You need to learn how to use Linux. And the best way to get Linux training is to work with it and get real, practical Linux experience. There are lots of different ways to get Linux, and lots of different versions of Linux to choose from!

You can get a version of Linux, also known as a Linux distribution (or distro for short), on CD or DVD. You can also download a Linux ISO file and burn it to CD or DVD yourself. Linux Tips: If you decide to download Linux as a Linux ISO file, keep in mind that these files are very large. Linux CD ISO files are about 700 MB and Linux DVD ISO files are about 4 GB (almost six times the size of a CD!). Therefore, only download Linux if you have high-speed Internet access.

Linux Tips: You can do an Internet search for “list of linux cds” or “list of linux dvds” and buy the Linux OS and have it delivered to you by mail very cheaply.

Some Linux distros are available as “installation” versions and some are available as “live” versions - and some are available as both!

An installation version of Linux may be on just a one CD / DVD or it may require more than one. However, a Linux live CD or a Linux live DVD version consists of just a single CD or DVD.

Linux Installation Versions

You boot a computer system with a Linux installation CD / DVD to run the Linux installation routine and install Linux on a system. This could be a system that doesn’t have an operating system on it - or it could be one that does have an operating system on it, such as the Windows operating system.

If you install Linux on Windows, you create a “dual boot” (Linux and Windows) system. Then after the Linux installation, you can either boot the system into Windows or boot it into Linux, but not both at the same time.

When you install Linux from CD or DVD onto a computer system, you run the Linux installation routine and do several steps to put the Linux OS and Linux software programs on the hard disk in a system permanently, although you can remove Linux later if you need to.

After you install Linux, you boot to Linux from the hard disk in the system. At this point, the Linux desktop appears and you can do a few simple steps to open a terminal emulation window. This allows you to go to the Linux command line so you can run Linux commands - the best way to learn how to use Linux.

Linux Live Versions

Linux live CDs or DVDs are used to run Linux “live”, for as long as the power is turned on.

To run a Linux live version, you set your system up to boot from the live CD or DVD. Then you start your system with the Linux live CD / DVD in your drive. No installation is required!

After you boot with a Linux live CD / DVD, the entire Linux OS (operating system) boots and runs automatically. At this point, you see a Linux desktop on the screen and you can run Linux software programs.

At the Linux desktop, you can also do the steps to open a terminal emulation window. This allows you to work at the Linux command line as the root user and run Linux commands. And learning to run Linux commands is the best way to learn how to use Linux and do Linux system administration.

Written by Clyde Boom.

A. The Dangers of Installing Linux on a Windows System

Many people have only one computer system, and this system is often running Windows. They still need to use Windows, but also want to learn Linux by installing it on their Windows system (rather than installing Linux on a new system or a used system). Installing Linux on an existing Windows system creates what is called a “dual-boot system”. When you boot (start up) a dual-boot system, you see a menu and you can choose to either boot to Windows, or boot to Linux.

Installing Linux on an existing Windows system can work for some, but can also be a disaster!

Linux Tech Tip: Beware that if you install Linux on a Windows system, you may damage or destroy your existing Windows software setup and lose some or all of the programs and data on the Windows system. Believe me, I know.

I had installed Linux on a Windows system and then removed Linux from the system, after I installed Linux on another system.

And I almost lost everything - data, setups, programs and all!

Fortunately I was able to boot the damaged Windows system with a “live” version of Linux, then do some steps to get the data off the system. After recovering the data, I had to re-install Windows, and all my Windows programs, but at least I got all my
data back!

B. Running Linux from a Linux “Live” CD or DVD

Another popular way to get Linux running is to boot a system, such as an existing Windows system, from CD or DVD with a “live” version of Linux. A Linux live CD or DVD isn’t used to install Linux on a system. It’s used to boot a system and then
automatically run Linux.

When you boot a system with a Linux live cd, the system boots up and then Linux starts up - and runs completely from CD or DVD - without having to be installed!

A Linux live CD or DVD gives you a fully functional version of Linux by simply booting with the live CD or DVD.

One of the reasons Linux live versions are so popular is that you don’t have to install them. Therefore, you avoid the danger of
damaging or destroying the software on an existing Windows system. This is a good solution if you already have a Windows
system, but don’t have a spare system on which to install Linux.

Written by Clyde Boom.

You need to learn how to use Linux. And the best way to get Linux training is to work with it and get real, practical Linux experience. There are lots of different ways to get Linux, and lots of different versions of Linux to choose from!

You can get a version of Linux, also known as a Linux distribution (or distro for short), on CD or DVD. You can also download a Linux ISO file and burn it to CD or DVD yourself. Linux Tips: If you decide to download Linux as a Linux ISO file, keep in mind that these files are very large. Linux CD ISO files are about 700 MB and Linux DVD ISO files are about 4 GB (almost six times the size of a CD!). Therefore, only download Linux if you have high-speed Internet access.

Linux Tips: You can do an Internet search for “list of linux cds” or “list of linux dvds” and buy the Linux OS and have it delivered to you by mail very cheaply.

Some Linux distros are available as “installation” versions and some are available as “live” versions - and some are available as both!

An installation version of Linux may be on just a one CD / DVD or it may require more than one. However, a Linux live CD or a Linux live DVD version consists of just a single CD or DVD.

Linux Installation Versions

You boot a computer system with a Linux installation CD / DVD to run the Linux installation routine and install Linux on a system. This could be a system that doesn’t have an operating system on it - or it could be one that does have an operating system on it, such as the Windows operating system.

If you install Linux on Windows, you create a “dual boot” (Linux and Windows) system. Then after the Linux installation, you can either boot the system into Windows or boot it into Linux, but not both at the same time.

When you install Linux from CD or DVD onto a computer system, you run the Linux installation routine and do several steps to put the Linux OS and Linux software programs on the hard disk in a system permanently, although you can remove Linux later if you need to.

After you install Linux, you boot to Linux from the hard disk in the system. At this point, the Linux desktop appears and you can do a few simple steps to open a terminal emulation window. This allows you to go to the Linux command line so you can run Linux commands - the best way to learn how to use Linux.

Linux Live Versions

Linux live CDs or DVDs are used to run Linux “live”, for as long as the power is turned on.

To run a Linux live version, you set your system up to boot from the live CD or DVD. Then you start your system with the Linux live CD / DVD in your drive. No installation is required!

After you boot with a Linux live CD / DVD, the entire Linux OS (operating system) boots and runs automatically. At this point, you see a Linux desktop on the screen and you can run Linux software programs.

At the Linux desktop, you can also do the steps to open a terminal emulation window. This allows you to work at the Linux command line as the root user and run Linux commands. And learning to run Linux commands is the best way to learn how to use Linux and do Linux system administration.

Written by Clyde Boom.