Linux "Server" Training

DrJohnZoidberg

DrJohnZoidberg

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Hi all,

I recently put in a file/print server for a customer using ubuntu server edition and I'm very happy with the results. I would however like to expand my horizons and start offering a more expansive range of affordable servers (mail, domain, proxy, etc) for small businesses. What course/training program could you recommend for this sort of thing?

Also, which distro would you recommend running in a server installation? Is there really a huge difference between different distro's when you are only using the command line?

Your feedback is always much appreciated:)
 
For a course you should check out the LPI

I am busy studying my LPI 102 right now, have the exam next week :) It is vendor neutral so you really get a good grasp of Linux as a whole.

My server choices are Gentoo or Centos, if you are just starting out, Centos is probably the way to go for a good server.
 
My 1 000'th post, yay ;)

Experience is more important than training when it comes to Linux administration (at least in my opinion). A lot of professionals are self - taught and don't even have RHCE, etc.
 
LPI is probably a good starting point, if you have the money.

From what I know, which is not that much, the difference in the install media is different packages and defaults. Desktop version will include Open Office and will load the GUI as standard. Server edition wont but will have LAMP features as standard. I'm not making a lot of sense here am I? :s

As to which flavour of Unix I would look at the Red Hat derivatives (RH, Fedora, Centos) or Ubuntu as they seem to have the biggest online comunities for supporting you. I am not saying they are any better than any other linux variant just easeir to find support. I'm going to get flamed for that.
 
Red Hat & Suse Enterprise also have certifications & training.
 
RavenServers said:
My 1 000'th post, yay ;)

Experience is more important than training when it comes to Linux administration (at least in my opinion). A lot of professionals are self - taught and don't even have RHCE, etc.
Click to expand...

Welcome to Grandmasterdom. :D

Yeah the best way to learn is to make and then break it. :o
 
I am by no means a Linux guru, but I've found over the years that different distros will name software packages differently. Sometimes it's not very big, but it can be confusing. An example is Apache, it's either called that or httpd.

I've noticed that installing software at the command line in Debian and offspring is quite easy thanks to apt, provided the software is in the repos. Also, configuration files and placement of binaries can vary between distros, it depends how the software was packaged.

I would suggest using something like Webmin where possible, as it will save you quite a bit of time later on. Nothing beats configuring things by hand, but sometimes you may not have all the time to do that properly.
 
LPI are about R1500 per exam, this excludes any training materials.

There are 3 levels each consisting of 2 exams, except the third level which I believe has 3.

You can book local exams via www.prometric.com who have testing centers all over the country...Even here in Margate :)
 
Thanks a lot folks! I've been working with linux for about a year now and everyday I learn something new. It is great that you can find support on almost anything on the internet.

I'll look in LPI, I would really love to actually sit down and learn "everything" - just so I have a basis to work off.

I did have one issue that I couldn't resolve on the fileserver I did recently - for the life of me couldn't get a damn HP Laserjet 1020 to work through Ubuntu server. I tried everything and eventually gave up and just connected it to one of the local windows machines. Had absolutely no hassles with a Canon iX4000 though, it worked perfectly after installation. Anybody else have any issues regarding this?

Thanks again for all your input, will be around (also want to get my 1000 posts, but damn it seems so far away!)
 
timvdwest said:
Tfor the life of me couldn't get a damn HP Laserjet 1020 to work through Ubuntu server. I tried everything and eventually gave up and just connected it to one of the local windows machines.
Click to expand...
I had a huge hassle getting the HP 1020 to work. You have to download firmware to the printer each time you start it to get Linux to talk to it. I've bookmarked a mass of sites on the 1020, and will wade through them sometime soon to find the relevant one.

BTW, You're lucky to get your Canon printer to work so easily. Canon is one of the most Linux unfriendly manufacturers out there. I have to run my scanner and printers through a Virtualbox running XP.

[edit]
I think this is the page you're looking for. (I have a foo2zjs directory in my downloads directory, so I have used it). The most important part of the whole exercise is the "sudo make install-hotplug" which installs the software to download the necessary firmware to the printer.

Some other links:
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/index.php?topic=8068.0
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=78272&page=2
[/edit]
 
Last edited:
Thanks BigAl, I did install the foo2zjs drivers but it didn't help me, but I see now I may have done it wrong. I just used lpadmin to add to add the printer and didn't know about any of those other procedures. Unfortunately the server is in cape town, so I'll check it out next time I'm there:)

Thanks a lot for the info!
 
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