Open Source Adventures in my Programming Shop

[Zaren]

I talked the hardware/software boss in the office into letting me install linux on one of the machines... sorta. He said he's going to format it shortly after I install the OS, but you know... whatever. The conversation went something like this.

Me: Hey managerperson, can I install Linux on that old NT box sitting under my desk?
managerperson: No.
Me: Why not?
managerperson: We don't have Linux.
Me: I do, I have 3 different distributions and a couple versions of each.
managerperson: We don't have any licenses for it.
Me: You don't need a license for Linux.
Rolland: *rolls eyes*
Clueful Tech Manager: You don't need a license for Linux, it's open source.
managerperson: No, I need that machine for something else.
Me: Can I put Linux on it until you take it back?
managerperson: Yes, I'll take it back the day after you install it so I can format it.

Sounds like permission to me. Just to be certain I went to the clueful tech manager and asked her what her interpretation of the conversation was. I can install linux on it and he'll format it the next day. *grin* I count that as a victory.

So now I need some ideas of snazzy things I can put on the machine to make it seem like a shame to format.

[scott_R]

Been there. And, most likely, that box will continue to gather dust after he formats it. One question I have is whether MS's fdisk still chokes on Linux partitions. If so, be prepared for him to accuse you of destroying the hard drive. This might be a good time to explain to his boss the benefits of using linux. Make sure not to be too tough on the clueless guy, and bring some hard documentation to back up your reasons for wanting Linux installed. Examples: The gnu license, articles naming companies like IBM and merrill lynch that use linux, other articles of your competitors offering linux products, etc.

Of course, if you're in a position where you can afford to have a little fun at that guy's expense, use a knoppix live-cd. Call him in to show him that you have linux running, then let him format the drive. Have a good laugh with your clueful tech manager. Repeat until his head explodes. :D

[ViMan]

I agree that the Knoppix idea is good. But I think it's better if you show it to him running on a more powerful, as the machine you seem to be referring to seems to be quite old and running the Knoppix live-cd on it will make Linux look slow...

[scott_R]

Actually, I was mainly offering it as a joke. The clueless manager person doesn't care about linux even to allow it to be used on an unused machine. My guess is that he doesn't know anything about linux, and like most microslaves, has had the "don't tell anyone how to do anything, or they will take your job" way of thinking pounded into his brain. (Versus the more optimal approach of knowing what you are doing, and doing it well, that is.) Asking for a linux installation (to him) is the same as trying to steal his job, in a twisted-logic kind of way.

So, performance is the least of your concerns, hence my idea. Besides, an old computer in a development shop is kind of a misnomer. A slow pentium 3 with 128-256k will run knoppix nicely, and that would almost be a useless box for many developer shops.

[glussier]

One question I have is whether MS's fdisk still chokes on Linux partitions. If so, be prepared for him to accuse you of destroying the hard drive.


Not all dos/windows users are morons. Fdisk can delete linux partitions, they show as non dos partitions under dos fdisk. Also, there is a lot of dos utilities which can create/delete all types of partitions, fat16, fat12, ntfs or not.