Unix/Linux

[heavyiron8]

I'm using ubuntu as we speak. Could somebody tell me a place to get more familiar with unix?

 

[lxskllr]

I believe "Unix" is kind of a generic term for a class of operating systems, most of which are proprietary. Like Linux, learning one won't learn all, but it'll get you familiar with the system. FreeBSD, and OpenSolaris would probably be decent choices to play with.

 

[VinylxScratches]

My best suggestion is to find something you want to do on Linux and learn it. Give yourself tasks. How do I do this? Google helps.

 

[gmaster456]

The best way to become familiar with it is to use it. There are also guides all over the internet that can help you.

 

[lxskllr]

Did I misunderstand the question? I thought the OP wanted to learn Unix also. I'm not at all familiar, but I thought Linux was as close to Unix as the various Unixes are to each other. Anyway, if you want a book on Linux, the Ubuntu Pocket Guide gives a very good overview for someone new. You can download it free here...

http://ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html

It covers an older version of Ubuntu, but the core information will still apply. It'll also largely work for Debian, and Debian based distros, and with a bit of tweaking, any other Linux distro.

Edit:
Here's a small collection of books I've downloaded, and it includes the Ubuntu Pocket Guide. You should be able to find something useful in there...

http://ubuntuone.com/p/hN6/

Here's a file listing. I /think/ this is what's in there, but it's hard to say. I uploaded it awhile ago :^D

0100GS3-GettingStartedOOo3.pdf
abs-guide.pdf
cathedral-bazaar.ps
Getting Started with Ubuntu 10.04.pdf
hacker-history.ps
linux1_d50_48kbs.mp3
linux-ip.pdf
linux_starter_pack.pdf
Machtelt_Garrels_Bash_Guide_for_Beginners_2nd_Ed.pdf
portrait.pdf
refcard-en-a4.pdf
SliTaz_Review.pdf
The One Page Linux Manual.pdf
ubuntupocketguide-v1-1.pdf

 

[ViRGE]

Did I misunderstand the question? I thought the OP wanted to learn Unix also. I'm not at all familiar, but I thought Linux was as close to Unix as the various Unixes are to each other.

Unix is a whole family of OSes, so no single OS is Unix, rather it can be Unix-certified. With that said Solaris is probably the most "traditional" of the big name Unicies left. Mac OS X is Unix certified, but it has a number of unique design features that deviate from a traditional Unix; Linux is closer to a traditional Unix in that respect.

So if you really wanted to learn Unix as the longbeards built it, Solaris (or its open source fork, OpenIndiana) would be the way to go. Linux would be more accessible however.

 

[earthman]

Ubuntu is not Unix. Linux is a Unix clone that shares aspects of the filesystem and POSIX compatibility as well as common tools, but they are not that much alike, any more than Linux is like MacOS. For one thing, Linux is a kernel, not an OS, and relies on GNU and third party software to form a relatively complete operating system. There are many different versions of Linux, and many different types of Unix, some with radically different approaches. I suggest you get a book like the Ubuntu Bible if you want to know more about that.

 

[Lithium381]

As someone suggested, give yourself a task and work through it. For example, i just installed ubuntu and got a radius server running against a mysql backend. Why? Why not? setup a file server using FTP or SAMBA, setup a squid proxy caching server. a mail server? whatever you want to do, it's probably possible.