Windows vs Linux Admin?
Posted by BubblyTumbleweed8455@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 18 comments
I'm just curious, which one do you think is easier to get in terms of position? Generally speaking do you find that there's less competition, therefore, easier to get? Or is about the same regardless of admin role?
bcredeur97@reddit
I feel like everyone does both nowadays. At least a little Linux here and there.
I dream of my windows/linux split being 20%/80% instead of 80%/20%
Hotshot55@reddit
I haven't managed a windows device in a while.
Alert-Coach-3574@reddit
Make it so
Sprucecaboose2@reddit
There are more Windows Admins and positions. Linux would in general be more niche and therefore likely higher paid but harder to come by.
Hotshot55@reddit
Maybe in the context of just sysadmin-type work. Linux is just a skill in the world of DevOps/SRE/Infra Engineering and even Software Engineering.
Turbulent_Fig_9354@reddit
Linux is definitely a more highly sought after skill. It also has the benefit of not making me want to dump acid into my brain
BubblyTumbleweed8455@reddit (OP)
Haha, what a great endorsement
Bomb-Number20@reddit
Microsoft used to make products that kinda worked, but were still a convoluted mess. Then they started pushing new solutions, one after another, and C suite management dutifully purchased these because they thought it they improved things (they did not). Enter Microslop, and now we just guess what they are going to break next. They pushed us into unreliable cloud services that cause constant headaches and are just generally painful to work with.
Linux just keeps on getting better.
Byany2525@reddit
Linux pays more.
rootkode@reddit
I administer both, Linux is fun once you’re comfortable. Windows is just plain boring to me. I’d recommend doing what you find the most fun to work with.
jandersnatch@reddit
Learn both. Use the best one for the workload
Master-IT-All@reddit
I haven't been a 'windows' admin since 2014. I manage cloud application services in Microsoft Azure and 365.
It was never about the OS, it was always about Exchange Server.
Random-D@reddit
personally my experience has been it depends a lot on what the server is serving.
are you talking corporate it systems, something for your employees, anything that isnt a full SaaS yet, it most likely has to do with windows servers.
are you serving something to the internet, maybe even running that SaaS business yourself, its almost certainly linux.
both ways have their exceptions ofc but i think for majority of systems within these environments you cam follow this rule of thumb
lunchbox651@reddit
Windows is probably easier due to a lower barrier of entry and Linux typically pays more and likely to have tougher competition.
PaleSignature4776@reddit
No BSD love?
Lower_Fan@reddit
Windows is more widespread at the low end of the market while Linux at the high end. Depending on your background one might be easier for you than the other.
Good high school > good college > internship amd what not? A Linux role might be more apt
No college > little to no experience > windows
But since this is what usually happens you'll find windows heavy places when it come to servers are a mess specially smbs kind of a chicken and egg problem.
joshghz@reddit
I suspect Linux Admin is less competitive in terms of quantity of applicants, but if the pay is attractive it would likely be far more competitive in terms of quality.
I'm comfortable enough managing the few Linux servers at work - and what I run at home - but there is no way I'd ever try to talk my way into being responsible solely for a Linux environment.
Anon_0365Admin@reddit
I would pick whichever you are most comfortable with. I know both, but I've never had a specific role just one or the other but I can say being a sysadmin that has experience with both has helped me A LOT. Especially when troubleshooting between the two groups