[SLL] Linux training

[Ana]

On Wed, Jul 18, 2007 at 12:06:12PM -0700, Michael wrote:
> I'm trying to get some linux training for one of my employees and can't seem
> to find any in the Seattle/Bellevue area. If checked Seattle/Bellevue CC and
> there don't seem to be any. He's got the absolute basics but I need him to
> have some better skills and while we'll be doing OJT I wanted to see if
> there was a program we could pay for. Can anyone through out some
> suggestions for me?

I just finished reading the thread as it exists.  It's an interesting
topic.  The question that comes up for me is:  what kinds of basic
things could we tell this newbie that would help him teach himself?
Some things I came up with...


- Use Google.  (hehe...  sort of just kidding here.)

- teach him to move forward through whatever project he's working on,
  one *reversible* step at a time.  Before you take that step, determine
  how you will test what you've done.  The test should involve both
  checking that your change is working, and...  perhaps more
  importantly...  to the greatest, reasonable extent possible, that you
  haven't broken anything else.  Test as soon as you take the step, and
  take appropriate action.

- Document what you do, while you do it.  (probably good idea to buy and
  use a paper journal for this.)
  
- often an important step, while you're taking those single reversible
  steps, is to try stuff on a test machine on an isolated test network.
  Keep an image of the test-machine disk around so that after you run
  your test, and render the test machine unusable, re-image it.  (and,
  figure out how to re-image the test machine in the quickest way
  possible that doesn't require much attention from you.  this is a good
  exercise and represents a nice batch of knowledge.)

- RTFM.  that is: do your research

- How to research:

  - First, do some reading what whatever you're learning about, and try
    a few things while you read.

  - Second, if you're confused, formulate a question.  The question
    might be a few carefully chosen key words that will work well in a
    google search.  (this could very well be the best first step.)  If
    you plan to instead ask someone: try to make that question easy for
    a knowledgeable person to quickly comprehend and respond to.
    
    - important:  Often the process formulating a good question will
      yield the answer, so *work* at the question.

  - If you don't find a solution to your problem fairly quickly (as
    defined by your boss) then *ask someone*, no matter how stupid you
    feel your question might be.  Be prepared for an answer like: "why
    are you trying to do that?  Why don't you just do this?"  And...
    remember your name around here is "grasshopper", so don't be
    offended by answers that might make you feel stupid.

- Chat with your co-workers and/or boss(es) about what you're doing and
  what you're learning and what interests you.  This is often helpful in
  all kinds of ways...  such as: you'll get advice or be redirected;
  you'll have to structure your thoughts and ideas in a way that can be
  verbalized...  which often provides a new perspective, etc..


I think that's more or less most of how I get along with learning.
Taking a class/training-course is just part of research.

Basic linux specific stuff....   learn how to look at your machine.
Know what these commands do:

$ ls -la
$ ps axfwwu | less
$ find /proc   # and read about it in /usr/src/linux/Documentation/
$ set
$ grep $USER /etc/passwd
$ find . -type f -print0 | xargs -0 grep whatever

if I need to know more about a command,

$ man ls
$ # or...
$ locate ls | grep man | less

read at least enough about bash to know what this does...

$ ls > /tmp/yadda 2>&1


that's the best $.02 I can come up with.

- Ana