universetoday - 7:07 am on May 12, 2007 (gmt 0)

I was in your position. My websites were getting so popular that I needed to move to a dedicated server, but not popular enough that I could afford a managed server.

I found a dedicated host that had a nice control panel that let me add users, domain names, etc, so I could do routine tasks.

Then you just learn the rest through Google. If you know how to connect through SSH, you'll be able to stumble your way through completing various tasks. Each task you complete adds a little more to your skill level.

There are terrifying times when you do something and Apache won't restart, but a good control panel will have scripts you run to rebuild Apache and get it working again.

The problem with books, or installing a local Linux environment is that you don't know where to start. There are just too many options, too many configurations, too much to learn. You feel like you're spinning your wheels.

What you might want to do is find a good host that will provide services on an hourly basis. If you bork your server, they can help you get it back running.

But there's nothing like a hangin' at dawn to focus a man's mind. Start down this road, and you'll learn Linux... and there's no greater power than knowledge and self reliance.