Take a snapshot -> do something crazy -> Proceed if it turns out OK, or just revert to the last snapshot if it goes haywire.

With VMWare Fusion 2.x on the Mac is it best to have the virtual machine on an external drive? I currently have my virtual machines on my local hard drive and with snaphots they are eating up space. I have an IOMEGA external hard drive that can be used with USB2 or Firewire 400 although my MacBook Pro has ports for both Firewire 400 and Firewire 800.

My current feeling is I should install Fedora in a Virtual Machine for now and look at RedHat courses when I have more time and money to spare.

Thanks

[troyatlarge]

Just getting Linux in general is a way to start learning it, for sure. As one who has been a computer retard, Debian was a little to much for me – I liked Redhat 8 and stuck with it until I could get Fedora running on my box – was not aware that Ubuntu was making life easier, but what the heck, Fedora is better anyway (no user password = root password bs to state the obvious).

The thing with Linux is that sooner or later, regardless of how much easy pick and click there is, and how many way cool features they come up with, there is always that terminal icon begging to be activated and all these web pages about grep this and su that. Pretty soon your asking, what the heck is su and grep anyway? If your like me, before long your learning a couple of things and your finding, fast like, that you can do all sorts of stuff – that it really is “your” computer so far as it goes. A little more time passes and, opps, you done screwed up the graphic system all together and can only get on via the terminal (learning really goes up at that point!). Took me two days and a few trips to the library to learn how the heck to get online via a busted system, but I did manage it – then I even managed to hook a second computer up to the busted one and got inside the busted on with my graphical windows on the non-busted one – and then, after fixing it, I trashed the whole thing for fun as a new distro had recently come out,so what the hey (rm is powerful)

Then there is the second factor. One starts using Linux and in doing so one starts becoming impressed with the idea that there are all these people out there who are tweeking this stuff and fixing it and making it better. You try not to let it get to you – you try to say “I am not a leach on these peoples efforts” - but it doesn't really work. Everyone has heard of the pointless phrase “Catholic guilt” - well this is something a little more real named “Linux Guilt” - and it is a beautiful thing which works, as it is, in mysterious ways. Next thing you know your reading about 32 bit tcp headers and buying books on understanding the Linux kerrnel and placing your vista disk in the microwave (well, ok, you don't have to- but after frying all those AOL cds, well, I missed the light show)

Running Linux and learning a little more go together perfectly.