Migrating a business from MS to Linux

I am unsure whether this is the right forum for this question, but it was the best I could find.

Due to new Microsoft licensing issues, a few of the businesses I consult for would like to migrate from Microsoft environments, to pure Linux environments. I have done a great deal of research on this subject over the past few weeks, and am still unsure whether I can make this decision for the companies. I have a great deal of Linux/UNIX experience, but only after years of hard work.

What are your thoughts on dumping Microsoft within a corporate environment and adopting Linux? The learning curve is quite steep, but do you think it would be possible to create a network, usable by all employees (many who are not technically inclined), and compatible with other businesses which may still be running only Microsoft products?

The companies each have a wide assortment of needs (including file sharing servers, gateways, SQL servers, web servers, etc.). I have the knowledge and experience in setting these up, but do not want to hinder the businesses by helping them migrate to an environment they will not be able to use.

Any thoughts you have upon this would be greatly appreciated. If you need any more information, I will be more than happy to provide it.

AJ

Servers can be replaced by Linux, domain controllers can be easily replaced by E-smith server, but workstations will have to run windows, it's a hell of a job to have all the people who do administration etc to switch to a Linux enviroment, besides not all programs are available for linux (yet)

I would have to agree w/ Leviatan, it's really not a question of whether you can implement it, it's more of a question of 'can the company adapt?'. I know the company I work for would have no way to do it (workstation wise), every program they use is either DOS based or migrating towards a 32 bit Windows environment, they would have to pay the companies, that they already paid a good sum of money, to work on a port to nix, or scrap what they use and use a nix developer. not impossible, just not worth the money, to them anyway. With linux as it is now, you can only replace things that wouldn't effect me, lol (Joe Schmoe workin' the keys), the average employee in companies don't want to have to learn anything new, IMHO, anywho. . .but server side, etc., hell yeah, as long as the transition is transparent to the actual user of the proggies.

Switching a business to Linux is a big decision with big risks. You might want to try a little test group with a few employees. One big question is will having a computer that runs free software offset the lost productivity and all the new training that the employees will now need.?

I see everyone's point. With at least one company, I already committed to setting up servers running Linux a couple weeks ago, and so far, we haven't run into any problems.

As for cwk9's question... that's a very good point. I didn't think of it that way. The workstations have been my largest concern from the start, due to the learning curve and availability of specific software (or, in this case, lack thereof).

What about (throwing this out) holding out on the workstations until LindowsOS is officially released? I've always been cautious about upgrading soon after something is released, but so far, in my experience, the sneak preview has run most of the Windows applications I use on daily basis. Any thoughts on doing this?

AJ

I switched my personal workstation (admin station) and 80 % of my machines to Linux. I still have a couple of Win XP Pro machines and Win2000 on the network. Even a 98SE workstation for public access/demo purposes. The migration went well. A few little glitches here and there. The main problems I had were that I have to use MS Publisher with some clients and can't use the files or forms from it on Tux. Also I have a few little glitches in authoring PDF documents such as fill in forms I created in Acrobat on the Win32 platform. All my spreadsheets, docs, databases etc... did fine. I still would'nt recomend going with Tux workstations though. Remeber that most end users are used to the ease of Windows point and click. Even though most of us use and prefer Tux. Lets face it. It's not that user freindly to the average user and has a higher learning curve than windows. I have a fealing that this will change soon after MS bends everyone over..........

hi

you should also consider the fact that there are also many people who are not comfortable In ANY operating system, including windows, and are able to use computers only for the most basic of tasks or for what they have been trained to do. if you set up an intranet interface (based on a linux server, and linux workstations) in which users are able to do most things via http (and if you or someone else can code all the scripts and programming required for such tasks) then the learning curve shouldn't be that difficult, as long as users learn what to click on, and what to type, etc... that is how my work is starting to operate.

with linux workstations, you also won't have to worry so much about them getting trashed by users, e.g. accidentally downloading suspect microsoft-office attachments which run suspect vb scripts / users accidentally formatting the c drive / users and workstations that get windows networking problems / and so on and so on.

just my 2c worth.

regards,
mark.

well INHO if IBM did it why cant ya? :)...though they only did it for servers not workstations i htink that maybe the best option for now until ppl get the idea of linux u might want to suggest workshops that u will be willing to teach at a small(:P) charge ...that way after a year of workshops the change wont be so drastic to the change

adven I would suggest you to advise your customers to run a small pilot with one linux server to test everything, but again there is no way you can get the (l) users to switch their workstations to Linux. Don't let the linux extremists tell you that bs story, sysadmins allready have a shitload of work, and more user support will stress them out.

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Originally posted here by Leviatan


....sysadmins allready have a shitload of work, and more user support will stress them out.

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too true!



regards,

mark.

Well I'll throw my .01 in here. After just spending a chunk of change to lock the business I work for into W2K on license issues that cover growth for about 2 years. The cost of furture MS licenses have gotten to the point of a major overhead operating cost. While I finish up the W2K server issues consider several changes taking place. Business I support is Engineering part of that is Gov both state and federal projects and both are moving their default method of exchange of Info to a dot PDF. Adobe is supporting this now look forward to when AutoCad follows suit. Here is the thing at least in AE (Arch/Engineering) their are those boiler plate contract clauses none call out now for XP and some contracts exceed MS upgrade time what now it's 2 years? Lots of dot Gov state federal are moving to Linux also. So look at all the factors for your client there is right now AbiWord that can during my test so far take a dot Doc and read it be edited and saved back and the formatting stays the same. Roll out Linux server side first, one of my servers from the upgrade did not purchase a W2K it is going to Be linux and a slow roll out with what works. Have your clients review their production needs and the format of electronic information then all the programs they use and what is required by contracts and the options they may hold. Believe me there is not a Boiler Plate Spec out there now that requires a XP anything. MS lost the point small business's as in under 500 employees are 95 % of the business out there, Let ATT, Verison roll out XP our company will never touch it, we know our business not MS. And face it Bill Gates did not invent DOS, has no vision, is just good at making myth as a good customer many years they never asked me what our business needed, they have told us enough...thanks MS LOL Information Super Highway Bill..he has never been will never be cool..rich yes...cool nope! Review the contracts and their specs :D

Some Apps URL's
http://www.abisource.com/ Good word processor
http://www.lycoris.com/ Good DeskTop GUI and programs

These I am rolling out and testing on a different network was we move from W2K and I have lots to look forward to in those two years being M$ free :D

Thought about OS X for work stations?
I mean who define user friendly. Flat line learninig curve.
I mean a dept. at a time... they run MS Office and many BigCo softs.
Plus they face a *N*X backend nicely:))
Just a thought.

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Servers can be replaced by Linux, domain controllers can be easily replaced by E-smith server, but workstations will have to run windows, it's a hell of a job to have all the people who do administration etc to switch to a Linux enviroment, besides not all programs are available for linux (yet)

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WWWWWWWWWHAT! I use Linux for most of my stuff except those games that Microsoft have bribed the developers of too make them more money!
Office Software: Sun staroffice www.sun.com Openoffice www.openoffice.org Abiword www.abisource.org
Browsing: www.mozilla.org P2P: www.limewire.com
Desktops: www.gnome.org www.ximian.com www.kde.org
Operating Systems themselfs: www.linux.org www.freebsd.org www.apple.com www.sun.com
There is more information on this at various anti microsoft sites such as www.windows-sucks.com

I Hope i can be of great service of you and helping get of that Windows program...
Might i inquire, Why was Microsoft Software on the Servers on the first place?

I am in the process of doing this at my company. We are starting by replacing the servers. Already done a couple of database servers. The next is our main file server/domain controller, which will be replaced with a linux samba server. Then the email server will be replaced with postfix.

After the servers, then come the desktops. There are only 2 programs that we haven't found linux equivalents for. 1 is MS Access (which sucks anyway). Threre are plenty of database programs, I just need one that will convert access files, so I don't have to rewrite a couple dozen databases. The second is AutoCAD. We are actually testing a couple of different programs right now, and may have found one that will work. By the end of this year, this entire company will be Microsoft free.....

Workstation Migration can be a PITA. I migrated my Mom over to FreeBSD/KDE and I can't find any of the plugins for Netscape gold 3.04. All she really needs is Netscape and WINE to run some Windows stuff. Guys, help me fix it up or I may not be here anymore cause I may be in a body bag :D.