Advice on Transitioning to AIX From Other UNIX Flavors

Edit: Still seems like a legit answer, and also applies to those that know AIX that want to learn more about Linux for example.

Originally posted August 27, 2007 on AIXchange

I’ve been asked, “How long will it take for me to get up to speed on AIX if I have experience in Solaris or HP/UX or Linux?”
 
That depends.
 
How willing are you to read documentation? How much time will you have available for hands-on learning? Will you have a lab available, and the time to spend on the test machines? Will you be trying to keep your skills current, or will you want to set up the machines and just let them run with little intervention?
 
Like anything in life, the more time that you invest, the better you get. I’ve heard managers say, “Oh, just send them to the AIX jumpstart class, that’s all they will need.”
 
This approach will certainly get the information necessary to start doing their jobs, but they won’t become experts overnight. This comes with real-world experience solving problems.   
 
With a solid UNIX background, the transition may be easier, just remember to leave the “baggage” that comes with this knowledge at the door. The AIX world may have different ways of doing things than the world that you’re experienced in. Learn why things are done the way they are. Learn how they’re done. Then share what you have learned.