EarthWeb: Prime Time Linux, Part II

“A key part of support is training. All of the major
distributors now offer classes for their products. For example,
since early 1998, SuSE has had its own training center in Munich,
Germany, where it also certifies Linux instructors. SuSE also
offers classes elsewhere in Europe. Similarly, American
distributors like Caldera offer classes all over North America. If
you want distribution-independent classes, you can also apply to
independent firms like Guru Labs, L.C. in West Bountiful,
Utah.”

“Furthermore, there is nothing that says you have to have
anyone trained especially for Linux. UNIX experience ports very
well to Linux, as do most UNIX applications. A UNIX professional
will already be familiar with Linux’s industry-standard tools, such
as sendmail, emacs, and gcc. When CIN member Gergely Tapolyai was
CIO at a Cleveland, Ohio-based investment company, he had four
programmers. He says that most good C programmers have some UNIX
experience.“

“Tapolyai is now global network and telecommunications director
at IMG Worldwide. In addition to the usual services, such as
desktop computers, his former department provides the investment
company with its automatic financial clearing capabilities.
Computers at Tapolyai’s former department exchange data with other
financial institutions over the Internet. In addition to the
fiduciary responsibility he had toward the investment company’s
customers, Tapolyai has state and federal financial regulations to
meet. About four years ago, he experimented with Linux and built a
server that now handles all of the investment company’s Internet
transactions.”

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