Unix/Linux There Are Many Operating Term Paper

Unix provides many more options to an administrator, and having a consultant may help decide what methods would be best for the individual circumstances; administrators making the switch from other platforms will be used to having to just make do with whatever is available rather than being able customize options for best fit.

Being the administrator of a server is a skilled task, and is not something that should be left to the vices of someone whose intelligence is suboptimal. Some software, like Windows, that is marketed to businesses attempts to make it seem like just anybody can be a system administrator. The appeal of these platforms is that the software itself will try to be the administrator and all one has to do is point, click, and use big words when speaking with other employees. These types of software will dictate policy to the user (Raymond) so that almost anyone can appear competent and experienced in the position. The catch, however, is that if an unexpected circumstance arises that the software manufacturers did not foresee, the system will not automatically make the changes necessary to continue functioning. This is when the difference between a real system administrator and someone who can just let programs run on the server becomes apparent, and an organization with an unintelligent or mist rained administrator will suffer.Simply put, if the current system administrator is unable to adapt to using Unix or not able to comprehend the Unix system, then it would be in the best interest of an employer to replace this person because, even if the company stayed with the non-Unix environment, the incompetence of this employee would eventually do harm.

When changing to a Unix platform, it will be necessary to replace at least some of the application software. Some application software that is used for standardized and simple server tasks can be taken from the old system onto the new one, if the software will run on the new platform and is stable and reliable enough to continue using. The more simple server tasks can either utilize software from the old server, or new software that is easy and inexpensive to locate. One example is the Apache web server, which runs the cast majority of web sites on both Unix and non-Unix platforms. (Wheeler) Some proprietary software, which is often used by servers, may not be able.....