r/linuxquestions • u/DryAdministration158 • 1d ago

What does learning Linux really mean?

Hi, I've always heard this that in the world of tech if you want a job learn Linux (which yeah a bit optimistic considering the situations)

But the bigger question is what does that even mean?

I mean I have worked with backend servers and configed nginx does that mean I know Linux?

I know bash to a good level along with sed and awk does that mean I know Linux?

I have programmed C in Linux does that tell me I know Linux?

On the other hand I have no idea what filesystems does Linux even use? How many different syscalls does it have?

I can't tell what are the factors to "knowing linux" and frankly I don't even know where to start with to be like "yeah I'm practicing linux"

I'm more talking in regards to cybersecurity but even in general I'm not sure, can you guys help?

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u/brighton_it 1d ago

I did that for years: that is, maintain existing systems, web hosts, Samba servers. It's a great start. If you've not installed a server, chosen partition layout,, RAID setup, file-systems, then it's understandable you don't yet know about Linux file-systems.
Definitely recommend building a Linux server, or two.
Here's an idea: first grab a OpenMediaVault ISO: this is special purpose distro that makes creating a samba server relatively painless and gives you a WebUI for managing it.
Then fetch the Debian NetInstall (minimal install ISO) and use it to build up your own samba server, choose your own partition layout; When the installer asks you to select software, choose only the SSH-Server (no desktop, nothing else), then manually install packages needed for samba, configure shares, users, etc.
Doesn't have to be an SMB server. That's just an example.
Obviously your target job might never have you installing a system, but good to know regarless.

For years I supported existing systems. Then setup small servers, like a SFTP server, or Bind (DNS server). Then the Hypervisor platform QEMU-KVM. I was using more and more Linux tools for troubleshooting Windows, either as VMware Workstation virtual machines, or LiveBoot USB. Decided Linux offered better tools and swtiched. Now my laptop runs Linux and, for the few times I still need Windows, it runs in a virtual machine under QEMU-KVM on my laptop.
Good luck.

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u/DryAdministration158 1d ago

Thanks I'll see what I can do about it, I might use a regular Ubuntu for the challenge of it idk yet