Question About Linux

[Duckcurry]

Hi guys I am working in small company that was recently established. I am a fresh graduate majoring in management and working in this company as an assistant manager. Recently the company would like to install a web server for the company's site and more. I was in charge of the project. Problem is that I have no experience in programming (only basic C and C++ that I have vague memories of)..I don't even know how to do pointers anymore...

Now my manager would like to do linux as our operating system but I have ZERO experience with linux except I know that it is an operating system. Since I am working for a small starting company, there is simple no budget to hire a professional programmer. I have to do it myself..

Sorry for the long intro but I have to clarify.... now I need to learn about linux.. could anyone point me to any good sites (I have seen linux.com) or any good books that could teach me?? Is it even possible for someone like me to figure out how to use linux??

 

[diroga]

Alot of the more resent distros have a server feature built into them. There is a plethera of choices. here are some: fedora, debian, centos, ubuntu, and more.

I'm not sure if you would actualy be running the web server from the office. you can have an intranet and file server inside your network running linux. You can rent a webserver that runs linux.

As for programming there is really not much required for setting up. You will have to some installs that my require terminal commands. The most usefull programming you could do is bash scripting.

As for learning some distros have what is called Live CD, which you boot from and the OS runs with out installing on your computer. so you can play with linux on the fly. Also there is Virtual Machines(VM) that run OSes. With a VM you can download and run OSes in it on your hardrive again with out installing it, though it will save your files you create and change. I think there are some free windows VMs out there. Really the best thing to do is get an old computer idealy 1.2ghz 256mb ram running old to modern distros. absolute least 665mhz 128mb running xubuntu or older distros. What i mean by all this is you need to get your hands dirty and play with it.

I suggest you go with ubuntu. or xubuntu for older computers. check your local library for linux books.

basic intro to linux

video showing how to dual boot ubtuntu and windows

good furm to ask questions about different distros

more detialed info about the structure of linux

top most used linux commands

Alphabetical Directory of Linux Commands. The Man Pages

 

[patrickv]

since Diroga provided good links, i will only say linux uses APACHE for its web server. its embeded in all linux distro but not installed.

 

[tlarkin]

I recommend actually getting an enterprise version of Linux if this is for a business web server.

yes, Apache is the web server for linux, but it is also open source so there are several different types of apache web servers (ie tomact, etc).

Installing Apache is not hard, configuring it is not hard either. it is just a matter of learning it. Once it runs you can basically just let it run since Apache is very stable.

I recommend you go with Debian, redhat, or Suse Linux. I wouldn't run a end user distro like ubuntu, pclinuxos or any of those because they are geared towards end users and not server side products. Also, if you do go with debian or a RH distro, use their packages to install stuff (.deb or .rpm) and you will find less compatibility issues.

Configuring apache is as easy and editing the /etc/httpd.conf file or installing a very nice web based admin tool called webmin. webmin will allow you to admin all your servers and services from one nice web based interface.

www.webmin.com