I am new to linux and i downloaded the linux Suse and Backtrack 5. I just want to know where i can get freen manuals for linux to study them and use the linux. I have them working on a Virtula Box on my windows 7.
Things to remember with Linux... many system commands have to happen as the root user and so always precede them with
sudo
Some distros dont use sudo so that point may be irrelevant.
Next thing to remember is Linux is very much
cAsEsEnSiTiVe... always!
If you want to run a command in the current folder, preceed it with ./ - you can't just run the command from the current folder if it's not in the path.
Linux paths use the forwardslash
/, not backslash \
If you want to know how to do stuff, usually follow the command with
--h
also entering
man commandname brings up the manual docs for that command. Read up on how to use the man interface, it's confusing.
Get an editor that you like and works well and get to know it properly. Linux fundis swear by Vi but the interface is a schlep. There are others like joe or gedit that are easier to use - see what your distro comes with and use that.
Learn to mount and dismount volumes on your distro manually - write down the commands to make it easier if removable volumes dont mount automatically - CD/DVD and flash in particular... also NTFS volumes if you want to read your own windows partitions, etc.
If you create a shell command file (dos batch file equivallent) in linux, you can't run it without making it executable first - usually something like
chmod +x filename
Note that extensions are irellevant on Linux- files have their type stored in a header and in the file properties (like the executable flag).
learn the linux equivallent of some dos commands...
ls instead of dir
mkdir
rm
etc.
I'm sure there are many other bits of advice, but this is where I started.
Oh, lastly...
shutdown -r now = reboot
shutdown -h now = shut down