Here are two popular ways to get the Linux OS (operating system) up and running:

1. Install Linux from a Linux CD / DVD. This method can be complicated and very time consuming, but is also a great way to get experience using Linux.

2. Use Linux live CDs (or Linux live DVDs).

This is a fast and easy way to run Linux and will also help you get Linux training experience.

As an alternative to the above two methods, there is also an excellent way to download Linux free and install Linux in Windows, so you can learn how to use Linux in Windows.

Overview of Running Linux in Windows

Just boot your computer system into Windows and download the free Linux virtual machine player. Then download a free Linux virtual machine.

Install the Linux virtual machine player in Windows and uncompress the Linux virtual machine files into a folder. Then run the player and “open” the Linux virtual machine. This allows you to quickly and easily run Linux in Windows!

Linux Tips: There are hundreds of free Linux virtual machines available for download - and they are very easy to use. So you may want to download and try several. This is a great way to get Linux training on several Linux distributions. High-speed Internet access is recommended for this.

Using the Linux Virtual Machine Player

The free Linux virtual machine “player” (program) is run and then used to open a Linux virtual machine to run Linux in Windows.
You run the virtual machine player and open a Linux virtual machine in the same way as your run a word processor (program) and open a letter.

Linux Virtual Machines - What They Are and How They’re Created

A Linux virtual machine is a complete, fully functional Linux distribution (version of Linux) in a single compressed file.

To create a Linux virtual machine, someone runs the Linux installation routine from a Linux CD / DVD and does a Linux installation on a system. This puts the Linux OS and Linux software program files onto the system.

All these Linux files are then compressed into a single file and made available at a web site, so you can easily download the free Linux virtual machine and run Linux in Windows.

Linux Tips: When you go to download a Linux virtual machine, be sure to read the specs of the system at the Linux download web site.

Linux Tips: If you are a new Linux user, make sure the virtual machine has a Linux desktop (as many don’t) and also get the password of the root user (which is the main Linux administration user).

A free Linux virtual machine is the easiest and fastest way to run Linux in Windows and get Linux training on an existing Windows system!

Written by Clyde Boom.

You get real, practical Linux training when you get Linux running on a computer system, and you work with it to get experience.

Once you get the Linux OS (operating system) running, you can learn how to use Linux desktops, run Linux software programs, and most importantly, go to the Linux command line to run Linux commands - the real power behind Linux system administration. Two popular methods of getting to work with the Linux OS are:

1. Install Linux from CD or DVD onto the hard disk in a system

2. Boot and run Linux from Linux live CDs or DVDs (without installing Linux)

Here are some of the pros and cons of installing Linux on a system and running Linux from a live CD or DVD.

Linux Live CDs - Pros

1. The Linux OS boots and runs in just a few minutes entirely from a single Linux live CD (or DVD).

2. A lengthy Linux installation is not required. You don’t need to provide a lot of settings to the Linux installation routine and then wait while the Linux OS and Linux software programs are copied onto the hard disk.

Also, if you install Linux on Windows, you need to back up your system before you do and you may damage your Windows setup during the Linux installation - or if you remove Linux later!

3. You only need to get 1 Linux live CD or DVD, as opposed to possibly needing several when you install Linux. Therefore, if you download Linux to burn a Linux ISO file to CD / DVD, you only need to wait while 1 Linux CD / DVD is downloaded.

4. Linux live CDs / DVDs are very inexpensive. If you don’t want to download Linux as a live CD / DVD, you can order one and have it mailed to any location on the planet for a very small amount of money. Just run your browser and do a search for “list of linux cds” or “list of linux dvds”.

Linux Tips: If you are going to buy a Linux live version and you have a DVD drive, get a Linux live DVD rather than a CD. A DVD holds about six times as much as a CD. Therefore, you’ll get lots (and lots) more Linux software programs on a DVD!

5. A Linux live CD can easily be removed and taken anywhere. Portable Linux!

6. You can save your work (data files) - if you get the right Linux live CD or DVD.

Linux Tips: Before getting a Linux live CD / DVD, do some research to make sure you can save your work. Some Linux live distros let you save your data and some don’t. For example, the Ubuntu Linux live CD allows you to save your work to a USB flash drive.

Linux Live CDs - Cons

1. Although booting from a Linux live CD / DVD is faster than doing a complete Linux installation, you still need to wait while your system boots from the live CD / DVD, every time your system starts. If you usually keep your system turned on, this isn’t an issue.

2. You may not be able to save your work. Some Linux live CD / DVD distros allow you to save your work and some don’t.

3. You need to boot from the Linux live CD / DVD every time your system starts. This may not be very convenient if you need to put other CDs or DVDs in the drive while running Linux “live”. Any time you need to put something in your drive, you have to remove the live CD / DVD. This also increases the likelihood that your live CD or DVD will become damaged.

Linux Tips: Keep a copy of your current Linux live CD handy in case your working copy becomes damaged.

Either way, installing Linux or using Linux live CDs (or Linux live DVDs), is an excellent way to get Linux training so you can learn how to use 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.