UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Ok, heres the situation
I have a job interview next week and they use Solaris there for their networking.
I'm basically coming from a windows and novell background, I've been studying Solaris commands an such but I was wondering if someone can breakdown the main differences between windows and Unix. I don't need an academic breakdown just practical "in the field" differences any of you might know from working with both operating systems.


I know you guys probably get these questions from newbies like me all the time and are probably sick of them but I would greatly appreciate any information you could spare.

Thanks

Real easy. If you got the interview and you don't lie, you could possibly get the job. Tell them straight up that you don't know but are willing to learn and then tell them what you've learned so far. That is the hard part. Go out and attempt to learn some UNIX by doing a tutorial (like Usail ).

You've only got a week, not enough time for someone to explain the differences between Windows and Solaris (or UNIX for that matter).

I agree with RTM, and in a nutshell the way I explain it to those not familiar is that Unix (which is presumably what they mean when they say they use Solaris - although could be another flavour).....is an Operating System with a lot more freedom.

Unix is not a graphical interface so you're not resticted by what the GUI delvelopers have decided you will want to do.

One aspect of Unix is similar to Windows Explorer (in terms of managing file systems) you can complete the same stuff such as creating directories, moving, copying files, searching for files or strings within files, setting file and directory permissions etc)

The file system management is probably only about 1% of what you can use unix for - other aspects include scripting (writing programs - and this can be unix script - or other languages perl, java, C++ etc) - automating tasks through scheduling, interfacing with databases....I could go on and on....

I was in your shoes a few years ago...and this forum will help you learn more than you would imagine. Have a cruise around the forums and see what different people use Unix for...and Good Luck. Oh yeah tell them that you don't know too much about Unix but that you've been looking at this forum and other places on the net....they'll love the initiative...!

I'm with the 2 above post.

But I take you haven't used UNIX before?

If that's the case try get a shell account and just have a little play around. Then you will know what UNIX looks and feels like from a text base prompt.

how do I get a shell account???

Have a look for a windows based Unix emulator...then find a PC and download this and play.

Try a google search for these key words "windows based unix emulator"

There is a search button on this site - use it to look for free shell account - the info has been posted by others. Good luck!