The 3 Parts of the "Linux Learning Formula"

Every IT newbie wants to learn Linux. That's why I came up with this formula.

Every IT newbie wants to learn Linux.

Linux is used in enterprise. You have companies using Red Hat distros, Debian distros and everything in between.

You don’t have to be an god-tier expert in Linux to make the six figs in IT but you gotta know the basics. That’s why I thought up this “Linux Learning Formula”. Following this formula will get you up to intermediate status in no time.

But before I give you the details I want to share my experience learning Linux…so you can understand how to take full advantage of this formula.

I was all over the place when I was learning Linux

It was back in high school. I looked up five different tutorials trying to figure out how to install Ubuntu. I had set up VirtualBox and was installing it for the sixth time.

After wasting 5 hours across 2 days I figured out that it was because I hadn’t enabled virtualization in my BIOS settings. Rookie mistake.

I got it installed and didn’t know what to do. I did the occasional coding tutorial in the Ubuntu VM. Sometimes I’d try to use it for regular tasks. Eventually I just tossed it.

Fast forward to my college years and I try to use it again. But again I ran into the same problem. What do I do with it to learn? I might as well just use Windows. I was lost.

It never really clicked until my first internship where I was forced to use it. On the job I struggled hard the first few weeks. Now I was using Linux to:

• Use as my primary coding environment

• To set up web servers

• And investigate new open source software the company wanted to test

I floundered around and figured it out…eventually…but man it would have been nice to know how to actually learn Linux.

And I’ve found this problem with many things:

You hear Linux or coding is important to learn → You set up your environment → You knock out beginner YouTube tutorials → AND THEN…and then…and then what?

You don’t really know what to do next.

And that’s why I put together this “Linux Learning Formula”. It’ll tell you what you need to do over the next couple of days to set yourself up for reaching intermediate status.

You won’t install Ubuntu and be lost on what to do next.

And don’t be surprised that it seems so simple.

Step 1: Install Linux as Your Main OS

For step one we have installing Linux as your main operating system.

Yeah I know, the first step is actually installing Linux. Shocker right?

But the key phrase here is “as your main OS”. I want you to use Linux as your main operating system from day to day. Embrace it.

If you’re apprehensive about overwriting your main desktop’s OS then try setting it up on your laptop instead. Another alternative is installing it on VirtualBox like I did in high school.

The only reason I hesitate to mention the VirtualBox method is because it leaves you an out to go back to good ol’ comfortable Windows. The goal here is to get comfy with Linux.

I recommend you start with a popular Linux distro (distro = distribution if you hadn’t picked that up yet). Here’s some good starter distros:

• Ubuntu Desktop

• Mint

• Pop!_OS

• Fedora

• CentOS

Once you selected your distro enlist the help of YouTube to help install it. There’s tons of great guides out there. If you’re installing an Ubuntu VM then Part 2B from the Home Lab Guide might help:

Building a Home Lab Part 2b - Installing The First VM

After your sitting at the login screen of your new Linux installation I want you watch the “Linux Operating System - Crash Course for Beginners” guide by freeCodeCamp. Start at the 29:45 minute mark.

By the end you’ll be able to navigate around Linux and can proceed to step 2.

Step 2: Conquer OverTheWire Bandit

By now you have Linux installed and you can navigate around the Desktop. Now it’s time to love the terminal.

You will love the terminal more and more as you use it. You may eventually prefer it over a GUI. To do that you are going to do the introductory OverTheWire Bandit challenges.

Make your way to overthewire.org/wargames/bandit/.

OverTheWire Bandit solves another problem for you too. It gets you out of that trap of “what do I do now” that you get into after finishing starting tutorials.

Now I’m assuming you want to get the most out of this site right?

So I am going to set some constraints on you:

• When you get stuck you must start by only using the hints OverTheWire gives you. For example:

  

• Next, you must use manual pages or help commands before you Google for help. You can access a man (manual) page by typing: man <command>. For example man ls or man find. Some commands may not have man pages. Try "help <command>”.

• Lastly you can use Google ONLY IF you have read all the man pages or help commands and you are still stuck.

Why am I putting these constraints on you?

Because it is great practice for becoming an advanced user. The problem with online tutorials is they hold your hand and accomplish the exact thing you’re trying to do and nothing more.

By reading the manual pages you’ll learn everything there is to know about the tool. You’ll know more tips, tricks and command flags than the guy that just reads a Digital Ocean tutorial every time.

This knowledge will begin to stack. After a few months you’ll be blown away by what you know.

Step 3: Find a Community

The final step of the formula is to find a community.

Step 1 gets you introduced to Linux so you can navigate around it.

Step 2 gives us an avenue to ascend past starter tutorial topics.

And this step sets you up for continued learning.

By being part of a community I have:

• Taught a bootcamp over Network+ and Security+ topics

• Competed in a 100 person hackathon

• And met IT/Cyber business owners

The trick with being part of a community though is you get what you put into it. If you don’t contribute to any conversations than you can’t expect to get anything out that helps you.

One thing I’ve noticed is that senior people in the field tend to love helping curious newbies. The trick is you have to be a newbie that puts in the work. Don’t be that guy that just asks and takes. Give back to.

Some simple ways to give back are to act on peoples advice, go to events the community hosts, answer other peoples questions and give advice to those that are a couple of steps behind you.

So what options are there for groups to join?

Take a look at meetup.com and eventbrite.com. Are there any events in your area related to IT or cybersecurity?

Also look for online groups. You have:

• Discord Communities

• LinkedIn Groups

• FaceBook Groups

Each major social platform has a gathering of people interested in IT and Linux. You might have to do a little bit of searching to find them.

Wrapping Up

That does it for the “Linux Learning Formula”. Simple right? All you do is:

1. Install Linux and Complete a Starter Tutorial

2. Conquer OverTheWire Bandit

3. Join a community of IT/Linux enthusiasts

As you progress I bet you’ll run into issues trying to do something in Linux that isn’t working on Windows. You are using Linux as your main OS right? Fixing, researching and debugging these issues will make you a better administrator.

Once you do the “Linux Learning Formula”…

How about you do the “Building a Home Lab” articles. As you do more and more projects you’ll realize there’s always more to learn. I’ll be here to drop those knowledge bombs on ya.

Happy learning.

Tanuki

---