My Personal Experience with Linux
I’ve used Linux on my personal computers since as early as 1995 or 1996 and started working with Linux professionally in 1999. I was immediately drawn to Linux. It was love at first sight for me. The Linux design and philosophy made total sense to me, and I wanted to learn everything I could about it. I started using Linux daily and set out to get a job using Linux. Since then I’ve used Linux in almost every type of situation imaginable: at large well-known corporations, at small privately-owned companies, at a startup, at a security firm, at an airline, and at a university supporting researchers.
I’ve run Linux on hardware, in virtual machines, in containers, and in the cloud. I’ve done so many things with Linux it’s hard to list them all. Along the way, I’ve written a few books and taught a few courses on the subject.
Advice for Those Just Starting out with Linux
My advice to those who are starting out is to use your time wisely. I see so many people wasting precious time searching for free videos and reading random blog posts trying to cobble together their own Linux curriculum. The result is usually hours, days, or even months spent learning unrelated bits and pieces with no clear structure and no real progress to show for their work. I highly recommend taking a course that uses a logical and systematic approach so you learn things in an order that makes sense. This way you can build upon your knowledge.
Another common mistake is spending a lot of time trying to find the “perfect” Linux distribution and worrying about the choice. It’s way more important that you just start learning Linux. Linux is Linux at the core, and the concepts you learn when starting out apply to every Linux distribution. Pick one and get started!
Traits That Set People up for Success as Linux Professionals
To be successful as a Linux professional you have to be very good with details. Forgetting to use a comma or misplacing a colon in a configuration file can render a Linux system unusable. I don’t say that to scare anyone but just to highlight how important attention to detail is when you’re working with Linux.
Another trait of a good Linux professional is having the ability to troubleshoot problems, which takes logic and critical thinking skills. Many times you’ll be playing the role of technology detective. Troubleshooting also goes hand-in-hand with attention to detail. When a system experiences a problem, you’ll need to comb through logs and look at configuration files, sometimes one character at a time, until you spot the issue.
And last, letting go of preconceived notions and expecting Linux to act like Windows or Mac. Linux is a new paradigm for many people.
The Future for Linux System Administrators
I don’t see the growth of Linux slowing any time soon. Its adoption has been steadily increasing, and it’s practically the de facto standard OS for new enterprise and web-based applications. My advice to professionals is to pick an aspect or use of Linux that interests them the most and make that their specialty. Just a few examples include cloud computing, containerization, networking, security, monitoring, automation, configuration management, scripting, programmable infrastructure, and DevOps.
If you are just getting started with Linux you can check out my free “Learn Linux in 5 Days” book here. And if you are familiar with Linux and looking to take your skills further you can see the full list of courses I offer by clicking here.
As a student in my course, I want you to walk away feeling comfortable and confident using a Linux system. I want to save you time and take away the frustration of learning Linux. I pull back the curtain and make Linux less of a mystery so you know that Linux isn’t some scary thing that only a few special people can learn. It’s not only powerful and efficient, but it’s also quite beautiful, eloquent, and accessible too.