dear all unix people, i'm looking for some advice.

I am just about to get involved with supporting unix in the company i work for but have never really used it. Its quite a longer term thing but i do need to start to understand it and become pretty competent with it. Obviously the company would send me on relevant training, so i guess thats the first part of my question:

can anyone recommend some course names for an absolute beginer?

I'm pretty good with the microsoft stuff, joint sys admin of a win2003/xp network, but absolutely no experience with unix.

the second part of the question is just generally trying to understand how some of you guys got into unix, i mean, i'm 22 yrs old and feel that most people who know unix will have got into it quite a bit earlier. Is there any tips for my to start to play around with it? linux maybe?

I have always looked at Unix and Linux as being kissing cousins, I once started a course at a local community collage but due to my work load had to drop it, If I were you look for some older computers laying around that you could use for experimenting and learning with, once you have touched on the basics of one flavor its not that hard to migrate to another, one tip would be to learn the command line and steer clear of the desktop GUI for now, always plenty to find at the bookstores.....

Keep the old stuff running

you know what, i didn't even think of books, gonna check amazon now!

I have a few older pcs lying around, i know linux is to a certain extent free, but is this the same for unix? if not is it quite wildly purchaseable?

And some additional advice for you Pete ...

Print this entire thread and put it in your scrapbook. When you are around 50 and thinking about learning a new language or OS or whatever they are going to have in the future, get it out and read it. You will get a big laugh out of how old you thought you were at 22.

I wanted to get into unix/linux right out of college, but I decided to wait a couple of decades until they invented it.

Much success with your new responsibilities. I think you will enjoy it.

Jim
Class of '65

To become a very good Unix admin:

1. very good at Unix shell scrip(B,K,C, Bash) or/and perl
2. very good vi editor skill
3. Can write C program
4. very good documentations searching ability from the web
5. Go to the Unix forums to try to solve all the problems there. If you can't, then learn it.
6. Being able to read Unix online manual page using vi editor
7. Always do your best to use the computer power to do your jobs.
8. If it's possible, read all Unix documentations page by page. It's not impossible. Actually, I did it 15 years ago.

=== If you're busy all day long, you're not a good Unix admin ===

Luke Chi

Thanks Luke, some very helpful pointers to look into.

I'll do as you suggest Jim, lol. Looking back on my post it prob does sound a little naïve, but I actually know of a few guys (unfortunately not in touch with them anymore) who were tinkering around with unix and C and things like that in their mid teens. Feel I missed out a little bit now, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Starting that early has a danger of getting bored or burned out on it. I just heard a statistic that a huge percentage of teens (around 85% I think) drop out of organized sports by the age of 13. Maybe forced into it too early and turned off to it, or maybe it's just not for them.

At any rate, one of the secrets to a happy life is truly enjoying what you do to earn a living. I'm still trying to figure out how to earn a living being a beach bum. :)

Jim,
I'll meet you in the Key's maybe we could start a souvenir shop selling sea shells on the sea shore.....

I do agree with learning vi, bitter pill at first but seems wort while in the end.....

Keep the old stuff running

1. I would like to clarify the meaning of "learning vi".

Many people actually have no idea about vi, but they think they know it and am using it.

vi is not just an editor. vi uses ex and ed. vi also could easily use all the Unix commands and your programs to analyze and manipulate the file(s). If you could dig out the power of vi, you could easily have your jobs done by using 10%-1% of the time other people have to use.

2. I am using 3 monitors attached to one PC. This really increase my performance. Go and try to use multiple screens.

Luke Chi

Luke offers good advice, but "read Unix online manual page" - now that's brutal!

Yes, vi is powerful. Given half a chance, it will become your editor of choice.

And a souvenir shop in the Keys sounds awesome!

hmmm

most of what you will ever need:
google (set "Number of Results" >=30)
- e.g:
linux tutorial OR introduction

vi tutorial OR introduction

Hi guys,
thanks for your advice, i have a pc lined up, a book on order and a whole chunk of bookmarks in my favourites to work through. i've found with other stuff (particularly computer things) the best way to learn these sort of things is to knuckle down and teach yourself. However, my company will send me on training and have offered me exams, but not sure what i should be looking for.

I know they're a bit taboo on these boards, but if it was a microsoft exam i'd know exactly what to look for and where to go, is there certain unix based exams that are worth doing/ head towards? eg- microsoft MCSE/MCSA's