Ken -
Your plan also works because:
1. You make the decision first not to leave a mixed environment
for perpetuity, i.e. you made Linux the target single majority
platform for both the server and the desktop.
2. You didn't have the users in a mixed environment for a long
time.
I would add one thing to your story, that perhaps you plan but
didn't indicate; rather than swapping out the PC's for thin
clients all you would have to do is to use the same PC's by
pulling power to the disk drives and installing LTSP boot
roms in the NIC cards.
Glenn J.
---------------
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 16:52:06 -0700
From: "Ken Godee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Organization: The Perfect Image
Subject: Re: [Ltsp-discuss] Use of Native Linux Apps vs Windows Apps
Our plan to convert our offices completely over to linux
takes a little different stance.
Our sales department will start completely set up with
LTSP thin clients. Our office/admin is a little harder
to plan the switch over. We started with what appears
to be where everyone starts, using a windows
virtual program of some sort. win4lin / wine / etc.
All those programs we tested seemed to be either a pain
or far to expensive for our lic. needs.
We decided to go the other way around by running remote exec
of linux apps on the windows machines. This has several
advantages....
Software ranges from free to cheap to reasonable
Icons/linux programs appear right on end users normal windows
desktop allowing them to run linux apps without them even
knowing there not running windows apps. Performance is great.
Allows us to put one program at a time into effect. Lowering
enduser training and "stress" also allowing
us to take the time we need to get each app programmed and
running properly without being under the gun to make the big
switch over.
Once we get the majority of the programs switched over, then
windows machines will be swapped for thin clients and end users
will only need to figure out how to log in, once logged in the
programs they all ready know how to use will be waiting for
them.
Anyway just a different view ("Linux on Windows") from everybody
talking about doing it "Windows on Linux".
Ken G.
> Glenn Jacobson wrote:
> Recently I've been seeing a lot of messages that would
> imply that it is not worth while trying to use Open
> Source or Linux software vs the use of Windows software.
> Alternatively perhaps these people are saying that they
> cannot find native Linux applications, or perhaps they
> are saying that they cannot get a buy into Linux by their
> company so are trying to introduce it without having any
> effect on the end users. We've been there ... but today
> we have a different story.
>
> After many years of working with Linux and the LTSP we have
> finally gotten to the position where it definitely is not
> worth our while, or the clients time, effort and dollars to
> try to play around with Windows software.
>
> The primary reason's are:
>
> 1. The Linux counterparts can now almost always be obtained
> or they can be obtained and customized for far less than the
> Windows counterparts, and then copied and maintained for
> ever by the client or the vendor, without additional costs
> for extra copies.
>
> 2. The Open Source or Linux products will almost always run
> faster without near as many support issues.
>
> 3. For most medium sized companies and all large companies the
> costs for software and maintenance will be much lower. Running
> the LTSP desktop with Open Source software on Linux thin clients can
> save as much as $1,000 to $2,000 per desktop in software costs alone.
> Add that up and it can be millions for large companies.
>
> When we talk to clients it doesn't really make a lot of sense
> to select a software combination that will leave both Linux and
> Microsoft in the mix on a long term basis... which is exactly what you
> do if you select any combination of VM, Win4Lin, or WINE solution. In
> all of these solutions you then leave the client with a mixed MS and
> Linux environment and thus higher support and training requirements
> down the road.
>
> What needs to be done is to first select the clients long term
> migration path ... MS vs Linux. This can be helped by installing
> smaller groups with an LTSP all Open Source environment and allow the
> users and client to get their feet wet, without being swayed one way
> or the other by MS or the "evil" Open Source hackers. (Hint we've
> never had one client who tried this and said, I'd really rather pay
> the higher amount and use MS Office and other MS software.) But if
> they do say that, I would recommend that you remove their LTSP boot
> roms from there PC's and walk away from the client unless your firm
> also does work on MS servers and clients. But even then do not try to
> mix the two for the client.
> Glenn J.
--
Glenn Jacobson, President (419) 861-3340 Fax
Unique Systems, Inc. Mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
6920 Spring Valley Drive, #106 http://www.uniqsys.com
Holland, OH 43528 Complete Open Systems Integration
(419) 861-3331 UNIX/Linux Solutions for Every Business
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