Getting Started - Choose where to run your Linux and which Distribution to use
Motivation
If you really want to learn Linux you have to run it yourself and experiment with the commands presented here. So you need to get your Linux first. This is a bit of a chicken-and-egg type problem, since it would be good if you already know about Linux before you install it. Luckily most Linux distributions are easy to install with a menu that guides you through the installation process.
Still there are some topics that you should know about:
- Where could you run your Linux? and
- Which Linux Distribution to choose.
Where to run your Linux
If you do not have a Linux system yet, here are some options where you could install it:
- Where to run your Linux
- Use a live CD or USB Stick
- Most distributions offer versions of their Linux that you can try out without installing it. So called
live
versions. You need to put the image on a CD, DVD or USB-thumb drive and configure your PC to allow booting from these and then you can use a full Linux System without installing it. Good live systems are:- knoppix
- the mother of all live systems. based on debian - https://knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
- grml
- - live system form sysadmins as a repair tool https://grml.org/
- ubuntu live
- https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/try-ubuntu-before-you-install#1-getting-started
- tails
- the tool for the aspiring spy. Recommended by Edward Snowden - https://tails.boum.org/
- fedora live
- fedora is a free linux from redhat - where they try out things before they go into their redhat distribution - https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/quick-docs/creating-and-using-a-live-installation-image/index.html
- Old Laptop or Desktop PC
- Maybe you have an old PC that you do not use any more and that is not strong enough for windows. If you only want it as a server and you do not need any GUI it can be a really old system.
- Dual-booting your Desktop PC
- You can install Linux and Choose which OS you run at boot time. This is a bit more complicated because you need to take care that you do not over-write your existing OS here. If you have windows you can make space for Linux with the built-in Windows Partitioning tools. E.g. see: https://www.linuxtechi.com/dual-boot-windows-10-debian-10/ in any case: You should backup your data before you try this!
- Buy a Raspberry Pi
- For about €10 you get a Pi-Zero or about €40 a regular Pi. You will need a few cables and an SD card and you have a perfectly nice little Linux Systmes. There are a lot of distributions for Pi but the most commonly use is Raspbian which is based on debian. https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/
- Install it on a Virtual Maschine
- You can use a simulated computer to install your Linux in. These are available for Windows, Mac and Linux (if you want a different Linux inside your main install). There are different Virtualization Systems:
- qemu
- is free software: https://www.qemu.org/download/ https://www.qemu.org/
- virtualBox
- is also free but unfortunately controlled by oracle - https://www.virtualbox.org/
- vmware
- commercial product
