The following will help you get started with Linux on the SCS Network. It will only describe the very basics. For an in-depth look at Linux, the internal workings, and how the operating system works see the O'Reilly set of books in particular 'Essential System Administration' by Aeleen Frisch.

Linux like windows has a window manager, your front end, the windows that you work with (SCS uses Gnome as the default window manager). Although GUI's are useful, and many tasks can now be done using GUI's, most of the work in Linux is done on the command line (essentially all work can be done on the command line). The terminal window is used to type command line arguments. For the Gnome window manager you have to access the menu (top left corner icon) and then select 'Accessories - Terminal'.