Is NetWare the better OS, or is it NT, Linux or Unix, and if it is Unix--what flavor? Myself, I don't know that I have ever known the answer to that, each one has had it's place in a server room, some better suited than others, while others were shaped by what the accounting department and other department software packages dictate.

From these articles that I write, I receive a substantial amount of e-mail from computer and network people alike from around the world, and many times I'm surprised when I discover that the e-mail I just read was from someone where English wasn't their first language. Regardless of their nationality, they all seem to speak about just how disappointed they are with the Software Company of the operating system that they've dedicated their career to.

NT Admins say that they don't like how Microsoft turned their backs on them by retiring their certification, so that they can cash in on the next version of certifications. Novell Admins are afraid that they are administering a dinosaur and are going to be left behind, and there are Unix Admins that feel like all of their loyal efforts have gone commercial. I don't know if these companies simply forgot who's been supporting them all of these years, don't care or if their hands are tied by board members and stock shares. Whatever their reasons, they better be careful because Linux is starting to look a whole hell of lot better. This ugly little duckling, (or penguin) just found a new market, a bunch of NT, NetWare and Unix administrators that are tired of being used to sell product and certifications like Amway salespeople / customers.

I think that there have been so many of us, that chose an operating system based on how much money could be made administering it, we never anticipated that it might hurt our long term careers. The short-term achievements that were gained, might well disappear at the whim of a marketing department's next meeting. To me, it seems like these days, the only questions that software companies are asking us, are not how can we make your job easier, but instead, how can we make a product that is so career dependant that you couldn't possibility stop using it without ending your own career. We need an operating system that we can shape to our needs, not an OS that shapes us, and I think that Linux could just very well be the answer.

Every MCSE that sent me a letter last month, angry about their certifications being retired, ended their e-mail with a comment about buying Linux. Many of the e-mails that I received from CNE's expressed concern about where their careers were going and wondered if they were wrong for sticking it out for so long, but still refuse to kneel to NT. And of course, they all ranted something about how Microsoft was the evil empire and how Microsoft executives will be first ones against the wall once the revolution begins. People, lighten up here. Everyone knows that it will be Steve Jobs for creating a entire sub-culture of really weird artistic types that want to talk about why Macıs are so wonderful when they donıt even know the first thing about computers! Sorry, just had a flash back from when I worked at a university Anyways, getting back to it; the remaining letters were from Unix people explaining that everything was stolen from Unix, and once the revolution begins everyone that uses a backslash instead of a forward slash will be assimilated. Computer people aren't uptight, are they? But still, those that administer Unix were upset about how commercial and expensive Unix has gotten. (That paragraph is gonna cost me some e-mail.)

So it seems to me at least, that Linux has found it's place among those of us that went for the gold and now regret dancing with the devil. Now it's up to all the penguin headed programmers to bring it up to speed so that we can sell it to our companies. In the meanwhile, I'll continue struggling with all these books I bought about Linux and make my fingers quit hitting that bloody backslash key.
by Doug Chick
IT Director/Network Administrator
MCSE, CCNA

Still upset about Microsoft retiring my cert to cash in on the next wave of new certifications, I too accompanied all the administrators in my department, with touches in hand, and stormed off to the local software store to purchase ourselves some Linux. Upon arriving we found that there were a few to choose from, we chose Red hat and were on our way back to the office. Oddly enough, while we were there, I did notice that Windows 2000 was nowhere to be seen. There was one or two upgrade packs to Windows 98, but nothing else. I don't think I've ever been into a software store and didn't see Windows wallpapering the stands, what's up with that? Anyways, back to Linux.

One very nice benefit that I've noticed with using Linux is that you haven't sold your soul after your first install. No one dictates when and how you will use it. You may change any feature that doesn't work for you or your company, you can rewrite the entire program if it suits you, and you don't feel like your money has gone to support the evil empire. I've always been uncomfortable with the fact that my career has been so vendor specific. Whether it's NT, UNIX, or Netware, you become a decibel of the company, and you serve a master that answers to stockholders. To me, that means that decisions can be made to protect the stockholders that can radically affect your career. Ask a CNE what that means. Foolishly, there was a time that I turned away from Novell and towards NT because I thought Novell was too arrogant and needed a wake up call. Now I see the importance of being less product specific, and this time around I'm going to add a little diversity to my server rooms by including Linux and perhaps even Unix. I now believe that by adding a more mixed server environment, your career has a stronger chance of surviving any future corporate marketing blockades. For example, if Microsoft devalues you as an NT 4 administrator as an effort to market their next server version, you can fall back on Linux. The same would hold true with Netware and Solaris. I know that I can't be the only one tired of being used as a marketing tool.

As computer people, the market dictates our careers and what software we use. However, in most cases our companies use our recommendations to what software purchases will best suit their particular needs. We play a much larger role then the software companies will have you believe. I've turned around a 300,000 dollar purchase of software in a meeting one time because I thought that the software was to difficult to support, cost to much and I thought that the reason they tried to push it though without consulting my department in the first place was because they were hiding something. But I will save that story for another article titled; "Why the Vice President of Accounting Hates You." So you see, we play a monumental role in what software our company chooses.

You must be careful with Linux though, because the first time you mention that there are no license fee's they will want you to drop everything and begin migrating over. The plan truth is, Linux is not really ready to replace all of your network server and workstations. Until Linux can support the multitude of accounting and other programs that drive a company's backend, we are at the mercy of the giant corporation. There's also the argument about using Linux on the workstation for the end-users. Personally speaking, Linux may be a little too difficult for end-users to master. If it were up to me I'd remove all of their PC's and replace them with etch-a-sketches and call them laptops. At least that way the reboot would be easier.