Why should we teach students Linux??

[James McDonald]

Roel Bindels wrote:
> Hello listers,
>
> To change a curriculum of a study, I need a solid case. So if somebody
> knows a link/document about why we should educate our students in the
> Linux OS, please send it. Or article about the usage of Linux in company's.
>
>   
Hello Roel,

I found that learning in a Microsoft centric environment creates a 
`blackbox' mentality because the underlying technology is hidden behind 
many and various Microsoft Trade Names (e.g.  Active Directory, 
Distributed File System, Exchange 200x etc).

But move onto the Linux equivalents and you quickly peel back the name 
and get straight to the actual underlying technologies. A great example 
of that is SAMBA the open source implementation of Microsoft SMB 
protocol... If people really want to understand how a computer network 
is put together Linux can open the hood and let you peer at the mechanicals.

Linux deals with every domain that the big commercial vendors do. For 
example: You can buy a Cisco router, but if you want to understand how 
all that traffic gets moved and controlled grab a Linux box, and start 
hacking firewall rules with iptables.

I passed MCSE, CCNA and CCA certification (I'm not sure if they have all 
lapsed it was few years ago) but learning Linux gave me  a greater 
understanding of what was really happening when using those vendors 
products.

Cheers
James