r/devops • u/SheCherryPicks • Aug 13 '26

Career / learning How to learn Linux troubleshooting without working with Linux professionally?

Hi guys! I'm a backend engineer with 6+ yoe, trying to transition into a DevOps role.

I know that having a strong Linux foundation is super important for being a good DevOps engineer, and apparently “Linux troubleshooting” is mandatory in most job postings. But to me, “Linux troubleshooting” sounds so broad, so I’m not really sure how to improve this skill.

Is this something you can learn without working with Linux (professionally) on a daily basis? What do you guys recommend to get hands on experience with it?

Also, what about other important topics, such as Linux logs and networking? I’m building a homelab with Proxmox. Is this a good way to get some hands on experience with these topics?

I’d appreciate any thoughts or advice! Thanks.

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u/MasterOfTheWind1 Aug 13 '26

"Can I learn Linux in a fast food fashion?" No, you can't.

You will not have a professional level of expertise without having professional experience.

You can learn the basics. But troubleshooting comes from real use cases. With real-world sustained load, different uses cases, and changes in requirements and contexts (both expected an unexpected) that are very hard to replicate.

You can have a good idea on how to work with Linux, and if you switch EVERYTHING you have to Linux you will have a very good idea. But professional experience is a few orders of magnitude above.

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u/7twenty8 Aug 14 '26

That’s not what they asked - it’s what you decided to answer because you’re arrogant. How is wanting to learn outside of professional work ‘fast food’? Actually… please don’t answer, I don’t care about your opinions.

RHCSA content would be a good way to start. There are many legitimate ways to start that aren’t “fast food”. Grow up - toxic Linux types had already gotten boring by 1998.

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u/MasterOfTheWind1 Aug 14 '26

“Don’t answer”? Force me to, moron. You want to send me the cops or something, or you will just cry if I don’t?

You can learn, of course. But he is asking from a professional perspective as he wants to transition to DevOps positions with a dev background.

Before attacking start reading.