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Learn Linux the Right Way — Book Introduction

A modern, hands-on guide to Linux for self‑learners, students, and working engineers.

Learn Linux the Right Way is a complete, practice‑first textbook that takes you from zero to confident day‑to‑day operations on modern Linux. Written for clarity and momentum, it pairs step‑by‑step labs with clean explanations so you build real skills as you read.

What you will learn​

  • The Linux fundamentals you actually use: users and permissions, filesystems, processes, networking, storage, and systemd
  • How to deploy and manage core network services: web, FTP, DNS, mail with Postfix/Dovecot, and database with MariaDB/MySQL
  • Practical automation with Ansible: inventories, ad‑hoc commands, playbooks, roles, and Vault
  • Real shared storage and provisioning: iSCSI, RAID/LVM, and PXE + Kickstart for unattended installs
  • A full production‑style project: the LNMP stack (Linux + Nginx + MySQL + PHP) with WordPress to validate the environment end‑to‑end

Every chapter includes diagrams, copy‑and‑paste command examples, and short review questions to check understanding.

How this book teaches​

  • Project‑based labs
    Each chapter closes with a concrete task you can complete: configure a mail server, stand up iSCSI, automate a role, deploy WordPress. You leave with working systems, not just theory.

  • One path, one platform
    Examples target Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 so newcomers don’t get lost in distro differences. The skills transfer cleanly to CentOS Stream, Rocky Linux, Fedora, Debian, and Ubuntu.

  • Production‑grade defaults
    Commands and configs reflect how you would do the job at work: service units, SELinux/Firewalld notes, persistent settings, and rollback steps when they matter.

  • Respect for your time
    Explanations are concise, with just enough background to make the commands make sense. No filler, no detours.

What is new in this edition​

  • Updated for RHEL 10 and current toolchains
  • Expanded automation centered on Ansible (aligned with modern RHCE exams)
  • Fresh, fully tested labs for Postfix/Dovecot, BIND, iSCSI, PXE + Kickstart, and LNMP
  • Streamlined walkthroughs, clearer diagrams, and lab checklists for faster progress

Who this book is for​

  • Self‑taught learners who want a structured, no‑nonsense path to practical Linux skills
  • Students preparing for RHCSA/RHCE who prefer doing to memorizing
  • Developers and DevOps/ops engineers who need a reliable Linux reference to get things working on real servers

Companion website and resources​

  • Read the full book online free of charge, with timely updates and errata
  • Download matching system images and tools to recreate the author’s lab environment in minutes
  • Access chapter‑by‑chapter code, configuration snippets, and checklists for quick reuse

Outcomes you can expect​

By the final chapters you will be able to:

  • Install, secure, and manage Linux servers with confidence
  • Configure and troubleshoot the services most teams rely on
  • Automate repeatable work with Ansible across many hosts
  • Provision machines in bulk with PXE + Kickstart
  • Ship a working site on an LNMP stack and keep it healthy

About the author​

Liu Chuan is a long‑time Linux practitioner and educator. He holds multiple RHCE certifications (versions 6 through 10) and RHCA, and has taught Linux to hundreds of thousands of learners through books and online courses. His goal with this series is simple: remove friction, respect the reader’s time, and help more people master Linux the right way.

If you learn best by building, this book is for you. Open the first chapter, start the lab, and keep going—one clear step at a time.