What is Linux?

Linux today is the collective name for a group of operating system software sharing most components. Operating system software is a kind of software that one must have to use a computer. Other examples of operating systems you may be familiar with are Windows (also many versions) and Mac OS X. Linux is made of its central part, literally called Kernel (in fact only this Kernel is properly called Linux), and a huge number of add-ons coming from various projects from all around the world. There are so called Linux brands that bundle the components together, combine them and often add something on their own. These creations are called distros. UNIX Academy has selected some of the best Linux distros available today and created the most complete and useful Linux sets that have ever existed. Our sets come complete with reference materials, all applications, video introduction DVD, everything included. 

Which is better, Linux or Windows?

It is a very often asked question and it can’t be answered in one word (but we believe Linux is!). Due to its popularity, Windows offers many more advanced software titles and is used on roughly more than 90% of all computers. It is true that many consider the design of the Windows system to be flawed. While that is a subjective opinion, it is true that Windows is very “heavy,” very vulnerable and, when compared with other operating systems, inefficient. For historical reasons, Windows (of various versions) is the first, and often the only system, most people learn and use. While very popular, Windows systems suffer from a huge number of viruses, trojans, spyware, very convoluted and poorly implemented security features, a cumbersome user interface, incomplete and demanding software, and very aggressive licensing policies. Operating systems may be judged on many levels, but we at UNIX Academy © believe that Linux and BSD-based systems offer much greater user experience, much higher privacy and security. Linux is also much fun to use and to explore. It is very engaging, motivates better practices and fosters a richer computer culture. 

Linux from the very beginning was perceived and developed as a system for geeks, computer gurus, engineers, crazy geniuses. It is true that for a very long time, most Linuxes didn’t bother considering average user needs, and even the installation of an operating system required considerable skills. The situation was resolved when Linux brands (most notably Red Hat) entered the market and offered viable, stable and useful incarnations of Linux. Today, in many places, Linux is the prevalent operating system on many servers in the most demanding environments (including top banking applications!).

Today Linux on the desktop is easy to use, fun, and offers a great many software titles, which are included with our sets. UNIX Academy Linux sets all come fully equipped with Office, Mail, Browsing, Graphics, Sound, Communications, Chat, Instant Messengers  and other applications. Once installed, all UNIX Academy Linux sets offer full functionality and lifetime free updates.

What is the best Linux distro?

There are a few successful and easy-to-use Linux clones (called distros) as of today (2010). Linux as a desktop operating system made substantial improvements in late 2008 and 2009 thanks to a development of its two primary graphical environments, KDE and GNOME. Before 2006 the user interface was full of bugs, had many loose ends and was unreliable. Linux “brands” for a very long time have been slow learners of real users’ everyday needs, with even essential procedures such as installation requiring knowledge and experience. Starting in 2008, many clones began to include full graphic installation procedures and basic installations requiring no technical skills. With few exceptions, you just follow the screen and confirm steps with the “Continue” button. All UNIX Academy sets include beautiful installation graphics and an extremely nice user interface. 

Is it difficult to install Linux?

Today installation of Linux from UNIX Academy sets is very simple and straightforward. You just pick the set with the Linux clone you like, place a DVD into the drive and reboot the system. You also can choose dual-boot installation (when Linux shares the system with Windows). Or you can try Linux by running it from Live mode. In so-called Live mode, the system will boot and run from DVD/CD without touching anything on your system. All UNIX Academy sets include beautiful installation graphics and an extremely nice user interface. 

Is it difficult to install BSD, Open BSD, PC BSD ?

Installation of BSD-based systems in general requires some experience, but with the introduction of PC BSD it has become really simple. PC BSD offers a nice graphic installation procedure.

Which Linux clone should I choose?

It is hard to advise which one to pick, because in many respects they are similar, but Fedora is the public incarnation of the highly successful commercial Red Hat Linux. The same may be said about OpenSUSE Linux. If you are installing Linux for training with a future job in mind, Fedora and OpenSUSE are the most widely used in business data centers.  Debian also has a long history of professional usage, especially for security tasks.  Recently Ubuntu was well received in business data centers, and we are aware of many new Ubuntu-based servers. If you aren’t sure, take advantage of our UNIX Academy’s Linux Jazz sets, which include all current releases of the versions of Linux mentioned here.

What are differences between Linux clones and distros?

“Linux” is a collective name of bundles that include kernel and additional software. Additional software is distributed as software packages that get installed during the installation process. Different Linux brands have established different approaches to the ways the packages are installed and updated. That is the primary difference for a beginner. If you are a beginner and choose a set for your first installation, the differences for you will be negligible. Later, when you wish to choose advanced options or perform system administration duties in Fedora, Debian or OpenSUSE, you will see the differences. UNIX Academy sets include full and complete reference documentation with each set we provide. The sets also include a “Brief Introduction to Linux” video-DVD that will show you around the Linux toolset. 

How do I choose the best Linux for my system?

To choose the best Linux for your system, please consider the following points. People who try Linux for the first time must have easy-to-use installation. All of our sets are really easy to install. If you are preparing for a job where Red Hat experience is beneficial, Fedora would be the best pick. If you are looking for the most popular desktop Linux it would be Ubuntu (or Kubuntu). If you aren’t sure and want to try them all before you choose, Linux Jazz (includes them all) would be a logical choice.

Can I use Windows and Linux on the same PC ?

Yes you can (with limitations)! Linux can be installed onto a separate drive or partition on the same computer, and you can boot up Windows or Linux alternatively. You can also take advantage of so-called Live Linux CD or DVD, but keep in mind that running it from slow media (like CD/DVD) will make the software slow. Live DVD doesn't touch anything on your current system; it boots and works from its media only. It may be a good choice for just trying or taking it with you, but it is very limited in functionality. In general dual-boot is a good solution when you need to have Windows and Linux on the same machine. All UNIX Academy Linux sets support dual-boot configurations and easy-installation options. 

Is it true that Linux is difficult to use?

No and yes. The Linux of today is well developed, has a complete graphical user interface, and on the surface is by all means as easy as point and click. If you are willing (or required) to dig deep, Linux offers a full set of programming languages, settings, maintenance and backup operations, security tools, etc. UNIX Academy sets include all the tools for any creative or engineering task and complete documentation. All sets are equipped with the “UNIX Academy Training Library,” the best books on the subjects.

Are there office programs like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. for Linux?

For Linux (as well as for Windows, OS X and Solaris) there’s a great OpenOffice suite that includes all components for any office-related task. OpenOffice contains these programs: Writer (substitute for Word), Calc (substitute for Excel), Impress (substitute for PowerPoint),  Draw (graphics presentations), Base (database implementation aka Access substitute). OpenOffice applications offer direct compatibility with Microsoft Office documents. You can open, edit and store documents created with Microsoft Office programs. All UNIX Academy Linux sets include full installation of all OpenOffice tools.

Are there viruses that target Linux? 

Practically speaking, there are no viruses that target Linux (or modern UNIX systems in general). Because Linux utilizes a modular system structure, most of its components are totally independent, and its security model is very simple and transparent. There a very few (can literally be counted on the fingers of one hand) “viruses” in Linux, all of which target careless usage of a root account and permissions. Linux is open-source software, which means that if a security problem is discovered, it is instantly reported and fixed. From time to time, the Linux community does discover vulnerabilities in Linux components and introduce fixes. All UNIX Academy sets include lifetime free update subscriptions.  

Do I need antivirus for Linux?

No, you don’t need antivirus in Linux, and that makes your system even faster because it doesn't waste resources on loops and constant file checks. This frees as much as up to 40% of your computer’s power! From time to time, the Linux community does discover vulnerabilities in Linux components and introduces fixes. All UNIX Academy sets include lifetime free update subscriptions.  

Do I need a powerful machine (computer) to use Linux?

It depends on what you intend to do! If you use your computer for general Internet browsing, email, instant message programs, typing, office work and other tasks like that, the answer is no. Any typical machine will do. You also will benefit from increased speed (because no antivirus steals the resources), much greater system efficiency, and so on.

However, if your intention is to perform processing/data-intensive tasks like graphics design or video editing, having a powerful system would be beneficial. Linux includes the most advanced technologies that make use of the most recent processing technologies. So the machine that offers these technologies will benefit from Linux’s potential. UNIX Academy sets always contain the most recent releases of all versions of Linux.

Can I use Linux creative tasks like graphic design, music creation and video editing?

Absolutely! In fact there’s an entire movement that uses only open-source software tools for all of their creative endeavors. The creative software in Linux has made several very significant advances since 2008, and there are now high-quality graphics, sound and video applications available for Linux. All UNIX Academy sets include a full range of creative applications.

 

Why learn Linux?

Having experience with Linux, primarily with its command-line workflow, is a reliable way to launch a system administrator's career in numerous IT companies, both in the U.S. and around the world.

Linux is a very successful and publicly available operating system of the UNIX family that today is widely used on desktops, laptops and servers. Knowing how to use Linux is very beneficial because it open doors to a huge variety of open-source software in quality, secured and well-working systems. Many of today’s new server computers’ deployments are implemented on the Linux platform, and knowledge of Linux system software offers good chances for employment. 

Using Linux can also be a fun, very creative experience. It offers a great variety of tools, and open-source software presents an opportunity to create something exciting. “Learn Linux” starts from the very beginning and gradually takes you up to professional-style workflow. 

Is Linux difficult to master?

How are GUI like KDE and GNOME different from command line?

No and yes. It depends how deep you are willing to dig. On the surface, Linux offers the superb GUI (Graphical User Interface) of Gnome and KDE (and many other), a rich variety of graphical tools for every kind of task: from office applications to professional moviemaking. To use these applications, you navigate the menus, press on-screen buttons and so on. It isn’t much different from any other user-oriented operating system. If you have ever worked in Windows, it will take you about two hours to browse through the applications and menus in order to familiarize yourself with a new system. 

On this level, Linux has a different appearance, but conceptually it is the same: You use on-screen components in order to accomplish task. To tell you the truth, you don’t even need any special training for doing that. Just blast off your favorite flavor of Linux and you are ready to go. 

The “Learn Linux” series is not about graphical interface. It unearths a few layers of what lies underneath. It takes you into command-line interface and teaches things that distinguish more professional users. 

In professional situations, in server applications, graphical environment bears no importance. Rather, it is all about processes, files and storage, networking, system configurations. The “Learn Linux” series offers the newcomer a unique and intensive introduction to a real Linux or UNIX toolset. It is the beginning of a road for someone who wants to dig deep.

Is it necessary to learn command-line commands to work with Linux?

If you intend to use Linux beyond office applications, Internet browsing and creative tasks (photo/video/sound, etc.), familiarity with command-line workflow is mandatory. For occupations in system administration, programming, network engineering, storage administration or similar fields, mastering the Linux/UNIX command line is absolutely necessary. If you start your Linux training with a future job in mind, “Learn Linux” teaches things and practices as they are done in the corporate world. It teaches you the “big boys” toolset.

How to learn Linux or UNIX?

The best way to learn Linux (UNIX) or, for a sake of argument, any complex and sophisticated engineering product, is to use it for everyday tasks and discover new functionalities. “Learn Linux” teaches not just commands, but the entire workflow. It explains “why” and “how” these commands are used. It teaches you how to get around a big, complex system on your own and how to find and learn new things about that system. 

“Learn Linux” doesn't beat around the bush. It teaches all major concepts so you acquire a proper understanding of all key subjects! 

It is important not to try lesson after lesson in one day. This is not a Hollywood feature film, but rather a training course on a very complex subject. While the lessons are intentionally brief, they are packed with things that you must to try, memorize, digest and eternalize. It takes time and it takes practice. Linux is a practical subject, which means you need skills, and skills may be acquired only by truly repetitive usage. “Learn Linux” teaches you skills.

How long does it take to learn Linux?

Learning Linux means that you acquire skills, not just information! It means you must absorb new information, type and try new commands, combine, experiment. It is crucial to have a good grip on commands and understand when it is appropriate to use them. Performing tasks in Linux is not always algorithmic, and that means sometimes you need to make a decision as to what to do and how to do it. 

It is reasonable to expect that with the assistance of “Learn Linux” sets, a diligent individual can master essential Linux (or UNIX) skills in about two weeks. Some may squeeze it into 3-4 days, and others may take 2-3 months. It is not about breaking records but about understanding and developing skills. Skills are precious. The more experiments you make, the more things you try, the more experience and understanding you develop. Many commands have numerous option sets, language constructions, etc. The more time you spend discovering all these things, the more experience you can claim.

What does the “Learn Linux” series teach and what can I learn from it?

“Learn Linux” teaches a professional approach to command-line interface, many concepts and commands. What is cool about learning Linux is that the SAME system you run on your home PC to try and experiment, you will meet at your workplace. On your job it will be running on better hardware, and networking and storage will be faster, but the Linux system mostly remains the same. “Learn Linux” takes advantage of that and teaches you the skills that are essential and necessary to perform the most important system-related tasks.

What are the other ways to learn Linux?

One can learn Linux by reading a book and trying commands, of course. “Learn Linux” offers more than just commands, it offers experience and expertise. There are subjects that really can't be taught interactively. The “Learn Linux” sets come fully equipped with an entire library of PDF books for practically all important subjects.