Getting payed to do linux is cool
 

Back in my early high school years I used linux almost full time. I was running Redhat 5.2 and really digging it. Then for some reason I don't remember I got out of it, windows 2000 came out, I installed that haven't really used linux since but have wanted to get back into it.

So I've been talking to my boss a lot, we've been bitching about the prices microsoft wants to charge for some stuff, so I casually mentioned that linux was free and could most likely do what we want to do. He was very intrigued to say the least.

So my current task at work is to take a couple of old machines we've got and get a mail server up and running under linux for testing purposes. Finally something fun and interesting at work. I get my feet wet in linux again and I get payed for it!

I'm thinking about going with Debian since I've never used it before and I think it would be good for us because of the ease of use and power of apt-get. Should be cool either way. Man, I'm actually planning to get to work early for a change :)

Just thought I'd share with you guys.

that's great man..also learn up on it because if they need support they have to go to you.

Job security.

Well, I'm still in school so this is just a summer job right now (coule be one of those that I can come back to though), so I'll need to instruct him on how to maintain it. Although I could setup a system of remote administration and phone support so I could be payed for supporting the servers from school :)

Work is just a way to earn money to do the things we want. You are going to get paid for doing what you enjoy. I say, more power to you my friend! Enjoy life, you only get one shot at it.

Three words:

Wow.
Dream.
Job.

:D

Re: Getting payed to do linux is cool
 

I use a Debian-based distro exclusively; if your boss will pay for it, I'd suggest you use the latest version of Libranet (2.8 is the current release). It's much easier to install than "pure" Debian (I've done it, I know), and it will allow you to use a really nice tool called "Adminmenu"; it's proprietary to Libranet. What it does is allow you to do the administrative tasks, like setting up networking and mail servers, from the GUI, rather than the command line; it's really no easier, but it makes the tasks less confusing.

one word, Congrats.

I've been working the dream job for 4 years working with Linux and FreeBSD.

if you want a distro that'll REALLY get you to loving linux:

Gentoo
www.gentoo.org

portage SMOKES apt-get.

2cents. good luck.

Re: Re: Getting payed to do linux is cool
 

Thanks for the recommendation but the point of all of this was to get something up and running for the bare minumum cost (free excluding my labor time). We're using an old PII-333 machine right now. I've got the base install of Debian done and I plan to get the packages chosen and installed tomorrow morning (unfortunately I can't devote 100% of my time to this project, client support stuff still comes first).

I'll keep libranet in mind for later on down the road.

I thought a lot about using gentoo but decided to go with Debian instead since Gentoo is still relatively new (even though it seems to have caught on like wild fire).

When I was first approached with the idea, I narrowed it down to either Redhat (what I had used before and still somewhat knew), Debian (powerful apt-get, hadn't used it before), Gentoo (build my own, what better way to get back in the swing of things), and FreeBSD (ports sounds cool and I've never used BSD, however my boss had kept talking about linux and even said he had a dream about it. I think I would have broken his heart if I didn't use some flavor of linux :) )

Debian seemed like the best approach. Its proven, tons of users, tons of support (well, all versions of linux have very good support) and I've got a friend that has used it an awful lot and really seems to like it. So it seemed like the best approach for our setup. Maybe later on down the line I'll try some other setups.

Good fer you VirFighter !!!

Though. You should've told yer boss to give you some budget fer the linux setup anyway. Use the money to get better hardware or replace that flaky network device you always hated. There should already be a budget anyhow.

Just remember. Even fer Linux. It's Free as in Freedom !!! Never was a free ride. Good luck.