OT: Question re: SCO Use

[Nancy Palmquist]

Frank7767 at aol.com wrote:
> Just a word regarding SCO Unix..
>  
>         I am by no means a Unix expert. However I have in my customer 
> base over 30 SCO Unix installations. These run from single user to many, 
> many users. In the 15 years I have been doing this work I have never had 
> problems with the Operating System of my accounts.
>  
> I have found SCO to be very stable and productive. It runs with little 
> maintenance. and The more I learn about it the better it seems to be. 
> The marriage with Filepro has worked form me and my clients with little 
> fuss.
>  
> I will admit to having an advantage.. I depend on the "weapon of mass 
> instruction", J.P. Radley to help install and support my accounts. If 
> you have not had the pleasure, I urge you to spend some quality time 
> with JP as he makes Unix dance.
>  
> Anyway, regardless of the "limitations" and financial difficulties SCO 
> has, I plan on continuing to use SCO with FilePro until I no longer 
> answer my cell phone.
>  
Frank,
I think you have found the holy grail.  It is important to have a 
qualified Unix consultant available for setup and administration.  For 
many on this list, they are supporting stuff installed at their business 
and have too many demands on their time to be skilled at Unix 
management. We are after all, filePro programmers.

I want to emphasis that this in no way is directed at anyone or meant to 
reflect on any member of this list in a poor way.

Unix has a bad habit of running beautifully for a long time and 
administration can be neglected, but "stuff happens" and it should be 
protected.

I think all Unix/Linux installations really would benefit from competent 
administration and for a small business that is often an outside 
consultant.  I can see that you have found an excellent resource for 
your accounts.  If more companies did likewise with partnerships and 
shared responsibilities, we could easily keep the *nx installations 
happily running for years to come, instead of being tempted by the dark 
side (Windows in any form).

I find that my responsibilities with filePro and development make it 
difficult to keep up with the O/S management stuff.  I have brought 
experts in to do that stuff on systems that require constant oversight. 
  I have been very pleased with this kind of partnership.  I encourage 
others on the list that use Unix/Linux and do not have a well qualified 
Unix/Linux expert on staff or on call, find one.  You will not be 
disappointed.  They will help you properly handle the security, user 
accounts, printers, backups, recovery, etc.

I apologize if I sound preachy but these computers are the backbone of 
many businesses and they need some TLC.

Nancy

-- 
Nancy Palmquist 		MOS & filePro Training Available
Virtual Software Systems	Web Based Training and Consulting	
PHONE: (412) 835-9417		   Web site:  http://www.vss3.com