Let me add the difficulty of learning to google for problem identification and solution, rather than using IBM manuals (item one) and (item two) figuring out how to set up a gui interface. Most Linux classes teach gui sysadmin interfaces. The teacher looks at you funny when you continue to ask about command line alternatives. :-) Betsie
-----Original Message----- From: Linux on 390 Port [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of David Boyes Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 12:03 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Mini-survey: Linux usability Peter, Responding on list, because I think public discussion is probably useful on this topic. > I'm currently involved in a discussion about how the usability aspect of > Linux on the mainframe can be improved. For this reason I'd very much like > to hear about your experience with installing, configuring and running > Linux on System z. What has been your most annoying experience in this > context? The two areas that get the most blowback from the people we deal with are: 1) The contortions necessary to get the first guest installed, particularly for a traditional mainframe population. Having to use non-mainframe tools or obscure devices such as the HMC CD or DVD drive (which are usually not physically accessible, or not managed by operator automation in a way that is convenient to people doing the installs). We (SNA) are well advanced on doing something about that, but that's the biggest complaint we hear. 2) The difficulty of working with the console in environments with security regimins which require root logins to be limited to the console device for Linux systems. Most sites with Unix or Linux/Intel backgrounds and any concern for security have security standards for managing privileged access to systems. Complying with those standards -- to play along with the message of "Linux is Linux" -- means disabling root logins on all terminals but the console...but that puts Unix admins in the position of having no fullscreen access to do repairs, and the current generation has no experience with TTY consoles. The VT220 hardware console support is nice, but few have it yet, and won't be available widely until 5.3 becomes ubiquitous (and there's no direct support in the VM TCP stack for a solicitor to connect to a virtualized console). > It would also be helpful to know what system you worked with before > Linux on the mainframe (e.g. > zOS/zVSE/zVM/Unix/Windows/Intel based systems). Everything. I'm very generalized...8-) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390
