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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."
It's nice to see The GIMP given some recognition, in that it is broadcasted as a replacement for Paint Shop Pro, which is IMHO fair to both programs. I'm glad they didn't say the same thing of Photoshop, which would have been altogether a bad move. The other choices (Firefox, OpenOffice) are predictable.
I'm not sure how I feel about seperating "Component Desktop Environment" from "Desktop Environment" from "Window Manager", but the seperation is arguable. (GNUStep! Whoohoo!) It's clear they're recommending exclusively using either KDE or GNOME, if the user environment needs to be tightly controlled. Fine by me.
*is run over by rotten tomatoes*
If an office is serious about migrating, especially call centers, there has to be good software on the new desktops that can support VoIP phone networks. We are forced to use a broken implementation of Wine to get our phone software to work, and we are almost forced to go back to windows because of the proprietary phone network that isnt going anywhere.
Phone software is a must. If I had the skills I would write some myself but I wouldnt even know where to begin. We have to rely on one stupid piece of shit app that crashes consantly, and is barely functional, in order to log into the phone network. Whats worse, we are forced to pay for upgrades that contain only minor bug fixes. More often than not the bugfixes break other parst of the software, like the "LOGIN" button. Are there no open standards in place for removing the dependency on proprietary software for phones?
You are about to give someone a piece of your mind, something which you can ill afford...
Forget Excel, think about all the Access, FoxPro, or Delphi databases/apps out there.
The only person in our company who could switch to linux would be the front receptionist. And she'd need to dual boot so she can still do all the FedEx stuff.
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
I think the real answer is "because these books are developed by IBM there are some content limitations." IBM does a pretty good job of not participating in the distribution wars. In the section titled "1.6 Linux overview and distribution choices" the only mention of distributions by name is this sentance: "Some of the most well-known distributions include Red Hat, SuSE, Debian, Mandrake, etc." IBM has technology aliances with both Red Hat and SuSE so they cannot publicly endorse one in favor of the other. A quick search of the pdf showed that Red Hat was mentioned 110 times and SuSE was only mentioned 15 times. Debian and Mandrake were mentioned six and seven times respectivly. I doubt that really proves anything.
Insert Generic Sig Here:
How about a Lotus Notes client for Linux? You cannot completely migrate to Linux even if you work for IBM.
WINE is not the answer. I say this from experience. NUL (Notes under Linux) is complete crap. IBM does not even offer the web based solutions internally.
Offer to buy 10,000 thinkpads w/Linux (and show that you are serious and have the means) and see the doors open.
Company X isn't going to build a custom configuration of anything more complex than a hamburger in order to sell a single unit.
The delicious irony of this is that they use Wine heavily internally to run Notes.
I don't have any clear visibility into why this is; I get a lot of hemming and hawing about it, but no clear vision. I suspect some back room handshake agreement with the folks in Redmond, but have no real proof for that.
They try to raise an argument about patents, but IBM themselves know that a proven monopolist cannot successfully prosecute a lawsuit over patents (which is why IBM prosecuted no such cases from 1935 until 1985, because they got slapped in 1935 for antitrust violations when they did so).
A perhaps more straight forward explanation is that using Wine greatly reduces the amount of services that IBM can provide you with :-/.
when you are trying to rollout a new desktop, give them a hundred dollars and some slack. Say "yes, we know you might have to learn as few new things, but give it an honest try for a little while, and here's a bonus to help pay for your personal training".
Cash talks, market speak BS boss orders walk.
People are at YOUR work because they want to MAKE MONEY, not because it's a hobby for them, you are asking them to keep doing their jobs they are doing now PLUS learn an all new system to them (most likely), so pay them for it, at least something. A little extra, a bonus. What cash you now don't ship to Redmond, shoot them a little bone for their efforts. Cash really perks people up and gives them a little enthusiasm, because humans are stubborn and they don't like to change. Grease the wheels of inertia a little. You pay your sales weasels bonuses for a "good job" above and beyond, same with all the other PHBs,so do it with the rank and file grunts, too.
Recognize that humans are humans and you are putting them out-even if it's for their own good and the companys own good in the medium and long term. they don't really understand that, they understand "this much work daily and NOW I have to relearn all this crap and..." You get the picture. Pay them for new things they have to do.
And technically, I don't think you can beat a live CD distro with a stick for a transition period, even if it's just setting up a few generic boxes with it running in the break room in advance of the switch, let them play with it before they are under pressure to produce on it. Give them free CD install disks they can take home and put on their own machines if they want to, the same stuff you will be running at work. That can't hurt either and is certainly cheap enough to do.
Others have noted that this point is addressed. The author conservatively steers clear of such dissasters.
"Very Complex Excel" migration is a failure, even if you stick to M$. OLE and calls to other functions are each invitations to something not being on the next version of Winblows. Worse, M$ changes their scripting so you can be sure you will have work to do no matter what. I know a guy who was doing Nuclear Power Plant thermal balance calculations with a big nasty sheet. It even called the local high school to get weather information that was then used for regulatory purposes! The thing was a tremendous pain in his ass that needed constant upkeep and had all sorts of quirks that could give you wrong answers. He was using the wrong tool for the job and needed to replace it with proper and stable tools.
For normal sheets, OO, gnumeric and even kspread are doing a very good job with opening complex sheets. I've been very pleased lately when trying to open old cross section calculation sheets. I've seen my old graphs. They are doing about as well as M$ junk itself did with my older sheets. In the worst case, I've got the nasty old things on an http server, so I can go get them on a Winblows box and see them. A company could easily keep a few Winblows boxes or just use Xandros with it's excellent Crossover Office setup.
If the book is challenged on that point, then you will lose credibility.
I don't think so. The author said it would not work. He was being conservative but surely knows as well as I do how things are going.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
Now, if only IBM would actually give us a useful Desktop, like.. oh.. PORT THE WORKPLACE SHELL TO RUN ON X11.. please? Give me the code, I'll do it, if you don't want to spare the resources.
"Champagne for my real friends - and real pain for my sham friends!" http://ericblade.postalboard.com/