The class is informative and interesting. It is explaining a set of tools that Novell has used for some time to do system administration. It's a web based tool-set like webmin, but with a cross platform approch. They are also going over Ximian's Red Carpet, this is a web based software distribution tool for Linux using RPM's. It's sort of like Debian's apt-get but it's a client and server application that runs as a daemon. Several companies have it in place already. The problem I see in all these browser based tools. The fact that the administration can be done in India or Brazil at 1/3 the cost of US workers. The tools make it so easy to administer servers that an untrained person can do the work. Ximian has a contract with IBM Global Services, that means the jobs will go off shore to save companies money. That's what IBM Global Services is all about. ("save companies money" = larger wallets for executives and fewer I/T jobs in the US = IBM Global Services) All these companies need to do social impact studies before they decide to write software. The first thing they do is enable off shoring of 9/10 of the work. People are spending $5000 - $10,000 for an education, borrowing the money, but by the time they get certified the jobs will be off shore. I just can't fathom why anyone would want to stay in I/T. Driving a school bus is sounding better all the time. Sam. _______________________________________________ TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota http://www.mn-linux.org tclug-list at mn-linux.org https://mailman.real-time.com/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list