Re: No longer supporting Unixware / Open Server

From: Bill Vermillion (bv_at_wjv.comREMOVE)
Date: 01/31/04 

Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2004 16:25:00 GMT

In article <60bd4c6b.0401301940.7f76260a@posting.google.com>,
Brian K. White <brian@aljex.com> wrote:
>bv@wjv.comREMOVE (Bill Vermillion) wrote in message news:<HsBI93.1LGI@wjv.com>...

>> He's not doing them a dis-service if they want him to work for them
>> and he's not comfortable working in that environment. If the
>> customer wants Linux and he doesn't care to support it, he should
>> point them to someone who does.

>The problem usually comes from the customer already having someone
>they think they like who talks them into linux.

And the problem is often that the customer isn't knowledeable
enough to ask the correct questions. Having someone talk you into
linux is somewhat like having someone select your life-partner for
you. And from what I've observed, may *n*x business installations
last far longer than some marriages. Considering the amount of
money that can be involved installing a system in medium sized
company, it's often more expensive to divorce your computer than it
is your spouse. Yet the choice of the business tool often isn't
looked at that closely.

>So they are not looking for recommendations or support at first
>except for us to install our software on their new linux box.
>What happens is their linux guy turns out to be about exactly
>like the grocery-bagger-by-day "NT experts" I'm sure we've all
>encountered.

I did have to work with a real ex-bag-boy turned computer expert -
who did has a CS degree and was hired for that degree. Of course
the job he did there did not require a CS but would have been far
better served by an MBA. He gave up after 6 months of screwing
thing sup and went to work for a hardware vendor writing device
drivers - which was what he wanted to do and was well suited for.

>I end up having to "support linux" because by the time the
>customers gets hit with some problem it is too late for warnings
>and it is utterly unhelpful to say "Well I told you so", and they
>really just need their existing linux box made to work because
>they are hanging on a hook by then and it doesn't matter at that
>point that they made the hook themselves. Unless I actually think
>I wouldn't do a good job then I have to admin the box myself.

I'm supporting one like that myself. The former admin didn't have
a true handle on Linux but was really a very good Unix person and
from the scripts in the system would have been far more comfortable
as a Large System Admin. But large Unix system experience didn't
mesh to well in the Linux environment they had to manage.

I remember seeing one of the system that person admined. They put
Vaxen to shame in power and speed. And were one of the few systems
that could perform high end graphics before SGI got into the act.
The nickname on those machies was "The FireBreathers" and they
lived up to it until they were acquired and just went *poof* as
dragons are wont to do.

So part of making things work is having the proper mindset, just a
being an F1 driver is no the proper preparation for 1/4 mile dirt
track encounters.

Bill 

-- 
Bill Vermillion - bv @ wjv . com

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