On Thu, 16 Oct 2008, James Cornell wrote: >> > Ha ha, quite a good point. The intention of Indiana now that I look at > it again is desktops, so yes all computers are a desktop. Sun ray and
Several times in my life I have worked at companies which deployed Solaris as the "desktop" but the home directories were stored on network file servers (e.g. Auspex, NetApp, Sun) in order to ease administration, increase data reliability, and make things easier for users. It was quite common for people to be logged in and using their home directories from multiple computers at once. With this configuration, three or four system administrations were easily able to manage over 2000 Solaris "desktops". As long as the network was functioning properly, everyone was happy. I don't think that this is an approach from yesteryear since it is still successfully used today. The Windows/Mac "PC" model assumes that the user's "personal" files are stored on the same computer as the display/keyboard. In order to "share" files, it is necessary to identify the "PC" containing the files to be shared. This model results in far less data reliability and requires far more system administrators. It is by far a more expensive deployment approach than Sun's "The Network Is The Computer" type approach. The trackerd design seems to assume the "PC" model with a homogeneous computing base and homogeneous desktop throughout. It is an example of a desktop direction which is contrary to the reasons that I use and appreciate Solaris. If Solaris is turned into a clone of Windows/Mac then there becomes little reason to use it. The Solaris desktop should address use in evironments where the network is used for more than to simply browse the web. Bob ====================================== Bob Friesenhahn bfriesen at simple.dallas.tx.us, http://www.simplesystems.org/users/bfriesen/ GraphicsMagick Maintainer, http://www.GraphicsMagick.org/
