A little Linux goes a long way
Knowing the basics of Linux operating system will serve you well as a Bitcoin miner.
I was first introduced to Unix in the late 90s when I went to college for electronic engineering and computer science.
I still have the original UNIX book I learned from as a reference.
Linux is an open source operating system based on Unix invented by Linus Torvlads in 1991.
Popular Linux distributions today include Debian, Fedora Linux, and Ubuntu. You may have also heard of commercial distributions like Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise.
Linux has many uses. It's an operating system used on desktops, laptops, servers, mainframes, supercomputers, smart devices, embedded devices, gaming systems and more.
Google's Android OS is used on phones, tables, smart TVs, and in-vehicle navigation systems and is based of of Linux.
ASIC miners run Linux
Bitmain Antminers use a very bare-bones Linux OS as part of the firmware which includes software like CGMiner preinstalled.
The point is knowing a little bit of Linux will take you a long way and not just your Bitcoin mining Journey but overall understanding of the devices we use everyday.
Linux is not the easiest to learn because it requires understanding computers without the user interface and learning how to use the command line to control the devices it’s installed on.
Learning Linux takes a bit of time and patience but the rewards of knowing how to manipulate your computer with a few keystrokes is worth it.
I found the best way to learn is by doing and having a good guide along the way.
I learned using many books over the years and by just installing and following along on different tutorials to learn how different commands work and what I could do with them.
Linux Journey
I was introduced to this really great free resource for people looking to learn how to use Linux.
Linux Journey is free online training that explains Linux in a very easy to understand way that is not overwhelming and written in plain English that is easy to understand.
Like their website says you can “Learn the ways of Linux-fu, for free.”
What’s included in the training?
Training is broken down into levels starting with “Grasshopper” where you learned what Linux is, command line fundamentals, user management, processes and packages.
Once you learn these basics you can then jump into “The Journeyman” series which explores in more depth the Kernel, which is the most important part of Linux, the file system, devices and all the different programs that help with managing and monitoring your operating system.
What’s the training look like?
The user experience is done really well.
I like how you can see all of the topics to cover in a simple table of contents navigation on the left with the content you need to focus on in the middle with some exercises to complete after you learn on the right.
There is even a simple quiz to help test your understanding after each lesson.
I really like this training course and recommend it to any one looking to learn about Linux.
It’s easy to follow and covers all of the important subjects to give anyone reading a good foundation for using Linux.
It also serves as a great reference to bookmark in your browser so you can look up commands with the click of a mouse.
Website: linuxjourney.com
More Linux Books and Resources
The Linux Command Line, 2nd Edition: A Complete Introduction
The Linux Programming Interface: A Linux and UNIX System Programming Handbook
Linux Basics for Hackers: Getting Started with Networking, Scripting, and Security in Kali
Access the internet anonymously using this simple USB stick with Tails installed
Mastered Linux last summer and you are correct. It is definitely serving me well. Given the mainstream alterenatives, thank the universe we have Linux.