Unix flavors

nexusxox · 09-16-2007, 05:33 PM

I was wondering if anyone can suggest what version of Unix can be used to start learning and what additional training courses websites etc are out there to try out this unix commands.

Skie · 09-16-2007, 05:36 PM

Take a look at the free version of Solaris. I believe they have a version for x86 based computers so it should give you someplace to start.

nexusxox · 09-16-2007, 06:11 PM

Ok i will see how that works how is that exe work on a windows platform or is it more like an emulation? Also is Solaris worth learning or is it a good start

Skie · 09-17-2007, 08:36 PM

I'm not sure what you mean by "how is that exe work on a windows platform or is it more like an emulation?"

networkgod · 09-20-2007, 03:29 PM

If you just want to start by learning UNIX commands, you might try an "easy" Linux OS like Mandrake. Make sure you use it for the command-line though, don't get caught up in the pretty interface, you might as well use Windows for that. For reading, try "UNIX for Dummies" it's a very good tool for learning generic command-line UNIX.

Shlep · 11-13-2007, 11:53 AM

I first got my Unix chops with Berkely and AIX, but was more or less forced to start getting into Unix up to my elbows as the "IT guy" at a small engineering company working under one of the owners, a guy who liked spending money the way most of us like getting kneed in the groin.

(Nice guy, but he griped about how much we spent on toilet paper. No kidding)

My mission was to learn FreeBSD, and I learned to like it. To this day, on my home "network" (read: hooked-up collection of my old PCs and others cast-off boxes I brought back from the dead) I run 5.1 on an old HP Pavilion 6535 that was my Win98 box (466MHz Celeron, 128MB RAM) which I run a) to have UNIX and b) use as a router/firewall. I also have 5.4 on a Compaq laptop of similar vintage.

It can be a little pickier/more fickle than Linux (my opinion) about hardware, but beyond that, if you want a solid Unix OS with minimal training wheels, plenty of configurability, and good support (www.freebsd.org has great organization and documentation) than I say Go for it." As you may have guessed, it also runs well on old, vintage boxes. :)

I have been an enthusiastic user of "live" cds; no better way, in my opinion, to learn LInux and Unix without getting "married" to it, want to "test drive" a distro before doing a full install, or navigating the hazards of Windows/open-source dual-booting.

http://www.livecdlist.com/

You can get live distros of every shape, size, description, and so on. "live" versions can be downloaded as an .iso, burned on a CD, DVD, or USB flash drive and booted to on your PC, run, even config'd. Reboot, remove, and *VOILA!* You got Windows again.

I used these at home for my own edification, on previous jobs, and I relied heavily on them for teaching aids when I taught at a tech school and found much of the curriculum was (in my opinion) seriously weak on LInux/Unix coverage. It was especially handy in teaching LInux/Unix command line stuff; it was great to take 30 guys who loathed and feared command line and griped about it non-stop and cut them loose 10 weeks later feeling like hard-core techies skilled in the arcane language of CLI.

I'm not an open-source disiciple who thinks himself to be a warrior in the great final conflict between "Good" and "Evil" against Beelzebub Gates...but it helps to know this stuff.

In addition to versions of a zillion Linux distros (including specialized ones PACKED with tools), they also have "LiveBSD" on the site. If you didn't know already, LInux and Unix are quite similar but *NOT* the same; the architecture, directory structure, advanced command-line syntax vary between both and (for that mnatter) among "flavors."

If you're adept at one, you can manage most...but ya gotta know the diffs.

FINALLY (if you're still awake): for references, I recommend O'Reilly for *EVERYTHING.* Best reference manuals in the history of printed text, in my opinion. I know they offer free desk copies to instructors at accredited schools (two per quarter/semester, as I recall) and I think they have student deals, if you are either. O'Reilly also manages a couple sites, in particular: http://www.onlamp.com/. It's a freakin' goldmine of useful info, articles, tutorials, and what-not.

Hope that helps.

09-16-2007, 05:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
nexusxox Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 71 OS: platform x	Unix flavors I was wondering if anyone can suggest what version of Unix can be used to start learning and what additional training courses websites etc are out there to try out this unix commands.

09-16-2007, 05:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Skie Manager, Alternative Comp Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 1,821 OS: Gentoo Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux, CentOS My System	Re: Unix flavors Take a look at the free version of Solaris. I believe they have a version for x86 based computers so it should give you someplace to start. __________________

09-16-2007, 06:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
nexusxox Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 71 OS: platform x	Re: Unix flavors Ok i will see how that works how is that exe work on a windows platform or is it more like an emulation? Also is Solaris worth learning or is it a good start

09-17-2007, 08:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
Skie Manager, Alternative Comp Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 1,821 OS: Gentoo Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux, CentOS My System	Re: Unix flavors I'm not sure what you mean by "how is that exe work on a windows platform or is it more like an emulation?" __________________

09-20-2007, 03:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
networkgod Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 19 OS: FreeBSD/MacOSX/All MS	Re: Unix flavors If you just want to start by learning UNIX commands, you might try an "easy" Linux OS like Mandrake. Make sure you use it for the command-line though, don't get caught up in the pretty interface, you might as well use Windows for that. For reading, try "UNIX for Dummies" it's a very good tool for learning generic command-line UNIX. __________________ -- NetworkGod CCNA, CCDA, Sair Linux LCP

11-13-2007, 11:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
Shlep Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1 OS: Windows XP SP2, Linux, FreeBSD 5.4	Re: Unix flavors I first got my Unix chops with Berkely and AIX, but was more or less forced to start getting into Unix up to my elbows as the "IT guy" at a small engineering company working under one of the owners, a guy who liked spending money the way most of us like getting kneed in the groin. (Nice guy, but he griped about how much we spent on toilet paper. No kidding) My mission was to learn FreeBSD, and I learned to like it. To this day, on my home "network" (read: hooked-up collection of my old PCs and others cast-off boxes I brought back from the dead) I run 5.1 on an old HP Pavilion 6535 that was my Win98 box (466MHz Celeron, 128MB RAM) which I run a) to have UNIX and b) use as a router/firewall. I also have 5.4 on a Compaq laptop of similar vintage. It can be a little pickier/more fickle than Linux (my opinion) about hardware, but beyond that, if you want a solid Unix OS with minimal training wheels, plenty of configurability, and good support (www.freebsd.org has great organization and documentation) than I say Go for it." As you may have guessed, it also runs well on old, vintage boxes. :) I have been an enthusiastic user of "live" cds; no better way, in my opinion, to learn LInux and Unix without getting "married" to it, want to "test drive" a distro before doing a full install, or navigating the hazards of Windows/open-source dual-booting. http://www.livecdlist.com/ You can get live distros of every shape, size, description, and so on. "live" versions can be downloaded as an .iso, burned on a CD, DVD, or USB flash drive and booted to on your PC, run, even config'd. Reboot, remove, and VOILA! You got Windows again. I used these at home for my own edification, on previous jobs, and I relied heavily on them for teaching aids when I taught at a tech school and found much of the curriculum was (in my opinion) seriously weak on LInux/Unix coverage. It was especially handy in teaching LInux/Unix command line stuff; it was great to take 30 guys who loathed and feared command line and griped about it non-stop and cut them loose 10 weeks later feeling like hard-core techies skilled in the arcane language of CLI. I'm not an open-source disiciple who thinks himself to be a warrior in the great final conflict between "Good" and "Evil" against Beelzebub Gates...but it helps to know this stuff. In addition to versions of a zillion Linux distros (including specialized ones PACKED with tools), they also have "LiveBSD" on the site. If you didn't know already, LInux and Unix are quite similar but NOT the same; the architecture, directory structure, advanced command-line syntax vary between both and (for that mnatter) among "flavors." If you're adept at one, you can manage most...but ya gotta know the diffs. FINALLY (if you're still awake): for references, I recommend O'Reilly for EVERYTHING. Best reference manuals in the history of printed text, in my opinion. I know they offer free desk copies to instructors at accredited schools (two per quarter/semester, as I recall) and I think they have student deals, if you are either. O'Reilly also manages a couple sites, in particular: http://www.onlamp.com/. It's a freakin' goldmine of useful info, articles, tutorials, and what-not. Hope that helps.