Linux basics for Windows admins

Linux basics for Windows pros
IT pros who know how to improve performance and tune proprietary applications to run on Linux will be in big demand, analysts say. So, why not take steps toward making yourself a hot commodity? This extensive library of basic Linux information has been designed with Windows professionals in mind.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
   What's GNU? Making sense of terms and acronyms
   Getting started: Linux at a glance
   Distributions: How to get Linux
   Installation
   Comparing costs
   Migration
   Security
   Integration & Interoperability
   Administration & Management
   Software/applications
   Samba
   Networking/protocols
   Articles & White Papers
   Chapter Downloads
   Resources

What's GNU? Making sense of terms and acronyms
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• Linux


• Open source


• Apache


• Bash


• Copyleft


• Distribution


• Enterprise JavaBeans


• Free Software Foundation


• GNU


• Kernel


• Linus Torvalds


• Minix


• Tux


• Unix

Getting started: Linux at a glance
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• Linux basics FAQ


• Linux FAQ


• The inner workings of the kernel


• What Windows shops should know about Linux


• Debunking the myths about Linux


• Directories: What goes where on a Linux system?


• A tour of the Linux filesystem


• Best Web Links: Gettting started with Linux

Distributions: How to get Linux
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• Featured Topic: Linux distributions -- What, where, why and how


• Choosing the best Linux for your business


• DistroWatch.com


• United Linux


• Debian


• Redhat


• Slackware Linux


• SuSe


• UltraLinux: Linux for SPARC processors

Installation
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• GNU/Linux pre-installation checklist


• Linux installation strategies mini how-to


• Linux hardware compatibility how-to


• Upgrading your Linux installation mini how-to (Article)


• GNU/Linux post-installation checklist

Comparing costs
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• Getting your hands dirty with open source ROI, TCO calculations


• First steps to Linux desktops, calculating ROI and using more Linux


• Cybersource dishes out some Linux TCO 'truth' of its own


• The TCO question: Can Linux beat Microsoft?(2-part Q&A)


• Linux vs. Windows TCO: complex issues, no easy answers


• Open-source vs. Microsoft: Assessing TCO

Migration
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• Windows-to-Linux desktop migration tips: Why to switch, how to plan


• Opportune time to switch to Linux


• Windows-to-Linux on the desktop has its drawbacks


• From DOS/Windows to Linux how-to


• Windows-to-Linux mail server migration with Kerio


• Simple ways to try Linux without dumping Windows


• Making the switch to open source gradually(tutorial)

Security
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• Learning Linux security administration


• Linux Security Learning Guide


• Introduction to intrusion detection and network security


• Hardening Linux: Firewall implementation


• Basic security applies to open source, too


• Comparing security on Windows and Linux


• Best Linux Security Web Links


• Implementing security on Linux


• Intrusion detection with Debian GNU Linux


• Special report: Linux security

Integration and Interoperability
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• Windows-Linux configuration tips


• Tools for Windows/Linux authentication
• Best Web Links on integration/interoperability

Administration and Management
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• Safely bringing in Linux


• Planning effective Linux administration


• A tour of the Red Hat Directory Server


• Red Hat Network tour


• Sharing files between Linux servers with NFS


• The Linux System Administrator's Guide


• Beyond the LAMP stack - A guide to open source Nagios, Xen & Asterisk

Software/Applications
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• Best Web Links: Linux/open source software/applications


• Installing software packages


• Software for Linux: downloads


• Paving the way for OpenOffice


• Inside OpenOffice.org 2.0, Part 1

Inside OpenOffice.org 2.0, Part 2

Samba
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• What is Samba?


• Samba team homepage


• Samba configuration tools


• Expert tips on using Samba


• Sharing resources with Samba


• Using Samba to configure a Windows-Linux network


• Managing Samba: Choose your weapon -- Windows network ID basics


• Managing Samba: Windows network identity basics


• Managing Samba-3: User rights and privileges


• Samba-3: Windows file and directory ACLs


• Featured Topic: Samba makes Linux MS-friendly

Networking/Protocols
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• Introduction to Linux networking


• Making sense of GNU-Linux protocols


• Users tackle question of Linux vs. Windows on the server


• LDAP-Linux how-to


• Linux NFS how-to


• Configure your RHEL4 network


• Getting started with RHEL4's built-in LVM tools


• Best Linux Networking Web Links

Articles and white papers
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• Blueprint for Linux in the Enterprise


• Perceptions: Is Linux suitable for business desktops?


• Linux and Email Infrastructure: Freedom and Choice


• Effectively Migrate from Windows to Linux: The Missing Link


• Windows 2000 versus Linux in enterprise computing: An assessment of business value for selected workloads

Support
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• Commercial support links


• How to get free support for Linux


• Internet Software Consortium support partners

Chapter downloads
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• "Linux Installation Made Easy" from the Administrator's guide to Linux in the Enterprise


• "Technical Summary of Linux Distributions and Windows 2003" from Linux Administration: A Beginner's Guide


• "Samba" from Linux Administration: A Beginner's Guide


• Practical guide to Red Hat Linux - chapter 5


• Chapters 1 & 2 of The Developer Shortcut Guide to SUSE Linux


• Practical Guide to Red Hat Linux - chapter 9


• Making sense of GNU/Linux network protocols

Resources
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• Questions about Linux? Ask our experts


• TechTarget's special reports on Linux


• Featured Topic: Linux versus Windows


• Featured Topic: MS v. Linux


• The Linux Uprising (Special report)


• The penguin's progress (Special report)