Useful Links for the n00b in all of us

I know there aren't any fancy graphics or whatnot, but who cares? Write your own damn site.




What is this "Linux" and What is a GNU?

A very important question. Linux is a kernel. GNU Is Not UNIX and composes most of the common tools you'll use (such as ls and pwd).

Since Linux is just a kernel, your common Linux distributions such as Redhat, Debian, or Ubuntu are commonly referred to as "GNU/Linux distributions". GNU/Linux distributions are UNIX-like operating systems.

I'm not going to bother going over history here, but suffice to say it's probably pretty dang important that you look it up yourself.




But aren't Net/Free/OpenBSD Linux Too?

No. NetBSD, FreeBSD, and OpenBSD use variants of BSD kernels and are therefore not Linux distributions. Likewise, Mac OS X uses a kernel based off the Mach kernel, and GNU offers HURD which is also Not Linux. The user interfaces may be similar in each UNIX-like operating system, however the kernel is different and is usually where the name of the distribution is derived.




Which Distribution of Linux is The Best™?

The final answer is: WHICHEVER DISTRIBUTION DOES WHAT YOU NEED.

I don't want to hear any nonsense about how one distribution is better than another. Everyone has their favorite GNU/Linux distribution. However, I'll show you some more common choices for Desktop and Servers

Desktop Systems:

Ubuntu

OpenSUSE

Fedora Core


Server Systems:

CentOS

Debian

Now if you really want to get your hands dirty, you can try some of the following GNU/Linux distros:

Arch Linux

Slackware






Basic Lunix for teh UNIX MASTER

So, you got your fancy new GNU/Linux distro installed. Congratulations. Now what? Start learning how to use your new operating system.

Navigate the filesystem

Learn some commands

Bash Guide for Beginners

Further reading

A giant wealth of information

A command line cheat sheet

HowToForge: For (almost) all your "how to" needs




But Reading is for Nerds

or: Please Google Me Some Answers

Well, we all have our weaknesses. So let's get a few questions out of the way with minimal reading.

On to the FAQ