Buying Unix?

BarefootClown asks: "I'm currently the sysadmin for the University of Oklahoma Aviation Department. (I know the website looks horrible, it's being redesigned right now by somebody with talent.) Our systems here include two Intel-based servers, one running Windows 2000, one running Linux. The webserver is running on the Linux box. We need a new server, as the old one is about to die (I've lost two of the six hard drives, only one of the two processors is working, and it's just old--we got it second-hand). My boss has been very indulgent in letting me put Linux on a few boxes here, including the webserver, and a couple of web-only terminals (weather/flight planning stations), but he's expressed concern that, if I were to leave my job for some reason, having *nix machines would leave the department unsupported, and out of luck if problems were to occur. Our official departmental (one level up) support channel doesn't support Unix (he didn't support Windows 2000 until the end of last year...), though I might be able to talk to Campus support. This is all becoming a concern because I want to replace the dying box with a Sun NetraX1, which (obviously) doesn't even have the option of running Windows. Any suggestions on how I can convince my boss that it's worth doing? The price on that box is fabulous, at just a bit over a thousand (US) dollars out the door. The nearest PC/Linux box from Dell is about $1400. It seems to me that I know enough *nix people on campus who are looking for jobs that he wouldn't have trouble finding support if I were to leave. How do I convince him that Unix isn't that big of a risk?"

Comments

Groom a replacement before you leave

[nelsonal]

If you can convince him that you will have an equally capable replacement, I would guess that it would reduce his fears. Not knowing much about unix I would be concerned if I had to find a good unix admin myself.

Things I would stress.

[Neck_of_the_Woods]

Go ahead and give him the "Linux/Unix" why it is better speach. I am sure you will hear it at least once. Push all the FUD aside that you will get and you are left with just a couple real reasons.

#1. The fact that it is harder to understand is going to give you at least someone that is "interested" in unix and making it work right. Everyone thinks they are a microsoft admin, but when it breaks they turn into a user real quick.

#2. Academia is one of the best places to find an up and coming unix guy, and you don't have to pay them much.

#3. You don't get everything under the sun installed as default. It tends to be a more secure box out of the cardboard it was shiped in.

#4. I would say from my exp. that once it is up and running, locked down, and doing it's job there is much less "Could you come in a reboot this for me".

#5. You have something that is yours(ie the departments), the guy above you that did not want to support it will keep his hands out of it.

#6. It is a much better learning tool for the people using it. They get broad exposer to things "not microsoft".

#7. You learn fundamentals, not point and click.

#8. Open Source, no purchases. Every manager loves that one.

#9. I would go ahead and introduce him to other places that are using unix in your field. This loosens them up a bit.

#10. Find some things that will help him with problems he has now that are open source. Get them running on the linux boxes and give a little show. This is free on unix!

-- Don't be pushing, there are many things that windows does well. Period. Find the things that unix does well, and show them how you can make them happen for less.

It is about money, don't be fouled. That worry about support is also about money. Show him there are many people on campus that when you move on you personally will make sure that you fill your own shoes as you leave. Take the presure off him about finding a replacement. Hell make it part of your jobs description. Your not going to be there forever, so look at it this way. You can put that on your resume, for a short time you would have had to manage and train someone. That looks good to anyone.

Good luck.

macintoshes

[trainedCodeMonkey]

Get A G4 with osX server. 1)It's unix, 2)it's user-friendly apple 3)you get support from apple

Re:Not a good idea.

[zangdesign]

I'd say a University academic department qualifies an organization with a severely constrained budget.