Where can I play around?

[MMiz]

So here's the story.

Ive been on shared hosting for three years or so. I have very very very limited knowledge of linux commands and server administration. I would have no clue how to shut down / restart a system. So I want to learn. Besides purchasing the books, where can I play around? Here are a few of the options Ive priced out, hopefully you can comment on them or add your own. Thanks :)

1. Rent a cheap $50 a month server.
- Im worried that if I need a restore or too many reboots Im going to end up costing myself a bit of money in the end.
2. Purchase my own mid-tower for $350 or so and have linux installed or install it myself.
3. Purchase one of those $400 1U machines that have been discussed recently on the "other forum." Not only would this have everything I would need, I can use it in the future too.

And are there any more ideas? Comments on what Ive already said? Thanks :)

-Matt

[interactive]

Just pick up like a 400mhz machine off of ebay for like $100. Go get the redhat bible. No sense in wasting money on a dedicated server if your just going to use it to play around on. If I were you and had the $400 I would get one of those 1u's (or just build one).

[Chicken]

Cheap options:

Buy junky, crappy, old 486 computer or similar cheap, seemingly outdated computer. Perfect for playing around.
Buy 2nd hdd or partition current one, and install linux on the second drive/partition and daul boot that bad boy.

If you get a 486, then you can basically beat it, break it, fix it, restore it, etc., without worrying about screwing up your other computer. My computer (actually a server) cost $500 new and can probably be found for less now if you don't want something quite as old as a 486 (want to use it for other things eventually).