A sticky GUI mess

I'm working on a project at the moment, migrating a large Domino customer from AIX to Linux. While I won't bore you with gritty details, I will say that I am actually *really* enjoying the switch from the usual wintel deployments to Linux.

Now, like most self-confessed geeks - I'm a hard-core Linux user (*disclaimer - hardcore and Linux may also be referreed to as casual and with Ubuntu -- well its so easy isnt it?), I often compile my own Kernel (errrm... booting from the Live CD is kinda compiling... isnt it?), and generally revel in the power that comes from a weilding a black console and blinking cursor as if i'd just executed the Zerg Rush manouvre in the original version of Star Craft . However beneath my newfound, self-professed l33t status - there's really is only one reason why I was able to feel so at home (n00b) on a new O/S. The GUI.

For those not in the know, most Liunx distro's use either KDE or Gnome to handle the GUI portion of the O/S, with some distro's like Ubuntu having done such a good job of implementing the GUI, that even the most basic of Windows users (Hi Mum) are able to get around, surf the net and use word processing with no training what-so-ever.

Which brings me to the point of my post.

Before I started this project, I hadnt realised that as an IT professional, with some 10 years in the industry - just *how* GUI-dependant I was. I mean, im more than happy to splash out to a console in Windows for the standard ping, netstat amd the occasional nslookup. And even on my home Ubuntu install, was more than cool with sudo'ing to change passwords for users in the system. However, the client I am currently working for has chosen not use a GUI with the RedHat install for Domino - leaving me to need brush up rather quickly on my console skills. Which remarkably, happened in the space of 2-3 days. I now, *feel* i know enough to impress (and scare) most windows engineers into thinking I am Linus Torvalds (well almost).

So, given my new found respect for the console, and the power that comes with it -- a little humour for you all below.

Also, stay tuned for a 3 part install guide to getting Domino up and running on Redhat.