Learning a New OS... and Fast!?

Inexile2002 asks: "I've been asked to assist a consultant on a project using VMS and basically have four days to figure out enough that I'm actually of some use. (We're not doing development, just security reviews, so I'm not totally screwed.) Originally I was going to ask for advice on how to start teaching myself VMS from scratch including best books and support websites when I realized that there is a more generic issue here. What are people's thoughts on learning a new OS and learning it fast? Have people found optimal ways to pick things up quickly, get a familiarity with commands and underlying logic? How about learning the basics when you can't actually install and play with the OS in question?"

Comments

Rule #1

[The Bungi]

Attach yourself like a lamprey to an old fart that knows that stuff and don't let go.

Books will only go so far. Real-world experience is the only thing that counts.

Re:Rule #1

[NoMoreNicksLeft]

1) I was being sarcastic.
2) I respect the nuances and small details of security, even if I'm not an expert.
3) I'm not an expert, I'm at the lowest rungs of IT, and it's taken 3 years to get there.
4) I'm not some asshole faker posting to "ask slashdot" begging someone to help him look good.
5) I know VMS, if only as a hobbyist.

As for whether I could be replaced by a collection of shell scripts, I think you are going overkill. On most days, I could be replaced by a slightly trained chimp. Shell scripts could probably replace 10 of me.

If I meant anything at all by my previous post, it was that this jackass would probably laugh at me too, on any day other than the one he needed to use me to fake skills he doesn't have.

Re:Check out his email address

[bakes]

I wish underqualified people wouldn't apply for jobs they can't do. This screws everyone else, because they get them sometimes.

You've never worked for a consulting company. The original poster may have never applied for the job himself. He was 'asked to assist'.

I was often bid by my company for contracts in environments in which I had little or no experience. Usually the client knew this, and didn't care because you were (a) on a very low rate and (b) contributing other skills as well. Generally this situation applied to employees who were recent graduates and new to the workforce.

On the whole it worked well enough, except those times the marketing people put you in somewhere having described you as having 'guru' level status for some technology that you saw at a demo once. Bastards.