Ask Slashdot: What Should a Unix Fan Look For In a Windows Expert?

andy5555 writes "I am hardcore Unix (and recently storage) fan responsible for our server department. Most of the servers run (you guessed it) different types of Unix. For quite a long time, Windows servers played very little role, but sometimes we get applications from our business departments which run only under Windows. So it seems that we have to take it seriously and hire a few Windows fans who would be able to take care of the (still small but growing) number of Windows servers. Since I am Unix fan, I have very little knowledge of Windows (some of my teammates may have more, but we are not experts). If I have to hire such a person I would like to find someone who is passionate about Windows. It is easy for me to recognize a Windows fan, but I don't know how to test his/her knowledge. There are some sites with typical Windows interview questions, but everybody can read them and prepare. How would you recommend the hiring process to proceed? What should I ask?"

UNIX Differences

[PizzaAnalogyGuy]

When looking for a Windows expert you have to look past the first appearance. I am a hardcore tomato sauce fan. And when I say hardcore, I mean it. Tomato sauce is the base of any pizza we all so like. But beyond that Windows admin can look almost anything, and still be completely usable. Just like your favorite pan pizza.

The best way to illustrate differences between Windows and UNIX admins is the way they use space. The base of the system is usually laid out differently. In UNIX you have / whereas in Windows you use C:\ and other drive letters. It's like the difference between normal italian style pizza and american pan pizza.

Let me tell you a story about a friend from my childhood. He loves Linux. You could say he is Linux power user. Back in the 90's I was over his apartment and we kept playing this Nintendo64 game called GoldenEye. It was awesome. Split-screen multiplayer and even while we could see each other, we still loved it. The levels were laid out beatifically and played out very nicely.

But at some point you obviously become hungry. Then I got an idea.. "Let's call some pizzas over!", I uttered and tried to reach to the phone. However, it was way too far. I crashed down from the couch and now I was rolling around on the floor. My stomach was so big and soft that it kept me in motion and I rolled over the table where the telephone was, crashing it on the floor and breaking it. I said "damn it".. And we didn't get any pizza until we went out in the open. But we still did it, proudly. We were the goldeneye playing pizza bros!

I think the main point is that whatever obstacles you may find with your new friend there is always way to get around them. With pizza.

two windows BS stories in an hour...

[X0563511]

Timothy, go to your room! Don't come down until you've thought about what you've done!

Re:Stop with the parenthesis, technical people!

[Drinking Bleach]

((Obviously) a Lisp fan (as well))

Only need one question

[slapout]

Ask him about a Windows problem. If he says "Have you tried turning it off and back on again", hire him.

Daria said it best

[Sectoid_Dev]

There is no aspect, no facet, no moment of life that can't be improved with pizza. Thank you.

Re:Well, not calling them a "fan" might be a start

[ArsonSmith]

Because windows professionals are not fans of windows. Really is anyone a "fan" of windows as in they actually like it? You can be a Unix Linux or even OSX fan, but you can really only be a Windows Professional. Similar to the oldest profession it is only done for the money not the enjoyment.

Why would a window fan need Unix?

[ukemike]

I have a window fan in my front room. I run it at night to pull cool air in through my bedroom and apartment. I'd recommend Lasko Reversible 2155, and put it in a window far from your bedroom and put in in exhaust mode. Close all the windows except your bedroom window and you'll have a nice cool night breeze coming in your window without the noise of a fan next to your bed.

I can't for the life of me figure out why someone would need a server running Unix to operate a simple window fan. Am I missing something here?

Re:UNIX Differences

[Anonymous Coward]

Tomato sauce is the base of any pizza we all so like

Screw you and you tomato-centric FUD. Just because it has a near monopoly on pizza sauce market share doesn't mean it is the only game in town. A few percent of pizzas are "white pizzas" with ricotta, although I don't like the taste and think they are just over-priced pretentious pizzas trying to look fancier than they are. Then there are the glorious pesto based pizzas, with their strong flavor, although that might be too much for people used to tomato and can't handle change. At least the recipes for pesto are pretty open and similar, good luck trying to figure out the recipe for proprietary tomato sauces. You'll get something close, but will always being playing catch up trying to support all of the corner flavors. For the more adventurous, there are exotic sauces like BBQ, Alfredo, thai peanut sauce, etc., although pizzeria support is severely lacking. Some people even continue to use the pizzas of yore for nostalgia (or just lack of resources needed for a full modern pizza), like a pizza margarita with just olive oil for sauce.

So while I could appreciate you saying pizza sauce (PS) should be a source peace, your post is clearly, intentionally or not, flaming the PS religious wars that occurs so frequently online.

Re:Well, not calling them a "fan" might be a start

[CrashandDie]

Best reply I ever heard to that one: "Who cares, as long as Nagios goes thermonuclear to wake you up?"