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Linux Desktop Migration Cookbook from IBM
almondjoy writes "I was project leader for publication of this recent IBM Redbook, available for free download here: Linux Client Migration Cookbook: A Practical Planning and Implementation Guide for Migrating to Desktop Linux. At this point, I'm gathering input for what we could improve on, and what additional topics should be covered in a second version of the book. I realize this is a broad topic to cover in a rapidly changing environment. And because these books are developed by IBM there are some content limitations. Nonetheless, in the next version we want to continue making the book as useful as possible for anyone considering a migration to Linux on the desktop."
*QUOTE*/ HNdeskto pwalk_1.html
IBM Corp.'s Global Services team is getting behind Linux on the desktop, starting within IBM itself, according to Sam Docknevich, Linux and grid services executive for IBM. About 14,000 IBM employees use Linux desktops at the present time, and that number will grow to about 50,000 or 60,000 by next year, he estimated.
*END QUOTE*
http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/11/10
Hi,
But it seems a bit too much for the average user. I mean it feels a bit like preaching to the choir. The guide will be most popular among people that already have the ability and desire to move to linux, not necesarily the average joe who is dipping his feet in the water to explore.
I don't think it's meant for Joe user. Instead, it is meant for Jack CTO and Jane SysAdmin who will be the ones moving Joe user from Windows to Linux.
-- Support a free market in the field of government
What utter nonsense. IBM has decided to stop making PC systems (desktops or laptops). It has not decided to abandon the Windows desktop (read, 'software') market.
Generally, bash is superior to python in those environments where python is not installed.
I notice that you leave out the potentially greatest problem: Very Complex Excel spreadsheets migration to OO.org.
This, for most companies, and especially for financial companies, will be an enormous deal-breaker.
If the book is challenged on that point, then you will lose credibility.
"Piter, too, is dead."
I applaud IBM for this Redbook. It is very detailed in terms of providing an IT Administrator the ammunition to begin a pilot project for a Linux migration.
I've never seen a great book for migrating to Linux on the desktop for enterprise users. What really sets this book apart is its discussion on the ability to move Linux to the desktop while maintaining Microsoft products on the server side. While most organizations start by adding Linux servers, and never migrate their clients, this provides a strong start point for desktop migration.
IBM is very committed to Linux. For most of their server products, like WebSphere, Tivoli Access Manager, DB2, etc., Linux is certainly a preferred platform. This book, and the sale of their desktop division, confirms that they're trying to dethrone Microsoft from enterprise dominance and assert their place as a Linux (and AIX) software and services company.
Why? In my case, OpenOffice was comming along, but wasn't there yet, GIMP's development had kinda stagnated. Didn't notice any difference much from 1998-2002. I never got everything working under linux the way it should and my time to play with such things was getting less and less. For server side things I was switching more and more to FreeBSD and OpenBSD for stuff. When OSX 10.1 came along, it was exactly what I wanted especially on a laptop. All the hardware worked, no having to custom compile or write drivers. Plus, I had access to commonly used software such as Microsoft Office for Mac, Adobe, etc. and I had a Unix core that I could develop in PERL, PHP, MySQL/PosgreSQL, and use some cool mac only stuff like Final Cut Pro along with the iLife stuff. Hell I could even run Windows in a window if I needed too. I needed a jack of all trades that worked so I could spend my time making money by fixing everyone else's systems.
With that said, there are places in businesses where Linux would make a lot of sense and cents. Retail stores with several checkout systems would make a lot of sense to use thin linux systems with good point of sale software could really add up in savings very quickly because the cheapest computers these days have more than enough horse power to do this.
Others doing specific data-entry work in a billing department also could use such systems. Eddie Ball, the gutiar string maker, switched over to linux several years ago and things have worked out well. One thing he toughted back in the day was the fact that if an employee didn't need a web browser, they didn't get one. Helps keep workers from goofing off and productive.
For mass Linux deployement Linux still lacks support from many major software vendor, some hardware vendors, and still lacks a true universial and standard desktop interface.
"The problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money" - Thatcher.
Most of your Win apps-only stuff can be handled through Crossover Office. Does wmv videos, IExplorer, Notes/Sametime. Yes, it's basically Wine, but Crossover is optimized for precisely these things.
Page 27: using smbmount to map network resources. You could mention you can do this via a gui very similar to the network neighborhood thing if they are in Gnome or KDE.
You might want to add Mac software to the list of *nix equivalents.
Add a section on locking down the workstation. It won't take people long to figure out they can ssh to anyones box and start messing with people. Any users familiar with setting up windows shares can only share certain folders (barring administrator access to c$, etc), but they probably won't know that if they use a crappy password, someone can gain access to every folder they have. Which reminds me, mention password rulesets and how to implement on the authentication server solutions listed.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one the bus load of girls just went down.
Why won't they go with Wine? FWIW I did the Notes 6.5.1 support for Wine, and we have a lot of people happily using it.
Ubuntu !