Date: Tue, 16 Sep 1997 08:17:24 -0400 (EDT) From: Chuck Robey <chuckr@glue.umd.edu> To: Annelise Anderson <andrsn@andrsn.stanford.edu> Cc: Paul Griffith <paulg@interlog.com>, freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Advice Needed - Unix System Admin Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.3.96.970916080528.17586A-100000@Journey2.mat.net> In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.3.96.970915212917.21835A-100000@andrsn.stanford.edu>
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On Mon, 15 Sep 1997, Annelise Anderson wrote: > > > On Sun, 14 Sep 1997, Chuck Robey wrote: > > > There are very different flavors of Unix, that are fairly distinct. It's > > probably fair to say that the top level breakdown is between the AT&T SVR4 > > type, and the BSD4.4 type. You have to understand that they borrow from > > each other heavily, and often in the borrowing get things badly screwed > > up. > > > > There are a plethora of differences in other versions, but the largest > > differences are between those 2 I listed above, and previous versions of > > those systems. > > > > You _should_ learn at least one Unix from both of those categories, but do > > one at a time. Choose one to get reasonably good at, and don't move to > > another until you can do basic emergency recovery (playing with disks and > > mount tools and processes). Porting software is one hell of a good way to > > learn the programming differences, but probably not so good at teaching > > sys admin-ship. > > So, FreeBSD is a good choice for the BSD4.4 type, a point I have sometimes > made to computer science students. But what's a good SVR4 choice--any > free ones? Any versions of Linux that qualify? This is a somewhat "religious" type question, in that my answer is probably more my own opinion than a reliable statement of fact, but I will offer this: Linux is based largely on the SVR4 sematics, but with significant extensions. SCO Unix, which is a popular version, is likewise salted with various modifications. All these modifications reduce the coherence to a true SVR4 standard, but don't reduce their ability to provide a learning platform. Linux would be a good choice, with the proviso that an open attitude is kept on what is really SVR4, and what is extension. Summing up, I think Linux provides a good learning platform, but the student has to be cautioned about heavy reliance on some features that might not be universally available. I think things like not writing shell scripts in bash (prefer the more unversally available sh) would be an example. I'm not knocking bash, just noting it's not always available on a customer's machine, so it serves as a poor platform for portable scripts. ----------------------------+----------------------------------------------- Chuck Robey | Interests include any kind of voice or data chuckr@eng.umd.edu | communications topic, C programming, and Unix. 213 Lakeside Drive Apt T-1 | Greenbelt, MD 20770 | I run Journey2 and picnic, both FreeBSD (301) 220-2114 | version 3.0 current -- and great FUN! ----------------------------+-----------------------------------------------
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