If you are new to the world of Linux, there are a number of resources to explore and become familiar with. Having access to the Internet is helpful, but not essential.
The Linux Documentation Project is a group of volunteers who have worked to produce books (guides), HOWTO documents, and manpages on topics ranging from installation to kernel programming.
Linux Installation and Getting Started
By Matt Welsh, et al. This book describes how to obtain, install, and use Linux. It includes an introductory Unix tutorial and information on systems administration, the X Window System, and networking.
Linux System Administrators Guide
By Lars Wirzenius and Joanna Oja. This book is a guide to general Linux system administration and covers topics such as creating and configuring users, performing system backups, configuring of major software packages, and installing and upgrading software.
Linux System Adminstration Made Easy
By Steve Frampton. This book describes day-to-day administration and maintenance issues of relevance to Linux users.
Linux Programmers Guide
By B. Scott Burkett, Sven Goldt, John D. Harper, Sven van der Meer, and Matt Welsh. This book covers topics of interest to people who wish to develop application software for Linux.
The Linux Kernel
By David A. Rusling. This book provides an introduction to the Linux kernel, how it is constructed, and how it works. Take a tour of your kernel.
The Linux Kernel Module Programming Guide
By Ori Pomerantz. This guide explains how to write Linux kernel modules. This book also originated in the LDP. The text of the current version is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License, so it can be freely altered and distributed.
More manuals are in development. For more information about the LDP, consult their server at http://www.linuxdoc.org/ or one of its many mirrors.
The Linux HOWTOs are a comprehensive series of papers detailing various aspects of the systemsuch as how to install and configure the X Window System software, or write in assembly language programming under Linux. These are available online at one of the many Linux Documentation Project mirror sites (see next section). See the file
The Linux Frequently Asked Questions with Answers (FAQ) contains a wide assortment of questions and answers about the system. It is a must-read for all newcomers.
There are many Linux-based WWW sites available. The home site for the Linux Documentation Project can be accessed at http://www.tldp.org/.
Any additional information can probably be found with a quick Google search. It seems that almost everything has been tried and likely written up by someone in the Linux community.
A number of publishing companies and software vendors publish the works of the Linux Documentation Project. Two such vendors are Specialized Systems Consultants, Inc. (SSC) (http://www.ssc.com) and Linux Systems Labs (http://www.lsl.com). Both companies sell compendiums of Linux HOWTO documents and other Linux documentation in printed and bound form.
O''''Reilly Media publishes a series of Linux books. This one is a work of the Linux Documentation Project, but most have been authored independently:
Running Linux
An installation and user guide to the system describing how to get the most out of personal computing with Linux.
Linux Server Security
An excellent guide to configuring airtight Linux servers. Administrators who are building web servers or other bastion hosts should consider this book a great source of information.
Linux in a Nutshell
Another in the successful "in a Nutshell" series, this book focuses on providing a broad reference text for Linux.
Linux iptables Pocket Reference
A brief but complete compendium of features in the Linux firewall system.
Linux Journal and Linux Magazine are monthly magazines for the Linux community, written and published by a number of Linux activists. They contain articles ranging from novice questions and answers to kernel programming internals. Even if you have Usenet access, these magazines are a good way to stay in touch with the Linux community.
Linux Journal is the oldest magazine and is published by SSC, for which details were listed in the previous section. You can also find the magazine at http://www.linuxjournal.com/.
LinuxMagazine is a newer, independent publication. The home web site for the magazine is http://www.linuxmagazine.com/.
If you have access to Usenet news, the following Linux-related newsgroups are available:
comp.os.linux.announce
A moderated newsgroup containing announcements of new software, distributions, bug reports, and goings-on in the Linux community. All Linux users should read this group.
comp.os.linux.help
General questions and answers about installing or using Linux.
comp.os.linux.admin
Discussions relating to systems administration under Linux.
comp.os.linux.networking
Discussions relating to networking with Linux.
comp.os.linux.development
Discussions about developing the Linux kernel and system itself.
comp.os.linux.misc
A catch-all newsgroup for miscellaneous discussions that don''''t fall under the previous categories.
There are also several newsgroups devoted to Linux in languages other than English, such as fr.comp.os.linux in French and de.comp.os.linux in German.
There are a large number of specialist Linux mailing lists on which you will find many people willing to help with your questions.
The best-known of these is the Linux Kernel Mailing List. It''''s a very busy and dense mailing list, with an enormous volume of information posted daily. For more information, visit http://www.tux.org/lkml.
Many Linux User Groups around the world offer direct support to users, engaging in activities such as installation days, talks and seminars, demonstration nights, and other social events. Linux User Groups are a great way to meet other Linux users in your area. There are a number of published lists of Linux User Groups. One of the most comprehensive is Linux Users Groups Worldwide (http://lugww.counter.li.org/index.cms).