What is on Your Mind?

I am a windows server guy. Trust me, I know the limitations and arrogance of Microsoft as well as anyone. I just keep the servers running, I don't write the code.

Just accepted a new job with a company that is mostly a UNIX shop for the vast majority of business applications. That is not going to change. UNIX server admins type at each major business unit. Business decision by very senior executive managers to add 2 physical (4 or 5 logical) Windows servers (and a windows server guy) to each major business location. This is just a business decision to add business applications that run on Windows Server only, but are not "mission critical like our UNIX applications", as I was told.

During interviews, I was told I am replacing a relative new hire Windows administrator because "we will not tolerate shouting matches in the hallways of our business about the merits of computer operating systems." (I gather this location is not alone in this problem.)

Is there someone, with out a flame attack, who could advise me:
How to avoid starting a verbal flame war without meaning to?
Are there specific phrases I should avoid using?
What Buzz words should I learn to use?
(also, which Buzz words should I really learn and know about?)
What Buzz words should I learn to not use? (unlearn to use???)

This job could be a good gig for me, exposure to Unix being top of the list. I don't want to be a door-mat, but I don't want to loose the job either.

I may be naive, but I think this is somewhat like the Long Haul Truck driver and the City Hauler delivery guy arguing about who has it worse, the long haul or the city traffic. Both have do their job to get a pay check.

thank-you for your time.
Phil

It takes two to engage in a shouting match, but only the windows guy was fired. So you are walking into a mine field. You will need to accept that Unix has a dominant role. If the Unix guys bait you with comments like: (well just use your imagination...), simply thank them for their comments. Don't offer the Unix guys Windows advice unless they ask for it. Don't think of this as being a doormat...think of it as being smart.

A shouting match? I find that strange to be honest... I work at a datacenter that has pretty much everything: Unix flavours (Sun, HP, AIX, Tru64), Windows and big iron mainframes. And I haven't ever seen two guys from different teams get into an argument over 'which OS is better'.

My two cents... quite useless, I'm sure.

I hope you are not taling "shouting match" too literally. I doubt that they were actually trying to see who could shout the loudest. "Loud disagreement" might be a better term. I too have never seen a loud disagreement over windows verses unix. But I have seen loud disagreements over other issues. Two that come quickly to mind: big-endian/little endian computer architecture and brace format style in C programs. While I have stongly help opinions on both issues, I did not join the, umm, discussions. These fizzled out quickly and no one was fired.

Ahm-m-m A-a-a, Never mind! I misunderstood the comment.

I started the job, and I discovered the real background to the comment made by my job interviewer about the person I was replacing and the "loud disagreement."

Company has problem with massive amounts of data entry. Everyone in office(s), except the owners, are required perform some of the data entry everyday.

Not a big deal from my point of view. As a new person I spent more hours in the 1st week learning database data entry stuff on the business application than learning the overview of computer network and servers. But, this is also a quick way to learn about the databases and what they do. Knowledge of which appears also drives many of the end users complaints to IT dept for desktop support.

The previous person (with less than 6 weeks on the job) was more of the personality of "I am a Windows Guru, not a lowly data entry peon" snob. Anyway, the discussion in question was about the data entry screens being mono-chrome mainframe terminal style interface screens instead of a newer windows GUI or Browser styled interface for the end users.

So, it wasn't a Windows chauvinist against a Unix chauvinist argument. As I now understand, it was really about snobbery, pretentiousness, and conceit over job assignments and lack of a current "high tech" work place. IMHO, a personality trait in the IT world that neither OS devotee's can claim their ranks to be without.

So thanks to thoes who replyed, but my original post was a mis-understanding of the comments from my job interviewer. Sorry.

Phil