[Gllug] Windows -> Linux

[Richard Cottrill]

Perhaps this is a little close to the bleeding edge for general deployment,
but...

I like the idea of almost locking people out of their own machines and
having them SMB mount $HOME from the NT file server. I can see huge benefits
for managing the system (virus scans, backups, you name it).

Or you could look at running a few larger servers and effectively using the
machines as dumb X terminals/clients. I don't think there'd be any problem
with the bulk of the client machines in that case. You might find the set-up
a lot more cost effective in terms of maintenance, hardware, etc. You could
make problem resolution a lot quicker for the users (Random crashes? Swap
for a known 'good' machine and see if it happens again. No? Dodgey
soft/hardware: re-image/re-build).

I think there's still some life left in the big server - dumb terminal
combo.

Just some ideas. I recall an article on freshmeat (maybe) on the topic. If
you get all enthusiastic you could track it down for some more specific
info.

Richard

> -----Original Message-----
> From: gllug-admin at linux.co.uk [mailto:gllug-admin at linux.co.uk]On Behalf
> Of Formi
> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 10:17 AM
> To: gllug at linux.co.uk
> Subject: Re: [Gllug] Windows -> Linux
>
>
>
>
>
>  Hi,
>
>  I would recommend BlackBox as a window manager, it is not funky just
>  minimalistic, and fast, so you won't have people asking to many questions
>  about it.
>
>  One point I am not really aware of is about the dog that is "cut and
>  paste", but if you use GNOME or KDE apps that "should??" be covered
>  at least between those apps.
>
>  It mostly comes down to trying and asking your users what they think
>  while you are doing the tests.
>
>  Just my humble opinion.
>
>                                                        Formi.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 6 Dec 2001, John Hearns wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 2001-12-06 at 09:23, Daniel Fairs wrote:
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I was wondering if anyone had any experience on migrating
> Windows desktops
> > > to Linux. Our company is looking at reducing software
> licensing costs, and
> > > moving to Linux is the obvious answer.
> > >
> > Yaaay! Just the sort of thing we like to hear,
> > and WE'RE ALL GOING TO HELP OUT AREN'T WE.
> > With no flame wars please!
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Fortunately we don't run an Exchange mail server (phew).
> > >
> > > Does anyone have any experience of overseeing this sort of thing? Any
> > > hints/tips/gotchas? Distro recommendations? (I'd probably use
> RedHat, simply
> > > because it's the one I'm most familiar with, though I was
> very happy with
> > > SuSE in the 6.2 days.)
> > >
> > I'd advise right off that you get the Ximian/Gnome desktop.
> > You can do a web download, or just spend a few pounds on the CD
> > http://www.ximian.com
> >
> >
> >
> > Plus StarOffice - again web download.
> > Or Abiword for word processing, Gnumeric for spreadsheets etc.
> >
> >
> > > The workstations are all pretty old - P2 266 machines, with
> 64MB RAM, though
> > > I can probably swing an upgrade on the memory front for each of them.
> > >
> > Ah.
> > The 64 megs might be a little small for Ximian/Gnome.
> > And load on StarOffice at the same time and you'll run mighty low on
> > RAM.
> > But it won't hurt to have a quick trial.
> >
> > The floor is open for suggestions for more lightweight window managers
> > and office-type applications.
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
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