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Moving from Linux to Windows Desktop?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the mitigating-the-pain dept.

slyall asks: "I work in the Network/System Admin team for an ISP. Our firm was recently bought by another company that has mandated that my team's desktops be switched over from Linux to Windows XP in the next few weeks. Some of us are have used Linux almost exclusively and going to Windows is a big change. Can people suggest any tips, books or websites to help Linux people shoved into the Windows world (especially those running lots of Linux and Cisco boxes)? We've all got years of experience on Linux but running Windows day to day is a big challenge. We don't yet know if the company will provide us with tools such as Cygwin or Windows Services for UNIX but we won't be allowed to install random programs and may not have admin access. We're not happy with the change but we're unable to stop it. What we are hoping to do is reduce the performance hit that the changeover is going to cause." This is probably one of those situations where a LiveCD-based distribution, for use in an emergency, might help.

2 of 167 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Quit. by desau · · Score: 5, Interesting

    That was exactly going to be my recommendation. At a previous employment, I was faced with a very similar situation. It took me a few days but I came to the decision that I would not continue to work in such an environment. The next day I told my manager that if I was forced to use an OS which limits my abilities as an employee, I would no longer continue my position. He was surprised and amazed, but took it seriously -- my coworkers and I were allowed to keep our environments.

    I eventually left for other reasons. Quitting is always an option. It probably won't net you the same outcome, but I would never stay at such a blinded company.

  2. Windows Tools by JLester · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I haven't made a change from Linux to Windows, but here is what I use to admin all our linux boxes and network equipment:
    • SSH for Windows - works great for terminal access and secure file transfers.
    • Teraterm - network device access via either telnet or serial port. There is an SSH add-on, but I prefer the "real" SSH client above.
    • TightVNC - for your Windows boxes
    • Superscan - great port scanner and all around TCP/IP utility
    • Cygwin - for all your real *nix shell and utility needs
    Those are the ones I use most of the time. I have them on my main computer at work, my home computer, and the laptop I keep in my work van.

    Jason

    --
    "FORMAT C:" - Kills bugs dead!