On Mon, Aug 3, 2009 at 6:56 PM, Ben Kevan<ben.kevan@gmail.com> wrote:
On Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:46:34 -0700, Sandy Drobic <opensuse@drobic.de> wrote: <snip>
There are lots of reasons why I have both in my company. I am using whatever system fits the requirements best.
I should re-iterate this is at the desktop level. On my laptop I run Linux. they are trying to dictate to me that I should give compelling reasons why I need to deviate from the "standard" installation of Windows.
So far I have:
I feel that being an IT professional I should be able to utilize the tools that help me best perform in my working daily position. This should include but not limited to the Operating System that my machine (standard hardware) is running on. Now that my initial thought is out there, I'd like to pass on some reasonsings:
a.) My primary function is that of a Linux Administrator. Being on a Linux OS Based (Standard) Machine allows me to better and more productively support Linux servers since I am using native Linux applications like openSSH, and many other daily used tools. b.) Continued growth in my profession. The Enterprise Linux Operating Systems use code that has been fully tested in Desktop and Community Supported versions of servers. Using these newer versions prior to being implemented into the server field allows me to understand their usage prior to implementing them in the enterprise space. c.) Increased security and stability. Once of the simplest benefits of Open Source is to have increased security and reliability. d.) Re-itterate the point that being able to use native support tools which are not or very loosely avaiable for windows allows me to better support the servers I am responsible for.
Since we're going into standards I thought I'd speak more on general standards with Linux and Windows and not arbitrarily defined Bio-Rad Standards:
1.) Windows is NOT an ISO standard 2.) POSIX is an ISO standard for Operating Systems. GNU/Linux, with the right packages installed, is an implementation of this standard 3.) Single Unix Specifications (SUS) is a standard required of all UNIX operating systems. GNU/Linux, with the right packages installed, is an implementation of this standard 4.) Linux Standard Base (LSB) is a standard for Linux systems. GNU/Linux, with the right packages installed, is an implementation of this standard
Other instances of "Non-Standard" uses abroad:
Where does the dictating of standards to the supporting IT professionals stop? Do we require web developers to remove Opera, Firefox and Safari from their machines because they are not documentated as a standard? Or do we allow them to use it, as it's a vital tool to better do their development and support? Are we going to require Marcom to drop MAC OS because it's not a standard, but rather a better tool to better do their marketing jobs?
My point is allowing IT professionals who are self supportive should be allowed to use and install the tools necessary to do their daily functions at their prime productivity rates.
I might go with: As a full time Linux Admin, industry best practice is to deploy at least 3 servers per major system. ie. Production / QA / Devel. In addition, developers and administrators typically have additional machines they do real R&D work on, thus saving the devel server for tests, etc. that require hardware, databases, SANs, etc. very similar to the production unit. In my role as an linux administrator, I have these very needs. In my case I have chosen to save the company money by using my every day R&D machine as my personal workstation. If the company requires that I also have a Windows based laptop, that is fine, but it in no way eliminates my need for a R&D machine on which to maintain my linux admin skills with little or no risk of impacting core corporate assets. Thus the company providing me an additional windows based laptop is an expense with no gain. Tweak to your need, but you see where I would head. Greg -- Greg Freemyer Head of EDD Tape Extraction and Processing team Litigation Triage Solutions Specialist http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregfreemyer Preservation and Forensic processing of Exchange Repositories White Paper - <http://www.norcrossgroup.com/forms/whitepapers/tng_whitepaper_fpe.html> The Norcross Group The Intersection of Evidence & Technology http://www.norcrossgroup.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org