I have been asked about the feasibility of using Linux instead of MS - across the board - at our shop. Totally caught me by surprise -- I have always extolled the virtues of Linux while at work, and even convinced a few different co-workers to try it, but I did not expect this kind of a "complete conversion" question to come from the top down.
Since we run a native-mode Windows 2000 shop with Active Directory, Exchange, SQL, IIS - the whole gambit - this is quite a daunting proposal. Of course, it is easy to match most services with comparable daemons: LDAP, Postfix, MySQL, Apache, Samba, etc. (examples only). But one service I do not yet know what I would transition to is Remote Installation Services (RIS). RIS is basically an wizard-driven network unattended (scripted) install. It can also be used to install customized "images". These are snapshots of the OS with apps installed, configured, etc., without taking a byte-for-byte image like Ghost. It stores the current registry settings along with the installed files, and adds those into the unattended install. Sounds like you have at least a portion of what RIS does down pat, Mark. In this case, it's called "slipstreaming". You can update the appropriate files from a CD-based image to Service Pack X version files, so when you do the install, SP(X) is already installed; no need to add SP(X) later. >Also we have a script that updates the install files so that when we do an install >Red Hat, It is current without adding updates since it's release. Are you able to post the script (or send privately) for this functionality, Mark? I'd love to see it. Does anyone have any comparable solutions for these kinds of deployment functionalities using Linux? This would be a key to getting Linux on every desktop here. Thanks, Curtis. P.S. If people have experience with this kind of thing, I have similar replacement-type questions for Terminal Services, Group Policy, etc. I am very excited with the possibility of moving _everything_ to Linux (and we have a lot to move!). -----Original Message----- From: Mark Lane [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 11:01 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: (clug-talk) XP Passwords Useless!!!! At 10:05 AM 2/18/03, you wrote: > > > > I'm kind of an old fashion kinda guy, and I say without a CD-rom/floppy > > drive how will you be able to install Linux? I know there is the Bios > > network install, but I just don't trust it, I never used it, and it's a > > new > > technology wait several years, until the technology is really tested, but > > for now, I'll stick to Cd-rom's and floppies. > >This "technology" is not anywhere near to being new. It has been around >for years and is well tested. You can also just use a cdrom to install it >and then rip it out after if you are that paranoid, or just put physical >security measures in place like I mentioned above. I can install Red Hat faster over the network than from CD any day. CD's are not that fast of a media even with the current 52x readers. Also we have a script that updates the install files so that when we do an install Red Hat, It is current without adding updates since it's release. -- Mark Lane Hard Data Ltd. mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Telephone: 01-780-456-9771 FAX: 01-780-456-9772 11060 - 166 Avenue Edmonton, AB, Canada T5X 1Y3 http://www.harddata.com/ --> Ask me about our Affordable Alpha Systems! <--
