PC/Mainframe guy taking new job in UNIX: Would appreciate advice.

[agoodpop]

Apologize in advance for length.
I'm taking a new job in my company as a UNIX sys admin. I currently work on big iron (OS/390 on latest mainframes). I'm also somewhat of a PC guru. I know the mainframe end(Applications,IMS,DB2) and the PC end(DOS & Win)with 15 years in computers. Now I am going to learn the middle. I would like some advice from some of you UNIX/Linux folks. The servers in our shop are mostly Sun and HP. I would also like to learn Linux and run a server and network in my house. So...(the newbie asks )

1. I need 2-3 good books to learn UNIX (NOT dummy books)any recomendations
2. Which flavor of Linux is best or are they all pretty much equal
3. Any reccomended books for Linux
4. Are UNIX and Linux so similar that the commands I learn can be used on both systems.
5. Any recommended newsgroups or websites to visit

I know I have a steep learning curve ahead of me. Hopefully in the future I can offer advice.

Thanks

 

[Enigma]

I would also appreciate any info as well.

 

[Cyph3r]

A couple of things before I get started in answering your questions. When it comes to the Unix world, the BASE is the same..but Sun's SunOS/Solaris, HP's HP/UX and others have completely different configurations. So, though, the commands to go from directory to directory, copy files from here to there, make new directories, remove old files and directories are going to be the same. The "way" you setup and configure the machines are going to be different..

1) Keeping the above in mind, when you say you want to buy a few books on Unix..I would suggest you narrow that search to EXACT OS's you will be dealing with like Solaris, HP/UX, UnixWare, SunOS and so on. My best advice on books on these subject would be for you to take a drive over to a local technical bookstore. Once there, peruse through books on each of the OS's. Then, buy books that you like.

2) At the heart all the flavor's of Linux are the same as they share the same Kernel. However the installation and configuration(once again) varies, but not greatly. Redhat and Mandrake are both considered to be premiere releases with very thorough and comprehensive installations. Furthermore, since many people are running these 2, you're going to be able to get all the help you need. I've used Redhat 2.0 and the more recent Redhat 6.2(Mandrake is based on Redhat 5.0 BTW) and I've seen it grow and mature greatly, making things that took HOURS to config to be configurable through just one GUI click.

3) Running Linux from O'Reilly & Associates(you're going to come across this name when it comes to good books) is a good start. But you could use the same theory as my answer to question 1.

4) The command structure is indeed the same across the *nix's. So when you learn how to create files, remove files, execute files, change permissions, and so on. You will be able to use this across the entire spectrum.

However, you will run across some dissimilaraties when it comes to other more integral things like creating user accounts or configuring user shells and so on. Most Unix's use the "useradd" command which behaves differnet between OS's which use it. THen there is the "adduser" command..similar..yet different. Other OS's yet end up using a GUI for all of this.

As far as the config goes, you'll slowly learn the differences as you begin using them. A big thing in the Unix world is runlevels which determine what resources/services are running and whether the system is a single or multi-user system. Changing runlevels varies from OS to OS. Configuring these services that run in each runlevel also varies..but these are things you'll slowly learn as you go along.

Your best bet when it comes to Linux is to just grab a copy of it, install it on your machine and start hacking. Ask questions about everything and that'll be good way of learning.

5) For newgroups..check out the entire comp.os.linux.* tree. Also the alt.os.linux.* tree.

Final comments(jeez, this is begin to sound like a term paper ) - As far as the commands go, you'll find many of them to be similar to Dos command so I doubt that you'll have to worry too about about that. The learning curve comes into play when you try to understand how the Unix OS's behave. Good luck with your adventure..Regards

 

[LocutusX]

The de facto command reference for Linux is "Linux in a Nutshell" by O'Reilly. I highly recommend it. The generalized UNIX equivalent is "UNIX in a Nutshell". Most O'Reilly Linux/UNIX books are quite good.

One good way to learn either HPUX or Solaris is to get an antiquated 'nix box that your IT department is throwing away, and start playing with it. That way you can fill in the gaps that Linux-hacking leaves, because of the difference between the unices and linux.

 

[agoodpop]

Thank you very much!!!!

 

[Enigma]

Thanks as well!