On Wed, 28 Jul 2004 23:41:55 +1000 "Aaron Benson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hi, > > > Centralised admin is my primary concern. User perspective is > obviously functionality. > > Anyway.... > > I've decided the best course of action to save money for the company > is to run a kickarse > Microsft 2K3 server Terminal Server, then use "SOME SORT" of ULinux > OS to run on the client machine with a compatible TS client like > rdesktop, PXES etc. possibly including a combo with LTSP, Rdesktop > and Wilisystem if I want an EPROM diskless total boot from ULinux > workstation desktop to W2K3 Terminal Server without user > interaction. Can be done using freebsd too. Look into bootp, PXE, and whatever... http://people.freebsd.org/~alfred/pxe/en_US.ISO8859-1/articles/pxe/article.html http://www.tnpi.biz/computing/freebsd/pxe-netboot.shtml And there is even more info out there on how to do it. ;) > The question is, out of all the ULinux flavours, which one should I > run which costs nothing or very little and will last for 4-6years in > that time period? "Very little" equates to somewhat less than > running Windows XP for a similar period. You can DL freebsd and get it all working with everything you need for free. Cheaper than running WinXP is easy in this area. > Cost savings include at least virus scanners and significant patch > updates from Microsoft. Of course I'd rather update a single server > than around 500 workstations both LAN and VPN remote machines. Virus > signatures, multiple Microsoft patches etc. can be avoided. Depends on how the antivirus is liscensed. > Reminder is I'm used to using XP. Our users range from Windows NT > 4.0,Windows 2000 Pro and Windows XP. Based on a decent TS client, > this shouldn't matter anyway. > > Your advice appreciated. > > > Regards > > > Aaron Benson > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vulpes Velox [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, 26 July 2004 4:43 AM > To: Jorn Argelo > Cc: Aaron Benson; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Are you truly a M$ desktop alternative? > > > On Sat, 24 Jul 2004 20:41:54 +0200 (CEST) > "Jorn Argelo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > This email is going to any Linux house whom has pitched > > > themselves via their websites and reviews, from my research as > > > being possible alternatives to XP at this stage. Depends on your > > > Google hit and thereafter (if found within 2 pages) site FAQ's I > > > suppose. > > > > > > As a currently dedicated M$ house (apart from Oracle Databases), > > > we question the move to a XP desktop amid the Linux hype in > > > recent times. Any IT department trying to save company money is > > > only doing the right thing and ask the question, what can Linux > > > do for us? > > > > As mentioned before, FreeBSD is NOT Linux. Keep that in mind. > > > > > I've flipped through your FAQ's and over forums but result in no > > > > > > answer for Active Directory 2K3 and Exchange 2K3 server client > > > connectivity, integration and functionality? Note that we have > > > not moved to these product versions yet. Hence this email. > > > > KDE's Kmail can connect to Exchange servers, I believe. As for > > logging > > > into active directory ... That doesn't exist AFAIK. Perhaps there > > are programs that allow such things, but I wouldn't count on that. > > Windows > > > is an excellent OS for integration with Active Directory. > > AFAIK sylpheed-claws can too... IIRC Exchange is imap... or > something... > > Windows see below for more info on active directory integration. :) > > > > I ask because I cannot see a server based centralised > > > authentication > > > > and administrative option in Linux. If there were, say a > > > "centralised server option" for Linux, this would be seriously > > > considered. Is there a User Manager equivalent (NT4 domain for > > > example) or Exchange Administrator equivalent (Exchange > > > 5.5) "functional" alternative? More importantly, 2K3 Server and > > > Exchange integration? > > > > > YP/NIS works and can be gotten to work on Windows(using something > free similiar to below from Microsoft.) Many unixes(note lower case > :P) are also begining to supprt LDAP now. IIRC FreeBSD 5x does. > > > Not AFAIK. > > > > > Failing that, connecting clients as above to M$ servers would be > > > > > > sufficient. Stay with M$ in servers, go with Linux in desktops. > > > I've > > > > seen enough "glossy brochures" and want to know the facts. > > > > Again, you can't do this when you want centralised server option. > > > > > The cost difference is obvious. The functional difference is > > > not. I've still no reason to choose your Linux over Windows XP > > > Pro at this stage. Cost is not enough. Any sane IT department > > > doesn't need screaming users due to lack of pure functionality. > > > Experience suggests most find it difficult enough getting around > > > the OS to even > > > > perform basic functions, let alone usability. > > > > > > Assuming aforementioned functionality, where does your Linux > > > stand with converting between M$ Office 97/2K/2K3? Will our > > > accounts department be able to work with their previous 40Mb > > > Excel files full > > > > of VLookups and Formulas straightup, or is it going to be bigger > > > > > > than a Lotus 4.1 to Excel 5 conversion debacle? Of course > > > Word,PowerPoint,Publisher and Access are questioned also. > > > > OpenOffice.org can do the job there, but a file created with OOo > > will be rather misshapen when opened with Excel and vica versa. So > > it's not > > > advicable. > > What about gnumeric? There are also other assorted programs out > there to fill the need desired. > > Remember, on unix you are not as limited in vendor options as you > are on windows and there is a much larger software base to choose > from. :) > > > > I'm talking up to 500 user desktops to be upgraded. Upgraded > > > need not be a literal word. Installing Linux from scratch would > > > be expected. Anything "upgrade wise" extra would be a bonus. > > > > > > Outside of M$ Office, current application functionality would > > > have to be trialed. This is expected. A list of currently > > > supported M$ applications would be helpful. > > > > > > Your detailed reply appreciated > > > > > > > So, for your needs, upgrading to Linux or BSD or whatever is a BAD > > > > idea, IMHO. Your employees and your desktops simply don't have any > > use > > > of it, with the desires mentioned above. As long as you wish for > > integration with Active Directory, then an Microsoft OS is still > > the best for you. > > Can be done :) > > http://www.microsoft.com/windows/sfu/productinfo/features/default.asp > > Those idiots still have not put in ssh, thought!?!?! :/ > /me feels telnet should be a executable offense :P > > > > BTW I have been using unix since it is simpler to type than > unix-like os or unix derivative... not to be confused with the upper > case UNIX ^_^ _______________________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
