My current role at work is 3rd Line Wintel Support & in my current role there isn't anything more I can do and I'm getting bored.

A collegue in our Unix team started to show me the basics to AIX last week and I quite enjoyed it , I'm going to partition my laptop disk so I can dual boot Win7 and a flavour of Linux, as there are so many different flavours of Linux which is the best to use as a home user desktop? Fedora/Centos/Ubuntu/Open Suse etc etc

Many Thanks

Matthew

I quite like Mint (a version of Ubuntu) as it's quite Windows-y in its apperance and easier to use if you're new too it IMO. Although I doubt that's a huge issue for you given your job. It has most stuff you'll need daily pre-instaleed too which makes life easier.

Personally I don't like where Ubuntus interface is going, hence my staying away from it.

I'm just backing up the laptop now - downloaded Kubuntu 11.04 - Kubuntu is Ubuntu with KDE 4.

Ubuntu is a Linux release based on Debian, it's completely free and you can get 32 and 64 bit versions.

Unless you need all the processing speed you can out of an OS, I'd go for booting a single primary OS, and then running a secondary OS in a Virtual Machine.

This time tomorrow, I should have Kubuntu as my primary and Win 7 Home running virtually (Only reason I need this is for work, being a .NET developer and all)

If you prefer Gnome over KDE, go for the original Ubuntu, or there are a variety of other releases

I have a HP 6735S - I'll let you know what works right out of the bag, and what needs some tinkering with.

Good luck though with your Linux adventures - I got into Linux at University and love it.

OK, next question

What are the pro's/con's of Gnome / KDE

Well - I formatted the hard disk and installed Kubuntu 11.04.

So far everything has worked right out of the bag.

just a few steps on installation (Disk partition, user management, time zone, etc) and it was installed in less than 10 mins.

First thing first, connect it to the wireless - Just as easy (if not easier than) Windows - same procedure, click on the WiFi icon on the system tray and select SCAN. Select the network and click OK, enter password and bingo I'm online.

Whereas you can only add Widgets to the desktop in Windows - you can add them to the taskbar (known as a panel), add more panels, etc.

If anyone else uses Linux, and has any tips / apps worth their weight in gold - share the knowledge.

OK, next question

What are the pro's/con's of Gnome / KDE

,

Personal choice really - both have graphical interfaces (there are lots more as well - but these 2 are the most popular).

There is nothing stopping you from adding both to your installation and then trying them (individually),

Out of the box, Gnome is more like Apple Mac (bar across the top, etc) whereas KDE is more like Windows (bar across the bottom, start button, task bar, etc). Both are highly configurable,

I tried GNOME but found the applications available exclusively to it to be a little basic, whereas the applications for KDE seemed more feature rich.

If you install a couple of Virtual Machines on your Windows PC (one with GNOME / Ubuntu, and one with KDE / Kubuntu) and try them side by side. What do you have to loose?

Metasploit

Nessus

John the ripper

Cain and Able

Snort

Airsnort

The Seuth kit & Autopsy

Backtrack and Knoppix are interesting distros you can run from disk.

Good for keeping fellow workers on their toes

,

If you install a couple of Virtual Machines on your Windows PC (one with GNOME / Ubuntu, and one with KDE / Kubuntu) and try them side by side. What do you have to loose?

I have Ubuntu 11.04 & Fedora installed into VMWare this morning and just looking at what is available in each one and will be seeing what is available for my day to day running (VMWare Client/VMWare Server/Remote Desktop etc etc)

This is currently being posted from Ubuntu

Metasploit

Nessus

John the ripper

Cain and Able

Snort

Airsnort

The Seuth kit & Autopsy

Backtrack and Knoppix are interesting distros you can run from disk.

Good for keeping fellow workers on their toes

I've got a copy of Knoppix from disk already and have been looking at using it as a support tool.

So far Ubuntu is my favourite although the closing of windows in the top left corner keeps throwing me

You might like Fedora better, and tbh you might find it a more useful distro to be familiar with for enterprise.

If you're getting into Linux and virtualisation I'd suggest boning up on Citrix XEN

We had a guy here who made quite a lucrative move after getting familiar with both Citrix and XEN.

Lots of companies are using XEN and a Linux based XP look-a-like desktop for their remote access solutions because it removes the expensive licensing issues you run into with Microsoft (MS like to charge twice when you remote desktop).

You might like Fedora better, and tbh you might find it a more useful distro to be familiar with for enterprise.

If you're getting into Linux and virtualisation I'd suggest boning up on Citrix XEN

We had a guy here who made quite a lucrative move after getting familiar with both Citrix and XEN.

Lots of companies are using XEN and a Linux based XP look-a-like desktop for their remote access solutions because it removes the expensive licensing issues you run into with Microsoft (MS like to charge twice when you remote desktop).

My only issue is gaining on the job experience, although we use Citrix and provide Citrix solutions to our clients our team's don't support Citrix, we only support the Operating Systems/Hardware and ESX.

I'm also trying to pursuade my employer into going half's on the VCP certification but I would have more luck getting blood out of a stone

I'm just backing up the laptop now - downloaded Kubuntu 11.04 - Kubuntu is Ubuntu with KDE 4.

Ubuntu is a Linux release based on Debian, it's completely free and you can get 32 and 64 bit versions.

Unless you need all the processing speed you can out of an OS, I'd go for booting a single primary OS, and then running a secondary OS in a Virtual Machine.

This time tomorrow, I should have Kubuntu as my primary and Win 7 Home running virtually (Only reason I need this is for work, being a .NET developer and all)

If you prefer Gnome over KDE, go for the original Ubuntu, or there are a variety of other releases

I have a HP 6735S - I'll let you know what works right out of the bag, and what needs some tinkering with.

Good luck though with your Linux adventures - I got into Linux at University and love it.

I know this is a a bit late - but got lost in all the goodness that is Ubuntu.

Well - I did it.. I ditched Windows and went with Ubuntu (running Gnome) 11.04.

To be honest, I was surprised.. After going with Windows / MS for so long I was shocked that some stuff just worked right out of the bag whereas Windows would need me to find a CD / download drivers..

e.g. Once installed, and rebooted at least once, I got a message on the title bar (equiv to the system tray) which informed me I "should" update video drivers.. so I did and they work a treat.

EVERYTHING else (DVD, WebCam, Wifi, Modem) all worked with nothing needed (OK, I don't actually use the modem).

After some playing - I've come to the conclusion that, even though this OS is not part of a long term strategy - it's still cleaner and works better and faster than Windows.

I don't have any timings to hand - but I'm pretty sure timings on fresh install's were as follows:

Stratup - Windows - approx 60 seconds

Startup - Ubutnu - < 10 seconds.

Shutdown - Windows - 30 - 40 seconds

Shutdown - Ubuntu - < 10 seconds

Hibernate - Windows - > 60 seconds

Hibernate - Ubuntu - 20 seconds

The sheer speed of the system is devastating - I thought it was fast when I wiped the OS and moved from Vista (pre-installed on laptop) to Windows 7 - but this is blisteringly fast.

As I still need Windows for work (Microsoft Developer - I know.... I see the irony), I thought I'd play with Wine last night.. this is pretty good as an old Windows games environment..

I might have some old Tomb Raider or Age Of Empires (I said OLD) CD's in the loft - will dig them out and see if they play,

I know the hardware won't run the latest and greatest as it's 18 months old now, but I don't get much time to play games anyway.

So far the only issue I've had was there is a bug in the sound card system - if you plug headphones in the speakers don't mute, I found this out as SWMBO was watching Eastenders and I was kicking the crud out some bad guys on a flash game - but this was resolved in about 10 mins with the aid of some Ubuntu searching. Turns out there is 1 line missing from a configuration file - add this and reboot / restart the ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) system and it's working a treat.

I'm now looking for things it can't do, just to compare it against Windows.

Linux has always been a bit behind the times with soundcards. Ended up getting a old SB PCI soundcard in the end as Ubuntu 9.1 would not support the Audigy I had properly on 64 bit. Writing this on my ML115 server running 10.10 on a RAID10 array. It'll run Windows 7, Centos 5.4 and Solaris 10 U9 at the same quite nicely on the 42 inch monitor that is my TV. Check out VirtualBox from Oracle- lovely free type 2 VM platform I have used for years.

Time for an update..

As of Monday I will now be working in the Unix team doing Solaris Support

All I need todo now is look at Solaris over my days off as I've never seen/used it before

Matthew

Time for an update..

As of Monday I will now be working in the Unix team doing Solaris Support

All I need todo now is look at Solaris over my days off as I've never seen/used it before

Matthew

I know Oracle used to do an Open Solaris - free download version, but axed it

You could always try http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/server-storage/solaris/downloads/index.html

Great news - and good luck in your new role.

You need to grow a beard now. Compulsory with a Unix job. Because you're dealing with Solaris it needs to be a wild bushy one. Sorry that's the law.

Time for an update..

As of Monday I will now be working in the Unix team doing Solaris Support

All I need todo now is look at Solaris over my days off as I've never seen/used it before

Matthew

Well done. Solaris is still where the money is. I have been a Solaris Sysadmin for 11 years including a couple of years contracting for Sun. I have only 2 gray hairs so far and am clean shaven (most days). Don't bother with OpenSolaris. It's for beards and is getting binned. Solaris 10 will continue until the end of year and from what I hear from Oracle, will change dramatically, becoming much more like Linux.

You can still get Solaris 10 direct from Oracle "Free". I quote this because Oracle changed the rules so you can only evaluate it for 90 days, then your suppose to buy a support agreement, otherwise your license expires. If your stuck, PM me and I'll burn you a Sun era x86 copy of Solaris 10 along with a few useful links to help you on your way....

Solaris 10 will continue until the end of year and from what I hear from Oracle, will change dramatically, becoming much more like Linux.

That's a little harsh

I know Oracle used to do an Open Solaris - free download version, but axed it

You could always try http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/server-storage/solaris/downloads/index.html

Great news - and good luck in your new role.

You can still get Open Solaris9, we currently have a mix of 9 & 10 (so I'm told)

You need to grow a beard now. Compulsory with a Unix job. Because you're dealing with Solaris it needs to be a wild bushy one. Sorry that's the law.

lol.. I think SWMBO might have something to say about that, there also seems to be a mixture of haircut choice too on our shifts, its either Bald or Long hair in a pony tail very stereo typical but they all have a beard of some sort too

Well done. Solaris is still where the money is. I have been a Solaris Sysadmin for 11 years including a couple of years contracting for Sun. I have only 2 gray hairs so far and am clean shaven (most days). Don't bother with OpenSolaris. It's for beards and is getting binned. Solaris 10 will continue until the end of year and from what I hear from Oracle, will change dramatically, becoming much more like Linux.

You can still get Solaris 10 direct from Oracle "Free". I quote this because Oracle changed the rules so you can only evaluate it for 90 days, then your suppose to buy a support agreement, otherwise your license expires. If your stuck, PM me and I'll burn you a Sun era x86 copy of Solaris 10 along with a few useful links to help you on your way....

PM'd

PM'd back

1 week in and I've been changing file permissions/resetting password (with expiry dates) & creating ZFS folders and setting quota's, I've also been learning how to check for free disk space as volumes fill up and checking CPU resources.

All in all not bad for a 1st weeks work.