Stueyb

Here is a possibly interesting debate, but then again maybe not.

I have a friend who has asked me to look after his servers in return for some "stuff" - as in content.

Basically he said, here is the server. I want it running apache, sql etc hardened and sendmail enabled. See ya. Now he didnt do this to be mean or owt, just he wanted me to learn linux and help him at the same time.

Dropped off at the deap end doesnt come into it, but I learnt a lot by not being told click here, then here etc.

What are peoples thoughts on this ? Is it a good way to learn. I think i've learnt a lot from it.

ajm

Virtually all my IT skills are self taught. I'd much rather get stuck in than attend boring courses!

Vegescoob

Learn the hard way you tend not to forget, good or bad. Can be inefficient. Remember all the advice your parents gave you that you ignored? Then you grew older and realised at least some of what they said was right. Imo of course.

T4molie

I'm the same as AJM - I've only ever been sent on one Course in 10 years of working in IT, which was fine But at the end of the day I remember things better by just getting stuck in........

Oh and having a manual to hand "just" in case it's needed

Edited to add: RTFM only happens in extreme circumstances

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

It is the best way, roll up your sleaves, chuck away the manual and get stuck in.

Only ask for help when it's foobarred

Jye

A good way to learn as long as the server isnt live or mission critical.

T4molie

Definately agree with this point

ajm

Obviously you need to have rugged implementation processes, testing, version control and fallback strategies (aka clusterf*ck avoidance! ) But this is the same whether you go on a course or not!!!