UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi everybody. I need help and I hope someone is willing to help me out here.

My wholesale company is currently moving to new software. The old software is running on a UNIX platform. We need to migrate data from the UNIX system, but our former software provider refuses to assist the data migration unless we pay a ridiculous fee. My question is:

1) How do I locate files in UNIX
2) Can I copy these files to text files which I can in turn use in for instance Excel?
3) How can I find out if SQL is installed on the machine and if so, how do I activate it?

I guess my questions make me look like a complete idiot, but even so I hope someone can help me out.

Code:

1) How do I locate files in UNIX
2) Can I copy these files to text files which I can in turn use in for instance Excel?
3) How can I find out if SQL is installed on the machine and if so, how do I activate it?

Is this some elaborate homework question? I say this cause this sounds way over the top to be real.

1) How do I locate files in UNIX? - Which UNIX are you using? UNIX is just a big collection of files. You are going to have to get very specific here. Where does you application live? Who is running your shop? Certainly there are developers and DBAs there to help.

2) Can I copy these files to text files which I can in turn use in for instance Excel? -- Sure you can do this. You would of course need to learn to use FTP and some scripting (probably shell, awk or perl). Again, you need help from back office people (developers and DBAs).

3) How can I find out if SQL is installed on the machine and if so, how do I activate it? -- Need to know what DBMS is installed on your machine before you can determine what SQL is available. For example, Oracle uses SQL*PLUS.

I hate to be so blunt, but I dont believe you possess the skills for a migration of this sort. Without some weeks of training.

So far as finding files in Unix. Look in the FAQ section and look for UNIX tutorials.

Your "data" is probably in some DB form either Oracle/Informix/et al... and would need a "cold backup" taken of it. which could be ported via tape or lan to the new host.

Needless to say, all of the answers to your questions depend somewhat on the flavor/version of Unix you are running on.

Post the output of uname -a if you have that command on your flavor.

I already feared it wouldn't be easy. I have a OS/400 background and know on I-Series or AS/400 it is fairly easy to copy DB2 files to text files using SQL and Client-Access software. Hoped it would be as easy on UNIX as well. Guess I hoped wrong! I will try to use the -a command and see if it works and what the output will be. Thanks for your replies so far.

Run uname -a and post the results. Also, what database mgmt software are you using?

My new software provider has kindly offered (after a little subtle persuasion) an expert to migrate the data for me. Thanx anyway for the replies!