Another great benefit of using Linux "live" CDs / DVDs is that they give you a chance to easily try out several Linux versions to see which one(s) you like best!

Linux Tips: Linux "live" CDs / DVDs are very inexpensive. And to get Linux "live" CDs or DVDs sent to you by mail (also very inexpensive), just do an Internet search for "linux live cd" and have a look at some of the sites that are selling Linux "live" CDs and DVDs.

For example, this Linux web site has a listing of lots of Linux "live" CDs and DVDs for sale.

You can also go to ubuntu.com (and click on "Get Ubuntu" at the top left) to get the VERY popular Ubuntu version of Linux mailed to you for free ! - yes ! - free ! (as of this writing). This free Ubuntu Linux CD works as both a "live" version and an "install" version of Linux.

You can also get General Linux Training and Ubuntu Linux training by watching free sample Ubuntu Linux videos here.

To learn more about using Linux "live" CDs / DVDs, have a look at these free Linux Training articles and these Linux articles at this site (I Learn Linux dot com).

If you have any questions about getting Linux up and running so you can work with it and get the Linux training you need, click on "Comment" and let me know.

An easy way to get Linux running so you can get Linux training is to boot with a Linux "live" CD or DVD.

Just set up your system to boot from its CD drive or DVD drive - and your system may already boot up this way - then put in the Linux "live" CD or DVD and boot!

The complete Linux OS (operating system) - including Linux, lots of Linux software programs and the Linux desktop - will boot and start from the CD / DVD. And at this point, you can see and work at the Linux desktop!

With this simple method, you can: work at the Linux desktop (just like the Windows desktop), run Linux software programs from menus and icons, and also do the steps to go to the Linux command line prompt so you can run Linux commands - and learn how to do Linux system administration.

Note: One of the great benefits of learning Linux by using a "live" CD / DVD is that you don't have to install Linux - on a new system - on a used system - on a Windows system - or on ANY system - to be able to run Linux.

If you have tried using a "live" version of Linux, which one would you recommend (just click on "Comment" below)?

Just download and install a Linux virtual machine "player" in Windows and then download a Linux virtual machine and put it in a folder in Windows.

To run Linux in Windows (the Linux virtual machine in Windows) , run the "player" program and then open the virtual machine that you downloaded.

You can click here to get a free 30 day evaluation copy of the VMware virtual machine player so you can download and install it in Windows. The link to lots of Linux virtual machines is further below.

A Brief Description of a Virtual Machine

A "virtual machine" is a "pre-installed" version of Linux that you can download into Windows, copy into a folder (in Windows) and then open in a virtual machine "player".

To create a virtual machine, someone does all the steps to install a version of Linux (such as Ubuntu, Red Hat, SUSE or ANY other version of Linux) and then puts all of it (all of the Linux OS files) into some files that you can download - so Linux is already installed for you!

Then you just download the files (as a single .zip file) and unzip them into a folder in Windows. And all of this is done without you having to install Linux in Windows!

Selecting a Virtual Machine to Try Several Versions of Linux

Once you've installed a virutal machine "player", trying out different versions of Linux is as easy as downloading a virtual machine - putting its files in a folder - running the "player" - and opening the virtual machine!

There are lots of free Linux virtual machines you can download and evaluate at the VMware web site.

Note: The VMware site refers to virtual machines as "virtual appliances".

For each virtual machine, you'll see the Linux version name and version number, as well as other specifications of the virtual machine.

Just choose a Linux version you're intested in and download it and try it out!

Linux Tips: You will need the password for the root (administrative user) for each Linux virtual machine that you download. This password will be shown at the site where you download the virtual machine. Be sure to make a note of this.

Click here to learn more about virtual machines and running Linux in Windows - in the free I Learn Linux Training articles at I Learn Linux dot com (this web site).

Of the Linux virtual machines you've tried out (like SUSE, Red Hat and Ubuntu) , which one(s) do you like the best?

Click on "Comment" below and tell me what you think!

This is an excellent way to get Linux running and work with it to get real practical Linux training - without having to install Linux!

To run Linux in Windows:you boot into Windows, run the virtual machine "player" program - in a window - in Windows.

And then you open a Linux virtual machine in the "player" program in the same way as your run a word processor (program) and open a letter.

You can click here to learn more about running Linux in Windows by reading the free I Learn Linux Training articles at I Learn Linux dot com (this web site).

This is a fast and (relatively) easy way to get Linux running in Windows without installing Linux on a "dual-boot" (Linux and Windows) computer - which can really cause problems with your Windows system if you decide to remove Linux from the system later.

You can click on this link to get a 30 day evaluation copy of VMware so you can try out a virtual machine player.

I'm always looking out for other virtual machine software, so if you know of any that works well, please click on the "Comment" link at the bottom and let me know!

My name is Clyde Boom and I've been teaching people how to use computer software programs and operating systems (such as Linux) for over twenty years.

Many people find Linux confusing and difficult to learn and I've spent a lot of time creating methods of describing how to use Linux in an easy-to-learn, friendly, non-technical manner - in Plain English!

The path to trying to understand something is often difficult to get across when you constantly come across words (such as technical Linux terms) that you don't understand.

Whenever a Linux technical term is used, you will either see a brief description of the term, or have a link to a description of the term.

For example, "a.k.a" (for also known as) will sometimes be used to describe a term like the "Linux command line prompt" (a.k.a. shell prompt, CLI, command line interface).

In the example above, the words: shell prompt, CLI and command line interface are all used to describe "Linux command line prompt".

In this blog category you will - Learn How to Use Linux to:

1. Get a version of Linux to work with - you can download Linux or order Linux for delivery
2. Get Linux up and running on your system - run Linux "live", install Linux or other methods
3. Learn how to use the Linux desktop - open, close and move between Linux program windows
4. Install Linux programs - various methods of downloading and installing Linux programs
5. Run Linux programs from the desktop - use program icons or select programs from menus
6. Get to the Linux Command Line Prompt (a.k.a. shell prompt, CLI, command line interface) to run Linux commands
7. Run Linux commands with lots of Linux command line options

We're excited about this blog and interested in your comments.

What do you need to learn the most about Linux? - Click below to leave us a comment!

Thanks!

Clyde