Total Linux Newbie Wanting To Set Up Home Lab

Hi Guys,

I'm new to this community and i just have a basic Linux knowledge especialy Ubuntu+ UbuntuServer. I'm Studying IT its my last year and im working on a thesis called "Windows Vs Linux". I'm trying to setup a virtual company environment in windows and the same in Linux. I want to compare the both... what are the pros and cons from both operating systems, stability, Security, managability, TCO,... . I did some research and stuff but for the Linux part its not easy... So i have a few questions, hopefully I'm getting some response. First of all I'm thinking of using Ubuntuserver LTS as server side OS and for the workclients Mint or ubuntu. Is this a good distro choice ?

My second and i think its the hardest part of setting up a manageable Linux Company environment is an Active directory alternative that offers the same functionality in Linux. Is this possible ? Ok you have like openlDAP and stuff but thats just basic authentication password and shit, but do you have something like GPOS for Linux ?

I'm hoping someone can help me out a bit

Grtz

Hi,

Could anyone please explain as understandable as possible how could I on my Windows 8 open either single file or install (and use) entire software which is supposted to work on Linux and/or Ubuntu? I have absolutelly NO experience with Linux and have never used it. Honestly, I don't know if there is any difference between Linux and Ubuntu. I want to be inside my Windows 8 while using Linux files/sofware. The only solution I could think of are actually two but neither of them is useful for me:

1. Vmware (i don't know how to use it)
2. Rent remote computer (vps/rdp) with linux OS installed (this would let me be in Windows 8 while being able to use Linux file/software [on remote computer] but sooner or later I would want to have Windows installed there too)

Tried program Linux Reader but didn't work on my Windows 8. Although I would need solution for installation/usage of software (that can be used only on linux/ubuntu), regardless of details***, the current problem is basically related to single files only: I have two files, both in IMG extension. Don't know how to open them because Deamon Tools doesn't handle IMG. The problem is that filesystem in one of them is "Linux" and filesystem in another is "142". The error I am getting when I try to open them is:

"File with harddrive/disc snapshot is corrupted."

But this is most likely because they are supposted to be used in linux environment, hence such question.

*** when i said "details" I was referring to basically anything: type of software, size, purpose, whether or not it needs network connection, whether or not it contains logging in (username password, etc) requirement, etc.

The following solution for current situation (quoted error above) works only partially:

http://www.sysprobs.com/simple-tip-h...thout-software

I am able to open/run/mount IMG if I do what is described on this link (im basically opening iso in this case - see the website) but when opening the virtual drive, the following error message proves that the file can be used in linux/ubuntu only:

"Windows cannot access that drive. Drive could be corrupted. Make sure the drive is in condition that can be recognized by Windows. If drive isn't formatted then format it before usage."

Would need detailed instructions, for total beginner, who has never used linux/ubuntu, what to do in such case: how to use in win8 files/software that are supposted to be used in linux/ubuntu. Also answer on how to open IMG would be highly appreciated.

Kindest regards and thank you a million in advance.

Hi. Sorry to be so stupid, but I just managed to load and install this Linux (which I really like a lot) on my previously windows <--(bad) system.
But now I need to upgrade some software (like Adobe flash), and I have no clue how to do this. I understand I should go to my original linux distrubutor, and select software thru them (my "Linux distro").
But actually, it's been awhile since I did the install, and I dont exactly remember where I even got this distribution. (I know, I'm dumb--sorry).
Is there a way I can look at my linux system files and see who my distribution is thru, and where is their website. Or would it be easier if I just went thru the whole download and install of linux again <--(not really looking forward to that).
Or even, am I wrong about going thru the distro to do installs/upgrades?
Anything you can tell me will be greatly appreciated.

Long Live Linux !! David K

I'm new to Linux, I want to master all of the lovely little details about what makes Linux tick, and how it ticks. I would love to know any suggestions of where I should start. I want to know how anything, the hardware, software, and firmware works. I am wanting to get into computer science, I'm very motivated and am willing to put in the time to learn and master Linux. I figure that Linux is a good of a place to start as any, seeing how there is a lot of source code to study and open source software to play around with.

Hello all.
I have been using Linux OS's of and on since 1996. I completely gave up on MS in 2006. I change out a hard drive in my PC and MS thought I should purchase a new site license, I did not agree with that train of thought.
I found that popping in a disk and getting Linux up and running was easy to the belief that "Nothing could be this easy". It really was. The learning curve was encountered when trying to make Linux Fly. I recommend that everyone new to Linux or anyone with a desire to do a bit more than e-mail, catalog some photos or music get your hands on a Linux command reference guide and learn the terminal. There is so much to understand and do With Free Open Source Software and there are so many ways to access, install and configure the available software. There are so many resources for help and trouble shooting all things Linux however, here's the caveat; I really had to learn how to ask the question to get an answer that worked for me. General question will get you general answers and rarely ever was the answer I sought found the hodgepodge of generalities found in forums or Google searches and the like. I learn to be very specific in my question and the answers were discerned with less difficulty. There are really answers or fixes for the questions I have had concerning Linux.

Hello

As a learning experience, I want to jump from Windows 7 to Linux full time on my laptop. This isn't because of some antiWindows bullshit or because its free or anything like that. I just want to learn the ins and outs of Linux like I pretty much know on Windows.

I plan to go with Ubuntu. LTS or latest stable version? Thoughts?

First off, compatibility. I do need that all my hardware on my laptop be compatible. From shortcut keys to wifi. This is not a brand new laptop so there shouldn't be any problems. Its a Dell Vostro 1510.

Next, software. Basically on this laptop software I use in and out: uTorrent, Teamviewer, WMP, mIRC, Skype, vSphere Client, Microsoft Office......That's pretty much it IMO. Also Facebook and YouTube (Flash) are a must. I will run all this software in WINE. I don't want (most) of the Linux ports. Im not looking to replace programs I like and use daily. Just looking to replace the operating system.

Next, virtualization. Due to some things (like Office) cannot be ran in Linux, I use a VM. VMWare with its unity feature pretty much gives me what I want.

Next, streaming. I need to be able to stream media from a WS2012R2 to this Linux installation. Special setup?

Anything that is blowing over me, please mention.

Thank you

I am new to Linux & Unix environment.

Could anyone please provide me the Internet URL where I can learn Linux online Free of Cost?

Where would I get a chance to do hands on while learning this new topic?

Thanks in advance for any king help

Regards,

Jayant

Hi all,

Apologies if this is off-topic. I searched a while and couldn't find out whether or not the Newbie forum is strictly for technical questions or not.

I am new to Linux and have been using it the past 4 months or so. Currently I work in a support job as an MS technician. I'm mostly using it to advance my career. Management told me if I devote time to learning Linux to the point where I can do very basic maintenance tasks on the company Linux servers, and the ability to support our few Linux clients, I would be promoted to a senior support position.

One of the greater challenges so far is trying to figure out WHAT to focus on and how long to devote to it each day. I find that if I spend multiple hours/day trying to learn Linux (like 2-3 hours), I don't retain much of what I've learned. Conversely, if I don't spend enough time each day, I worry that I will not learn enough to become proficient in a reasonable amount of time. I sometimes start reading up on a Linux topic, for instance, how to send mail to users, and wonder if my time could be better spent learning another aspect. Then again, I feel like a lot of this basic knowledge can be built upon.

I'd like to become proficient enough to achieve this senior position in 1.5-2 years. Given my current job and personal responsibilities I am able to devote 1-2 hours of learning Linux each day.

In that amount of time, I've been learning new bash commands daily and practicing yum, tried setting up a web server, extracting/compiling software, messing around with inittab, cron jobs, etc. very basic things and building upon that.

Does this sound reasonable? I'd very much appreciate some pointers and to see if I am on the right track from a Linux community perspective.

Thanks.

I have a Dell Latitude E5440. It currently is Running Windows 7 pro. I want to change this machine into a customized Linux Workstation. In order to that right I need to get all my device drivers copied from Dells Website I want to then figure out if these drivers would work for linux.
I then want to create a virtual windows desktop to run all and not limited to:

Microsoft visual Studio
Ableton live (DAW)
Auto Desk Inventor
Mentor Graphics PAD
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Premier
Red Giant Special Effects suites (various)
Quark Express
ICOM Radio Programming software
Microsoft Office
Just to name a few programs I want to run on my windows virtual desktop.
I wont ever take the virtual desktop online. I also want to have a highly secured system where permissions have to be signed for anything. Meaning that my windows desktop is virtually helpless in screwing with the rest of my system.

SO I will need a good open source O.S. and many links for the device drivers I need and how to change them to work.

Please explain things clearly with precise directions and links. I haven't flashed my bios yet and installed DBAN. I will when I feel I have all my ducks in a Row and I am ready to create a monster laptop. please email me directly
evander.callie at gmail dot com

OK this is kinda long, so I will shorten it as much as I can, as to not be long-winded.

My current network at home:
1 - CentOS 7 desktop (server)
1 - Ubuntu 14.04 desktop
1 - Fedora 21 laptop
2 - Windows 7 desktops
some other various windows boxes also that don't get used regularly, but are on the network.

My 2 Linux desktops (which I use as servers, but they really aren't) have shared folders on them, which I share to the network via Samba (CIFS). I use Samba because Linux is smarter than Windows and Windows won't read NFS, so I share them as Samba so all devices can see them.

Generally speaking, if I share the folders on each box as 0777, I have no issues. But lately I have been wanting to implement some better security, so I wanted to SETGID and chown the shared folders from the local machine to a specific group, then change the folders to 2774.

My problem is that I keep getting permissions errors when trying to connect from the other Linux machines, and sometimes the Windows machines also. My main question is: do I CHMOD 2774 the local mount-point before mounting it? Or so I CHMOD 2774 the shared folder on the other server, then mount it locally to a folder whose permissions are different? Or do I CHMOD both of them the same?

basically the uis and gid ownerships change on a local folder when I mount a shared drive to that folder, so when I try to write or sometimes read that local folder, I get permissions errors.

I can provide any additional info needed.