Send us your Linux nightmares and horror stories

by Jason "Hiner MCSE, CCNA" | Jul 31, 2001 7:00:00 AM

Tags: Jason Hiner MCSE, CCNA

Takeaway: You've heard the Linux success stories?now it's time for the horror stories. Send us a description of your worst Linux experience. If we publish it as part of our future compilation of Linux nightmares, you?ll receive a prize.

Our article on Linux success stories drew many thanks from TechRepublic members who enjoyed seeing practical stories of Linux in action. However, one member made a very good point. He said that he would also like to hear about Linux nightmares in order to get the flip side of the coin and see the areas where Linux can result in problems.

So we decided to invite you to e-mail us or place a comment in the discussion at the bottom of this article with a rundown of your worst Linux horror story. Tell us about failed installs, crashed servers, misconfigured services, programs you couldn’t get to run, support problems, and anything else that caused you to have Linux nightmares. We will publish the best stories in a future article, and all those members whose comments get published will receive a supersized TechRepublic coffee mug.

Remember that this is about expressing practical problems so that other administrators can get a better idea about the challenges of deploying and managing Linux. This is not meant to be a Linux-bashing session. Also, for all those Linux enthusiasts who cry “FUD” every time you mention any of Linux’s shortcomings, please remember that this is not a forum for defending the merits of Linux as an OS. We want to hear about the problems that made your head spin so that we can all learn from each other’s mistakes and get a better understanding of how to administer the penguin. Send us your story.

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What’s your most awful Linux horror story?
There’s a sporty TechRepublic coffee mug at stake, so join the discussion below or send the editor an e-mail.

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Print/View all Posts Comments on this article

Linux SativoComputerServices | 07/31/01

Re: Linux Alex Nunn | 08/01/01

You seem to be mentally challenged. campbellr@... | 08/01/01

You seem to be mentally challenged. campbellr@... | 08/01/01

NIGHTMARE! jstanton@... | 08/01/01

Code Red worms... Makatsuta | 08/01/01

Sickly Products Pandadude | 08/02/01

Code Red worms... ChrisCT | 08/03/01

Couple of thoughts? Nichomach | 08/01/01

Linux WAS a nightmare GuruOfDos | 08/02/01

Brilliant logic David Tillotson | 08/02/01

Re: Brilliant Logic GuruOfDos | 08/03/01

Metaphors make for poor logic Albert Franco II | 08/03/01

trcos | 08/03/01

Guru of DOS? Anthropic Al | 09/25/01

GUI's are for idiots GuruOfDos | 12/07/02

Give us a break!!! salmonslayer | 09/25/01

havent had good experience with Linux josemlucero@... | 09/25/01

Linux User The Whiner | 12/02/02

good as the user joemorgan1@... | 09/25/01

Linux for server ,Windows for Desktop jlau@... | 09/26/01

Linux Vs. M$ BloodBath | 09/27/01

Balanced = iSeries JPCARR@... | 08/02/01

Right..but.. Pandadude | 08/02/01

Not Really - It's newer than Intel, and JPCARR@... | 08/02/01

Linux on IBM fla_root | 09/25/01

mainframe linux jwcomputing@... | 09/25/01

Just two questions... Albert Franco II | 08/03/01

Cheap, and What desktop? CPFman | 08/06/01

AS/400 on a Visa card? fla_root | 09/25/01

Possibly less generalist@... | 09/25/01

Exciting Install. CPFman | 08/02/01

Linux and Win2K in the MBR jeffc@... | 08/03/01

No probs here BloodBath | 09/27/01

Is this discussion funded by M$ now? Uncle Fritz | 08/03/01

Beginner to linux? fla_root | 09/25/01

Installing Linux crenstrom | 09/26/01

horror story joemorgan1@... | 09/25/01

I'm Happy with LINUX so far dahart@... | 09/26/01

Balanced view sujai.nath@... | 07/31/01

WIN2K Horror Stories creepynweird@... | 07/31/01

Win2K Nightmare AntiRoyal | 07/31/01

Uh the year is 2001 not 1991 campbellr@... | 08/01/01

A REAL answer kmiller | 08/01/01

Another REAL answer trcos | 08/01/01

Problem with linuxconf shiva | 08/01/01

STOP THE PRESSES! schitzoid@... | 08/02/01

Webmin shiva | 08/01/01

2001? - in *nix land always 70's AntiRoyal | 08/03/01

GNOME and WINE epepke@... | 08/03/01

A balanced view epepke@... | 08/01/01

XFree86 Headaches jason@... | 08/01/01

If you think that's hard ... David Tillotson | 08/02/01

Laptop installation nightmares jason@... | 08/01/01

Addendum to my post jason@... | 08/01/01

Addendum to my addendum jason@... | 08/01/01

Installation problems shiva | 08/01/01

I have to boot from floppy null | 08/01/01

Floppy boot and MS generalist@... | 09/25/01

Something is wrong here null | 08/01/01

horror and Linux andy520@... | 08/02/01

Here's a horror story jrandom42 | 08/02/01

Here's a horror story ChrisCT | 08/03/01

Why would we? Because..` jrandom42 | 08/03/01

Why would we? Because..` ChrisCT | 08/09/01

Hello?? TheJazzMan | 08/03/01

Sure it does! jrandom42 | 08/03/01

OS for ma, pa AND the kids ? AntiRoyal | 08/13/01

Management idiocy generalist@... | 09/25/01

I find this hard to believe... fla_root | 09/25/01

I have an insight from a co-worker null | 08/02/01

Most Linux horror stories are avoidable mheikka@... | 09/25/01

Avoidable Linux Problems SativoComputerServices | 10/05/01

Linux Firewall aushtosh@... | 09/01/02