Thinking of trying Linux? Here are some resources and a little information regarding this incredible OS:

Linux is an open-source operating system that is widely used for servers, supercomputers, and embedded devices, as well as home users PCs. It was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and is known for its stability, security, and flexibility.

There are many different distributions, or “distros,” of Linux available, each with its own installation process. Some popular distros for beginners include Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Fedora. The installation process typically involves downloading an ISO file from the distro’s website, creating a bootable USB drive, and then booting from the USB drive to start the installation. This requires a network connection on the computer you are installing to. Most distros offer an offline installation as well, although the initial download can be much larger. For a listing of distros, and links to download them, as well as a wealth of information please see distrowatch.com.

If you are just starting out, here are some basic commands that are useful for navigating and manipulating the file system:

* ls: lists the contents of the current directory

* cd: changes the current directory

* pwd: displays the current working directory

* touch: creates a new empty file

* cp: copies files and directories

* mv: moves or renames files and directories

* rm: removes files and directories

* cat: displays the contents of a file

* less: displays the contents of a file one screen at a time

* sudo: executes a command as the superuser

 

Here are some free resources for learning Linux:

1. Linux Essentials – A free online course offered by the Linux Professional Institute (LPI) that covers the basics of Linux, including the command line, file system, and system administration. https://learning.lpi.org/en/

 

2. The Linux Command Line – A free online book that covers the basics of the Linux command line, including commands, file navigation, and system administration. https://wiki.lib.sun.ac.za/images/c/ca/TLCL-13.07.pdf

 

3. Linux Journey – A free website that offers tutorials and guides for learning Linux, including the command line, file system, and system administration. https://linuxjourney.com/

 

4. Linux Survival – A free online tutorial that covers the basics of Linux, including the command line, file system, and system administration. https://linuxsurvival.com/

 

5. The Linux Documentation Project – A free collection of documentation for Linux, including guides, manuals, and how-tos. https://www.linuxdoc.org/

 

6. Ubuntu Documentation – A free collection of documentation for the Ubuntu distribution of Linux, including guides, manuals, and how-tos. https://help.ubuntu.com/

 

7. Fedora Documentation – A free collection of documentation for the Fedora distribution of Linux, including guides, manuals, and how-tos. https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/docs/

 

8. The Arch Linux Wiki – A free collection of documentation for the Arch Linux distribution of Linux, including installation guides, troubleshooting tips, and configuration examples. https://wiki.archlinux.org/

 

9. The CentOS Wiki – A free collection of documentation for the CentOS distribution of Linux, including installation guides, troubleshooting tips, and configuration examples. https://wiki.centos.org/

 

10. The Debian Wiki – A free collection of documentation for the Debian distribution of Linux, including installation guides, troubleshooting tips, and configuration examples. https://wiki.debian.org/

 

11. The Gentoo Linux Wiki – A free collection of documentation for the Gentoo Linux distribution, including installation guides, troubleshooting tips, and configuration examples. https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Main_Page

 

12. The Linux Mint Wiki – A free collection of documentation for the Linux Mint distribution, including installation guides, troubleshooting tips, and configuration examples. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_Mint

 

13. The openSUSE Wiki – A free collection of documentation for the openSUSE distribution of Linux, including installation guides, troubleshooting tips, and configuration examples. https://en.opensuse.org/Main_Page

 

14. The Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Documentation – A free collection of documentation for the Red Hat Enterprise Linux distribution of Linux, including installation guides, troubleshooting tips, and configuration examples. https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/8/

 

15. The Slackware Linux Wiki – A free collection of documentation for the Slackware Linux distribution, including installation guides, troubleshooting tips, and configuration examples. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slackware

 

16. The Tiny Core Linux Wiki – A free collection of documentation for the Tiny Core Linux distribution, including installation guides, troubleshooting tips, and configuration examples. https://wiki.tinycorelinux.net/

 

17. The Ultimate Linux Newbie Guide – A free online guide for Linux beginners, covering the basics of Linux, including the command line, file system, and system administration. https://linuxnewbieguide.org/

 

18. The Linux From Scratch (LFS) Guide – A free online guide for building a custom Linux system from scratch, including the kernel, file system, and system administration. https://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/

 

19. The Linux From Scratch (LFS) Book – A free online book for building a custom Linux system from scratch, including the kernel, file system, and system administration. https://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/

 

20. The Arch Linux Beginner’s Guide – A free online guide for beginners to the Arch Linux distribution of Linux, covering the basics of Linux, including the command line, file system, and system administration. https://archlinux.org/

 

These are just a few of the many free resources available for learning Linux. The key is to find the resources that work best for you and to keep learning and practicing, there are many resources available for learning more about Linux, including online tutorials, books, and forums. Some popular websites for learning Linux include Linux.org, Linux.com, and the Ubuntu Community Documentation.

The Linux community is very active and helpful. Don’t hesitate to reach out to forums, mailing lists, and IRC channels for help.

The best way to learn Linux is by doing. Set up a virtual machine or dual boot a computer and start exploring the file system, installing software, and practicing commands.

When encountering issues, check the system logs (/var/log) and use the man command to view the manual page for a command or program.

Have fun exploring and learning!