Some helpful starting points: Learn about the Unix Way: http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?UnixWay http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?UnixWay Learn about crufty neckbeard stuff: http

Some helpful starting points: Learn about the Unix Way: http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?UnixWay http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?UnixWay Learn about crufty neckbeard stuff: http://doc.cat-v.org/programming/ http://doc.cat-v.org/programming/ (cat-v has all kinds of interesting things) Learn C: http://c.learncodethehardway.org/book/ http://c.learncodethehardway.org/book/ No, really, learn C: http://www.amazon.com/C-Programming-Language-2nd-Edition/dp/0131103628 http://www.amazon.com/C-Programming-Language-2nd-Edition/dp/... Learn about networking with sockets: http://www.beej.us/guide/bgnet/ http://www.beej.us/guide/bgnet/ (it's in C, but the principles are in other language bindings as well) Devops/sysadminning is mostly just damned superstition and voodoo and hard-fought experience...that said, consult notes from others: http://users.cis.fiu.edu/~tho01/psg/ http://users.cis.fiu.edu/~tho01/psg/ ~ If you want more hands-on experience, setup a VPS and make something: http://feross.org/how-to-setup-your-linode/ http://feross.org/how-to-setup-your-linode/ If you find stuff in there you don't understand, ask your devs for help.