This article is a look at the differences between administering Linux based systems and windows based systems.

Network Connection.

With any network system of more than one computer I strongly believe in using DHCP. I like it for several reasons. It is scaleable, flexible, monitorable and easily managed. Even if you like having fixed ip addresses for your computers then DHCP can do that too. When you need to plug in a new computer or move it from one network segment to another you dont need to manually change the settings. If you need unique identification for computers then the mac address is (marginally) more secure. For those fixed ip address for equipment like servers, printers, routers, switches and stuff then those addresses can be reserved. As for which operating system can be the DHCP server? That my friend is up to you. Configuration of both operating systems is now equally easy and if you know one then you can easily figure out the other. Google is your friend.

Client configuration.

Both operating systems upon installation normally ask for your network settings or default to DHCP. Either way I would choose DHCP. Then there is the question of identifying the user on the network. As it is possible to have mixed operating systems on the same subnet I would suggest using the same user naming scheme and password complexity for both systems. That way a user can transparently use the two different systems without having to remember multiple user names and passwords. For windows I recommend using the active directory domain system for central administration and security. The most important aspects of client configuration can be done via group policy. Linux can also use the domain system and can be registered on active directory for easy access to windows resources. For the dns server you can use either Linux or windows or both with one as a backup. What ever you do don't give the user any administration rights unless you are a glutton for punishment.

Often one of the tasks a system administrator has to do is transfer user information to a different machine. With windows there is a wizard that can easily transfer a users account from one machine to the other. Linux is just as easy, all you need to do is copy the users home directory. Just make sure the userid is the same.

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