And if linux switched place with windows in terms of popularity, what do you think would happen?
This may come as a big shock, but Linux is already a significant target for attacks, and compared to Windows any exploits get patched extremely fast (days if not hours, compared to months for Windows).
One significant difference is software like AppArmor and SELINUX (may it burn in the fiery pits of hell) does a lot more proactive defensive work underneath to ensure applications are only doing what they're supposed to. Windows
still sets up users as Administrators by default, which is just such a horrendous idea it's unbelievable that MS have yet to move away from it.
That's because windows is used more... there's lots of people who do the courses and such, less people use linux, therefore paid more, no?
I'd disagree. The problem is because there is a GUI for Windows its very easy to bluff being a windows sysadmin. Hell I've done it, relying on my grasp of Windows desktop to fudge over my lack of skills. Sadly, far too many people administer Windows servers that really ought not to. Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should or that you have the knowledge and skill sets to use it effectively.
Decent Windows Sysadmins earn as much as decent Linux ones, particularly inside service industries like hosting companies.
Whilst it hinders the popularity of Linux. I consider it a huge positive that you really do
need to use the command line to configure applications on *Nix boxes. The difference between a default MySQL configuration and a tuned one is stunning (I've seen 200%+ improvements from a few line changes). Same goes for Apache, mail server software like Exim etc. etc.
No server should ever need a GUI, full stop, for three very simple reasons:
- It's a waste of system resources. Seriously, you'll have a console hooked up to it for a fraction of it's uptime. Why waste CPU and memory powering a UI that could be used for the servers primary purpose?
- It's more packages that can be exploited. Sysadmin rule of thumb: If it ain't there it can't be exploited. Only ever install the bare minimum
- It hides the important complexity of the software underlying it. There is so much usually wrong with Default setups that people are never aware of because the UI hides it from them. On servers that I deploy and admin I know exactly how they're set up and usually every single configuration option set, and they only have just what they need. Again, if it isn't there it can't be exploited. Another Sysadmin axiom: Deny Always, Permit Grudgingly.
Why do I use Linux? At home I use Windows and Linux. Windows for games, Linux for work (and on our media PC). I'm a Sysadmin by trade, and it's really tricky to explain but it is so much harder to admin Linux boxes from Windows. PuTTy just doesn't do the trick. I've literally just been given permission at work to switch my workstation over to whatever operating system I like, rather than Windows that I've been having to use. First thing tomorrow that machine will be wiped and not long afterwards running Ubuntu, and I can guarantee it's a huge productivity+.
Simple things like being able to select text and middle click paste without any other key presses (and it being separate from the clipboard) make huge differences.
Max OSX and *nix variants have long embraced the multiple desktop concept. Microsoft released software to do it but it's a rather half-arsed attempt to try and force behaviour in to Windows rather than integral. I'll usually have about a dozen windows open at any one time during my working day, and rather than alt-tab between them trying to get them laid out right etc, it's a lot easier to flip over to another desktop (ctrl+alt+arrow key) where they're already there, and back again as appropriate.
perl is a must have (ActivePerl is a good start, but it's never quite as simple as doing it in Linux), as is Bash (Powershell is still approaching the idea from the wrong angle, though it is continually improving). Add in software like "expect" and I'll routinely carry out standard operations on multiple boxes all with little effort.
The Repository is the biggest game changer. Need to install something?
Code:
$ aptitude search [i]name[/i]
$ aptitude install [i]name[/i]
Job's a good'un and you can bet good money it will work out-of-the-box. No need to faff about finding the website you need to get it from, trusting bizarre and often random third party download sites that may or may not be a legitimate resource.
