How difficult is it to learn unix?

Nexus · 7 Sep 2007 at 14:24

I've been offered a job that involves a lot of UNIX work and some scripting. I have never used UNIX before but I did a Science degree and that covered networking and some programming.

Maths isnt a strong poiny of mine.... but i gather this isnt really maths so much?

People ive spoken to who already do the job said that they had no experience with it when they started and do get given on the job training, but the first month is tough.

How hard is it to learn?
I'm trying to make my mind up if i want to take the job.

arachnoid · 7 Sep 2007 at 16:07

Are we talking about a science job using Unix as a tool here or Unix administration?

If it's the former you should be fine, they are not employing you for your unix skills, they are employing you for the science.

If it's the latter and you've been honest then they are looking for a trainee then that's cool.

If they are looking for a *nix admin and you've told them that you've got a full-on *nix skillset then run like hell.

My g/f works on unix coding fortran, i doubt she knows more than 10 unix shell commands but she works on Unix. The tools have been set up for years and she is just a user of those tools like the many other CS / Maths bods at her place of work.

Most higher level computing these days is a million miles from "Maths" assuming you mean arithmetic things. There will always be a need for boolean logic and if you're going to use databases some Group/Set theory comes in handy.

randal · 7 Sep 2007 at 16:09

Easy enough I guess, download something like Damn Small Linux or Fedora to get started. Stick it on spare disk and dual boot it. I found a good way of learn to pick a task in Windows, then work out how to do it in Linux. Don't fall for the GUI replacements, command line is the way.

IMO, once you've got basic file system commands (ls, cp, mv, df, du, format, fdisk etc..) out of the way then try and get your head around vi - the text editor. You'll need an understanding of all the aforementioned for scripting (and then some).

To be honest, you're going to get grilled in the interview about *nix/scripting so I'd have some pretty sharp answers ready for the interviewer lest not to fall down.

HTH
randal

SiriusB · 7 Sep 2007 at 16:24

Why don't you ask them what they expect?

If they say they want a pro then as said - run like hell. If not, go for it.

Vtec9k · 7 Sep 2007 at 16:53

Yea depends on what your doing for your job.

Using Linux as a desktop is easy. There's loads of guys at my work who run various geology type apps on Linux workstations and most of them use it just like windows, GUI and everything makes it pretty similar now. In fact with Outlook\Office\etc via Citrix it's almost exactly the same.

Admin side of things is a different ballgame. Talking about winbind\samba configs, backups, oracle or mysql DB's, small proccessing cluster.

randal · 7 Sep 2007 at 21:38

Vtec9k said:
Yea depends on what your doing for your job.

Using Linux as a desktop is easy. There's loads of guys at my work who run various geology type apps on Linux workstations and most of them use it just like windows, GUI and everything makes it pretty similar now. In fact with Outlook\Office\etc via Citrix it's almost exactly the same.

Admin side of things is a different ballgame. Talking about winbind\samba configs, backups, oracle or mysql DB's, small proccessing cluster.

Vtec9K... you don't work for a particular seismic exploration company in Aberdeen do you?

Una · 7 Sep 2007 at 23:10

He mentioned unix so those suggesting linux wont be of much help if he needs to know AIX/HPUX/Solaris or a proper UNIX specific stuff beyond the basic gnu/fileutils stuff. It just depends on what they expect out of you.

Vtec9k · 7 Sep 2007 at 23:44

hmm not sure if it's the one your thinking of, more a general consultancy. Drop me a note, details in trust.

GarethDW · 8 Sep 2007 at 11:44

Una said:
He mentioned unix so those suggesting linux wont be of much help if he needs to know AIX/HPUX/Solaris or a proper UNIX specific stuff beyond the basic gnu/fileutils stuff. It just depends on what they expect out of you.

More help than using anything from Microsoft though

My 2¢.... Unix is simple to learn but difficult to master. You could spend a couple of hours reading an introductory Unix book (do a Google for the "[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,*][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,*]The UNIX CD Bookshelf" ...the 6th or 7th link down is interesting, but I won't link to it directly as it's not very legal) which would give you enough of a grounding in Unix to be able to sail through an interview - unless, as already said, you're being interviewed for a SysAdmin role.[/FONT][/FONT]