Want to start with Linux...

I am skilled developer of shell scripting in the AIX platform. Very recently, I have replaced my old CPU with latest. As the old CPU do not have any value in the market, instead of letting it scap through, wondering, if I could use the same with installation of Linux OS, so I can try out Ubuntu, Office Star, MySQL & perl scripting.

Since I havent worked as AIX administrator, looking fwd for some starting point for setting up new Linux environment. Which sites I should frequent to, which books I should most refer to ?