Linux Linux Linux,
Well I got an interview for an ISP not the conventional “help my internet doesnt work” ISP, more datacentre ISP. So yeah, after a lot of job hunting and looking at vacancies I have come to the conclusion that linux is really here to stay and its time to get stuck in. The company is a web hostings/colocation, managed exchange/sharepoint dedicated servers place. It does a whole host of other things but you get the idea.

As we all know LAMP ( Linux Apache Mysql PHP) kind of rules the internet hosting scene due to some of the following:
A) Cost – how can you say no to a free operating system thats both security hardened and powerful
B)Small Size – A typical linux installation has everything you need to get a server up and running, for the more technical people you dont even need a gui meaning that all your computing power is doing exactly the job its supposed to be doing.

C) Security – From the way I understand linux has the lower proportion of desktop user market share and although its growing its primarily the more technically switched on that are jumping aboard the linux train. Whys this good, well all the virus writers and credit card fraud/botnets are until current speaking primarily windows based attacks.

D) Open Source – Well name says it all, you can get as far under the hood as you desire and customise it completely to your needs, also means there a great community out there who can help you with any problems you might be having.

Anyways, on with the show. So basically, I had figured its time to learn linux, and well I toyed with the idea of versions and well settled on ubuntu server as an intro to it for it being a pretty lightweight o/s so i could get to grips with it pretty fast. Installed that with core options so that all i have was the server install and would go through and install LAMP,  phpmyadmin and everythign else from the command line. Whilst I do appreciate you can install the desktop ontop of the server I thought it best to get used to using the shell or command line or whatever you want to call it.

Vmware and and iso later and I had the ubuntu server setup, and regarding installs I have had before, that was up in less than 5 minutes, it was simple and easy to figure out.

Where I am at the moment: A default ubuntu server install, no GUI, no hard copy manuals. As such i’m relying on using google to get me through my first task. Installing LAMP and phpmyadmin.