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linuxxx
7y

So I got the job. Here's a story, never let anyone stop you from accomplishing your dreams!

It all started in 2010. Windows just crashed unrecoverably for the 3rd time in two years. Back then I wasn't good with computers yet so we got our tech guy to look at it and he said: "either pay for a windows license again (we nearly spend 1K on licenses already) or try another operating system which is free: Ubuntu. If you don't like it anyways, we can always switch back to Windows!"

Oh well, fair enough, not much to lose, right! So we went with Ubuntu. Within about 2 hours I could find everything. From the software installer to OpenOffice, browsers, email things and so on. Also I already got the basics of the Linux terminal (bash in this case) like ls, cd, mkdir and a few more.

My parents found it very easy to work with as well so we decided to stick with it.

I already started to experiment with some html/css code because the thought of being able to write my own websites was awesome! Within about a week or so I figured out a simple html site.

Then I started to experiment more and more.

After about a year of trial and error (repeat about 1000+ times) I finally got my first Apache server setup on a VirtualBox running Ubuntu server. Damn, it felt awesome to see my own shit working!

From that moment on I continued to try everything I could with Linux because I found the principle that I basically could do everything I wanted (possible with software solutions) without any limitations (like with Windows/Mac) very fucking awesome. I owned the fucking system.

Then, after some years, I got my first shared hosting plan! It was awesome to see my own (with subdomain) website online, functioning very well!

I started to learn stuff like FTP, SSH and so on.

Went on with trial and error for a while and then the thought occured to me: what if I'd have a little server ONLINE which I could use myself to experiment around?

First rented VPS was there! Couldn't get enough of it and kept experimenting with server thingies, linux in general aaand so on.

Started learning about rsa key based login, firewalls (iptables), brute force prevention (fail2ban), vhosts (apache2 still), SSL (damn this was an interesting one, how the fuck do you do this yourself?!), PHP and many other things.

Then, after a while, the thought came to mind: what if I'd have a dedicated server!?!?!?!

I ordered my first fucking dedicated server. Damn, this was awesome! Already knew some stuff about defending myself from brute force bots and so on so it went pretty well.

Finally made the jump to NginX and CentOS!

Made multiple VPS's for shitloads of purposes and just to learn. Started working with reverse proxies (nginx), proxy servers, SSL for everything (because fuck basic http WITHOUT SSL), vhosts and so on.

Started with simple, one screen linux setup with ubuntu 10.04.

Running a five monitor setup now with many distro's, running about 20 servers with proxies/nginx/apache2/multiple db engines, as much security as I can integrate and this fucking passion just got me my first Linux job!

It's not just an operating system for me, it's a way of life. And with that I don't just mean the operating system, but also the idea behind it :).

undefined

my linux experience

linuxxx

linux

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  • 20
    7y
    Wow, your like a brother from another mother
  • 7
    7y
    @windlessuser Am I so much alike? :P
  • 10
    7y
    It is one of the best motivational story I have heard from one of Linux users in a long time. Kudos
  • 2
    7y
    Oh the joy of learning new stuff is always amazing!
    Happy to see this ending out the way you want it man, best of luck :)
  • 5
    7y
    "When I grow up, I wanna be like you!" :D

    Seriously, I'm following pretty much the same steps on my own. Currently messing with my first few vms, messing with webservers and SSL, and already planning on creating some infrastructure for a bigger project I'm working on.

    I feel like many programmers/devs/sysadmins (with a passion, not just people who happen to work in this industry) have walked a variation of this path, which makes it even more awesome :D
  • 3
    7y
    @linuxxx
    This is probably the most beautiful post I have ever seen from you, senpai 😢
    Linux is definitely life. Seriously this is inspirational as fuck.
  • 2
    7y
    @Linuxxx this is awesome. So glad you managed to get where you are ❤
  • 5
    7y
    @linuxxx *hugs you in open source*
  • 2
    7y
    @linuxxx that was inspiring! Even put a smile on my face.
    Keep going mate!

    Also please tell what servers are you running and what for? Just out of interest.
  • 2
    7y
    Sounds like me though I stayed on Windows 😂
  • 0
    7y
    Great post, just I don't really understand how could you paid 1k on licenses for Windows?

    Before Linux, I've always been using cracked Windows, but afaik didn't they (and still do) sold serial keys with CDs?

    Or you had such bad tech guy that fucked you up on every chance?
  • 4
    7y
    Their was this computer repair shop in my town around 10 years ago that fixed computers for a OK price, but the thing is peoples computers had problems every month or two, when my grandmas computer crashed and wouldn't boot again for the 5th time that year I decided to fix that shot myself, I was only a kid so it took me a long time but I finally found the problem, their was a program called centurycash.exe that would prevent the computer from booting every month or so, removing it from startup fixed it, so I was curious, I went to my aunts house who's computer also had same problem, sure enough their it was, removed or and computer fixed, I connected the dots and as a snotty little shot teen I tries to blackmail the shop into giving me money each month to keep my mouth shut, of course ingot ran out of the building but next week when I went back to try again it was closed down! Imagine that...
  • 2
    7y
    @myss The licenses cost about 350 back then. 3 times 350 == you get eve point :)
  • 1
    7y
    That's how far passion gets you! I'm not much of a linux guy. I mean I'm using it but I'm far from using it with all of its functionality. Still I can relate with programming. What started with a "what if" after playing TIS-100 now is an ideal and a goal for me. I can't stop.
  • 1
    7y
    @Noob One dedicated with at least (out of my head and I mean vps's on that dedi): OpenVPN, 2-3 hosting vps's, 6 application servers, few specific ones for projects, few for friends.
    VPS's (other providers): email server, (still building) multimedia server :)
  • 0
    7y
    @linuxxx You got your own tutanota server ain't you?

    Also be more specific about the servers if this isn't too private. Maybe I'll draw some ideas.
  • 0
    7y
    @Noob Nope, their backend is not public. And can't be much more specific as I don't know much more than this :)
  • 1
    7y
    @myss Actually he was a really good guy haha. He is also the one who got me into Linux finally!
  • 1
    7y
    Holy fuck,
    After reading this entire post, I thought it would be awesome if the author is Linux.

    And then I scrolled up and guess what? Yep, it's you linuxxxx :-P
  • 0
    7y
    Man this is so inspirational. Wish I will be like you someday
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