Unix-to-Linux learning guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS    Basics    Technical tips    Migration    News and trends

Basics

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• Advice: What does a Unix shop need to know about Linux? (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  A look at the history of Unix and its similarities with Linux.
• Advice: What are the major differences between Unix and Linux? (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Here's a list of the most obvious differences.
• Advice: What does an AIX veteran need to know about Linux? (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Where to get started: Debian, Gentoo, Red Hat, or the kernel?
• Fundamentals: The Unix and Internet Fundamentals how-to (Eric Raymond)
• Glossary: Unix definition and links (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
• Glossary: Linux defined and links (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
• Glossary: Unix, Linux and all the other little ixes (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com

Technical tips

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• Advice: Study Unix on your PC (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Get the scoop on the MKS Toolkit, along with some other ways to immerse yourself in the world of Unix.
• Advice: Using AWK to convert a text file in Unix. (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  A short guide to using AWK. Find out how to execute simple type AWK programs right at the Unix prompt.
• Tip: Should you dump Unix for Linux? (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  The need for modernization and cost reduction, or a change in leadership may mean migration away from your existing Unix platform. If your company is the type to scale horizontally and you're uncomfortable with big iron, you may want to consider Linux on blade servers.
• Tip: Linux or Unix: Making the right decision
  If Windows no meets your needs, you may want to try a more scalable, reliable and higher performing environment. In this tip, an expert evaluates the merits and disadvantages of Linux and Unix.
• Advice: How will a SQL database run on Unix, Linux or Windows? (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  An expert compares database performance on various platforms.
• Tip: The Swiss Army Knife security tool (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Get the scoop on the LiSt Open Files (lsof) command.
• Advice: Will DCML be a good thing for Linux? (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Ken Milberg discusses why DCML is good for Linux, and puts in a word about the Unix-versus-Linux debate.
• Tip: Arnold Robbins' basic programming tips for sys admins (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Learn why and how programming skills can make a good admin a stellar admin, a basic curriculum for those who want to bone up on programming, and why programs written in GNU might be better than those written in Unix.
• Tip: Windows-Linux integration hot spots (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  There is little doubt that Linux is gaining headway in the enterprise. The big question is: "Where?" One consultant thinks he has the evidence to answer that question.
• Tip: Server-side interoperations between Unix/Linux and Windows (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Discover how to make your Windows and Unix/Linux servers co-exist peacefully with tools like Samba that offer file sharing and Kerberos authentication support for Active Directory.
• Tip: Security differences between Unix and Linux (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
• Tip: End the end-of-line hassle (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  How hex codes can make your life easier.
• Tip: Vulnerability scanning with Nessus SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  This free tool is widely supported among the information-security community.
• Tip: Unix updates bolster workhorse operating system (SearchDataCenter.com)
  If you haven't been paying attention to Unix lately, now is the time. Unix expert King Ables summarizes enhancements of the three main Unix flavors.
• More tips and FAQs: Unix sys admin resources (SunHELP)

Migration

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• Tip series: Solaris-to-Linux porting (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Ken Milberg covers the nitty-gritty details of porting from Solaris to Linux and shares some of his favorite methods for making it work.
  • Part one
  • Part two
  • Part three
  • Part four
• Tip series: Getting started on a Unix-to-Linux migration (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Expert Ken Milberg offers tips in this three-part Unix-to-Linux migration guide. He covers building your project team, setting up the administration, source-code management, post-support and many other topics.
  • Part one
  • Part two
  • Part three
• Chapter download: Chapter 1, Porting project considerations, of Unix to Linux Porting (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Migrating your apps to Linux from Solaris, HP-UX and AIX doesn't have to be difficult. Chapter 1, Porting project considerations, explains the migration and porting processes, as well as technical risks that developers should be aware of.
• Tip: Enterprise open source migrations: Dealing with file services (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  File services look simple enough, but file services are probably the most critical networking service of all, save directory services. Get an overview of the file service options in the open source world and learn how to use them to replace their traditional commercial counterparts.
• Tip: Assess the mess: Porting apps from Unix to Linux
  (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  In this interview, the one of the co-authors of Unix to Linux Porting offers tips on what to watch out for and where to begin assessment when porting older Unix apps to Linux.
• Tip: Porting Unix apps to Linux: Tackling architecture and platform differences (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Worried about porting your Unix apps to Linux? Author Alfredo Mendoza offers tips on how to transition from 32- to 64-bit architecture and notes the crucial points in the porting process.
• Tip: Porting criteria: Migrating apps from Unix to Linux (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Don't skimp on testing or creating a sandbox environment to play in when porting your Unix apps to Linux. This is only one piece of advice an expert gives in his Unix porting guide.
• Tip: Moving files from Unix to Linux (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Once you've migrated to Linux, you'll need to concentrate on moving your files.
• Advice: Migrating from Oracle to Linux -- tips and TCO considerations (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Find out why Oracle makes it easier to migrate and what some of the hidden challenges might be.
• Advice: Migrating the domain controller to Linux (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
• Advice: Transferring data from a Unix SCO server to Red Hat Linux 3.0 (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
• White paper: Migrating Unix applications to Linux on IBM pSeries and iSeries Servers (SearchOracle.com)
• Tip: What Linux on the POWER5 architecture has to offer (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  The meshing of Linux with the POWER5 architecture is a big deal. If marketed properly, this may be the operating system's biggest success story to date, pushing Linux out into the enterprise in a big way.
• Tip: Installing and running Linux on IBM p5 systems (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Mixing Linux with p5 architecture can help your IT shop reap rewards in support, gain the capacity to run on a 32-way system and more.
• Novell's guide to Solaris-to-Linux porting tools (Novell)
• IBM DeveloperWorks (IBM)

News & trends

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• Article: Niche Linux servers break out of HPC into enterprise (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Watch out, IBM, Dell and HP! Linux server vendors that have carved out a space in high-performance computing markets are taking their tailor-made servers into new enterprise markets, providing a welcomed change for businesses that want to save money and get customized products.
• Article: Unix shops ignore signs of market decline (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Unix shops stick with data center workhorse platform for support, performance and familiarity benefits. Meanwhile, midrange Unix feels the pinch from less expensive mainframes and increasingly robust scale-out options.
• Interview: Who owns Unix? Open Group seeks to clarify (NewsFactor Network)
  Who owns Unix? To read much of the recent news coming out of Lindon, Utah, you might think that it's SCO, but this group disagrees.
• Article: IP attorney: Why SCO has no case (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  IP attorney Thomas Carey shoots down SCO's cases against Linux, Linux users, IBM and Novell, but predicts that SCO will follow Hitler's example and go on fighting a losing battle.
• Article SCO down but not out in lawsuit against IBM (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  SCO's longstanding brawl with IBM is tilting in Big Blue's favor after a judge threw out 194 of the Unix vendor's claims. But the Linux community should stay tuned, said one legal expert. This case is far from over.
• Advice: SCO's products in the 1980s were great (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  SCO UNIX was a very strong product, and at one time it was the only Unix variant with a version of Unix that would run on a PC Platform.
• Article: 9i RAC is the ticket for StubHub (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Online ticket broker StubHub has put its faith -- and its bottom line -- on a new Oracle 9i RAC running Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
• Case Study: Data center makeover: Linux topples college's IT Tower of Babel (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  The data center at Golden Gate University was a cornucopia of hardware and software platforms. New CTO Anthony Hill decided it was time to consolidate and, after considering Solaris and Windows, he settled on Linux.
• Case Study: Mississippi deal a landmark for Linux in government (SearchEnterpriseLinux.com)
  Linux is the OS running a public safety information-sharing initiative in Mississippi, a project that could serve as a model for a similar nationwide program.
• Case Study: Linux solves city's woes with Unix (SearchOracle.com)
  Bloomington, Ind. put the boot to its HP-UX servers and workstations and rolled out the welcome mat for Linux and lower costs.
• Case Study: Linux nudges aside Unix for financial services company (SearchOracle.com)
  First Trust Corp. put Linux at the heart of its business, pushing aside long-standing Unix systems to realize substantial cost savings and a performance increase.
• Case study: From Unix to Linux for ITV network (The Age)
  Linux is the choice for officials at UK independent television network, ITV, which is undergoing a technology overhaul. The network is moving most of its servers to Linux and said its desktops could be next.