In the not too distant future the number of people using Linux applications will increase significantly and it is therefore prudent that a windows administrator familiarizes himself with migration tips to Linux.

1. Do your homework well by learning about Linux

It is relatively easy to find inexpensive study guides; internet or library.Theres is probably more online information about Linux than any other operating system. There are many books, consultants and training companies’ available too.

2. Be open minded

Windows administrators have to act like they are in a foreign land. For instance in windows when you want to turn on and off services, there’s a little graphic user interface (GUI)that lists all sorts of services by name, and you can click on the ones you want on and off. Linux has an identical system but with a different name and interface. The important thing in the migration process is getting the Windows administration to understand that many of the processes are the same but with just a different tag name.

3. Built in security tools in Linux

The Linux Kernel comes with a very sophisticated firewall built in, and there are free security configuration utilities to help. You don’t need to pay extra to Symantec or Microsoft for firewalls and virus scanning tools.

4. Using the command line in Linux

Linux has a strong heritage of a command line interface. This portends several advantages to administrators. One of them is that the command line interfaces are frequently very scriptable and easy to use to automate repetitive tasks, such as management and close evaluation of the system.

With windows, which is focused on graphical interfaces, it can be much more difficult to script those things so you are more likely to have to have to use multiple vendors’ tools.

With Linux its easy to use the command line and scripting languages to automate tasks. Windows also has scripting tools but they frequently get hung up in the implementation of a completely automated task because there is no command line or scripting line equivalent for some mouse click or menu click in the graphical application.

5. Taking advantage of Linux distributions GUIs

These systems make it easier for first time users to configure systems. With Linux you are not stuck with the command line since GUIs are a big strength in the enterprise distributions. With Linux you have the option of using the graphical tool, but you can also use the command line interface and the text configuration files that actually drive the application.

It is advisable for windows admins to start with the Linux GUI, and thereafter start exploring the command line options. For instance a windows admin might start poking around the registry and then gradually start making changes to tailor the system even more with your applications and your needs.

Unlike the registry which doesn’t come with any comments, the configuration files that are referenced in Linux frequently come with descriptions of the parameters and comments on how to use the file.

6. Checik on the hardware driver availability

Before switching to Linux you should take an inventory of the hardware on the system to make sure that there are Linux drivers for all the pieces of hardware connected to the server.