You can start fundamentals and Shell prograsmming exercises using a UNIX simulator for DOS or Windows. There’re some Learning UNIX tutorials from SAMS, you can find and buy used books c/w disk for couple bucks.
Eduboys, for you, as a UNIX guy, there’s no way to escape from Linux. Red Hat is used on IBM servers.
After you get some basics, you have to decide what industry platform to choose.
You might be lucky to buy a used HP server with UX in special HP stores for the price of old PC. Just network it with your Windows boxes.
Although HP is in some kind of different situation on the server market now, Sun, I think, is better.
My suggestion is IBM, not easy to get a job there though, but IBM is doing pretty good now.
They won a huge project in Britain recently and so on. Read that:
“IBM is the number one server vendor worldwide in terms of factory revenue for the first quarter 2001…outselling Sun Microsystems by a 60 percent margin.” This ever-growing base of AIX servers is creating <b>increased demand for qualified AIX professionals</b>. As a result, IBM has developed an AIX certification program to help meet this need.”
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Not cheap, not easy…but after you get AIX certificates, you don't need to worry about MS Windows platform changes every couple years along with certifications.
Call 1-800-XXX-XXXX your nearest IBM main office,
in their training department ask about IBM-authorised college (nearest to you).
Good luck, keep in touch.