Completely new to Linux? Click and read along.

[hellnoire]

Hacking and programming of Linux is beyond me, but if you want to play with Linux as it were, try setting it up as a server and configure it with a program called Webmin. It's still pretty easy when you think about it, because you're just remote controlling it but I find it's a little more difficult because the terminal output is delayed.

On that note, you can try setting up various servers on your new Linux box. You can make an Apache server to serve webpages, a Samba server so you can make it host files. A GNUMP3D server so one could listen to music... the possibilities are endless. If you really want to learn about Linux, the major thing you do is play around and use Google. That's about the only things I could suggest. Sign up to the official Ubuntu mailing lists and try setting up a different Linux distro, perhaps like Arch or something. Something lightweight compared to Ubuntu.

It's up to you.

[takerraj]

I tried Debian at first than Ubuntu. Now Ubuntu is boring because it is doing whatever I say. I want it to be more stubborn. It should be tough so that I can learn something by going through workarounds. Shall I shift to Debian again? Can you suggest me any books or something that helps me learn linux?

[hellnoire]

I find learning by the internet is the best way, that way it's consistently up to date.

And if you want tough, Slackware and Arch would be best for that. EXTREMELY hard though, to warn you. You'll learn the most with them, but they can also piss you off to no end. Just to warn you, you'll be on your own with it since I use and know neither of them.

[takerraj]

I followed your suggestions and downloaded Arch iso. Tried to install it on virtualbox, but it didn't install. It said that a file is missing when I select source as CD.

I downloaded the iso from Arch official site and size is only around 150 MB. There are several versions such as core and other. I downloaded 32 bit FTP ISO. Have I downloaded the wrong version. Please check the website and can you tell me what one should I download?

[hellnoire]

You should get the Core version, that way, it has everything on it right away. And to help set it up, you can check Arch's wiki. But that's about all I suggest. More then that, I have zero idea. I don't use Arch, I use Debian and Ubuntu only.

[takerraj]

Thanks Hellnoire, I'll download it. Will learning commands on Arch help me in using Debian and Fedora. Because the commands vary from one distro to other,

[hellnoire]

Some commands vary from one distro to another, but you can set it up the same kind of way.

[takerraj]

Thanks Hellnoire! You've clarified many of my doubts. Continue the good work.

[hellnoire]

I shall try my best. And thanks.

[jwils876]

I played around with Linux on my old laptop. I tried a lot of distros, the one that I had the best luck with was Freespire. My wireless card and sound all worked right off the bat. But, seeing as it used up as much space and resources as Windows, I decided to just put XP back on it eventually. The distro I wanted to work was Damn Small Linux, but I never could get my wireless going.