There's no such thing as a stupid question but....

[test]

Okay I am sort of confused with the terminology of Linux and Unix and such distros as Debian and Red Hat or Ubuntu. Do they work off of a Linux bases or what? If I read a Linux for dummies book can I apply what I learned from there to those distros? Can anyone please clarify the difference between this.

Thank you very much,

Test

p.s. I hope its not a stupid question :mbx:

[dawtcalm]

they're just different "flavors" of linux, the shell cmds are pretty much all the same. Because of soo many flavors most books will identify the cmds/shell procedures for several of the flavors...

[test]

they're just different "flavors" of linux, the shell cmds are pretty much all the same. Because of soo many flavors most books will identify the cmds/shell procedures for several of the flavors...

So basicly the core is the same but the difference would be the accessories and some commands. But learning from a 'LINUX FOR DUMMIES' book would cover the core commands that any linux distro would use, correct?

Also, what is the difference between Linux and Unix?

[ultrabuzz]

To answer your first question, I would soggest going to Google and typing:
define:Linux
.. in the search box. You'll get an idea of what it is and how it is built.

As for the Linux for Dummies book, virtually any info you'll get from it should apply to any Linux distribution/flavour you happen to choose. If for some reason it does not, you picked yourself a "broken" distro and should get another.

There are ofcourse distribution specific books but your Linux For Dummies should be a nice starting point.