Windows Gave Me Brain Damage

[beerman]

Well..not really but I do feel like it has limited anything else I can do with technology. I'm running a basic kubuntu/ubuntu file server and my main machine is an XP / Ubuntu dual boot machine (I keep windows around for gaming). Lately, I've been frustrated whenever I try to do anything "complicated" with linux and find myself hiding behind Windows because its what I know. Right now I feel frustrated and overwhelmed trying to get a home Imap server configured for the sole purpose of downloading my Gmail messages and storing them in an Imap mailbox so I don't lose mail when I play with different mail apps. Part of me wants to press on but part of me wants to give up and try whenever I get bored again. I follow a lot of how-tos on the subject but I really don't have an understanding of Postfix, Courier, and/or Mysql so I can get what I want done. I also don't feel comfortable just reading off a Howto without actually learning something or trying to adapt it as most configure the server to host all of your email, not fetch from another server.

I know my post is long and rambling but my eyes hurt, my brain is full right now and i'm just looking for some tips for a Windows drone to break the shackles of M$ and start heading into a complete Linux life. I'm already starting classes for my L+ cert as I can do a lot that covered by that test and wanna move on to server administration.

Thanks for reading :cool:

[leonpmu]

Sorry dude, but we can't help you when you are not being specific on your problem...

[beerman]

No no, its cool. I typed that completely wrong. I'm receiving the help I need, I think its an issue of not understanding a bit of it, lol. I followed the how-to exactly but it doesn't accomplish exactly what I need. I'm just getting frustrated at the process because I feel like a lesser tech for "not getting it".

I should probably be patient and read up on postfix, courier, and a few IMAP servers and gain a basic understanding so I know how to configure them a special way. I just really needed to vent and remember it takes time to learn this stuff and I'm not born with all of the knowledge. My world has been shattered :p

[leonpmu]

The trick is to sometimes literally walk away from your box for a while, get some fesh air, and then go back to it, it helps...

[cybertron]

The trick is to sometimes literally walk away from your box for a while, get some fesh air, and then go back to it, it helps...
Words of wisdom. :)

[mrrangerman43]

I know just how you feel, just this morning I was thinking " am I ever going to learn this stuff". Then I got an idea, I wondered what it must have been like for some of the moderators, when they first started, so I picked one and went back and looked at some of his first posts. There is HOPE for me yet, I'm sure that everyone goes through the same thing learning linux, though some may learn faster than others. Maybe one day something will just click and all the peaces of the puzzle will come together. Though I don't think I will ever learn all there is to learn about linux, maybe just enough to help others the way others before me have been helping me.

Dan

[beerman]

I know just how you feel, just this morning I was thinking " am I ever going to learn this stuff". Then I got an idea, I wondered what it must have been like for some of the moderators, when they first started, so I picked one and went back and looked at some of his first posts. There is HOPE for me yet, I'm sure that everyone goes through the same thing learning linux, though some may learn faster than others. Maybe one day something will just click and all the peaces of the puzzle will come together. Though I don't think I will ever learn all there is to learn about linux, maybe just enough to help others the way others before me have been helping me.

Dan


You bring up a good point, I never thought I could setup a kick a$$ Linux desktop with any distro much less Gentoo. With a little help from this forum and some howtos, I was able to build a desktop that can do everything I need it to do and be faster, prettier, and more importantly, more open. I just need to hang in there, learn a little bit at a time and see if work will pay for my schoolin' for Comptia L+ and some UNIX/LINUX admin stuff.

Thanks for the feedback guys and gals!

[bazoukas]

Stick with it and you will learn it. It will start making sense if you play with it all the time.

What I STRONGLY suggest is to install a linux distro and an emulator such as Vmware. In it install the same distro you have in your computer or/and test another one.
Play around with it as much as you want since vmware provides resotre points and you can always roll back to a good previous state. The program is solid as hell.

Once you see that you got it right in your virtual linux distro, then do the changes to your distro installed in your computer.


And if you get fed up with a linux distro, just walk away from it and come back. It may be few hours or few days and even maybe few weeks.

People think that linux users are uber smart. No we are not. Most of us are regular joe smos that took the time to learn it. Most of us are not "wonder kids" as people say.
Then again being smart I guess has to do with being methodical.