I really like the idea. I am one of those individuals that you refer to who are somewhat new to the Ubuntu/Linux environment and a GUI interface on the server-end sounds like a fantastic idea. > > Ting > > On Fri, 2008-06-27 at 15:08 +0200, JAWUD wrote: > >> Just my thoughts on ubuntu server GUI. >> >> English is not my native language so I apologize for grammar mistakes. >> >> Windows server system is very popular and I think it is because of the GUI it >> has. In my opinion a user should be able to configure a server without the >> cli. >> GUIs have some big advantage over the cli, it’s easier to learn, more users >> are >> comfortable with it and it just looks better. There is also a huge demand >> for a >> good gui, see all the brainstorm ideas. >> But a server without CLI is also not nice. A lot of Linux sysadmins are used >> to >> it and some things are very hard to do with GUIs. So the perfect server os >> should provide the user with a nice clean GUI but without disrupting the >> usual >> cli. >> >> Building a GUI doesn’t automatically mean that the problem is solved. >> Developing >> a bad GUI isn’t that difficult. The GUI needs a lot of usability testing. I >> also >> believe that the GUI shouldn’t be developed with the current situation in >> mind. >> Systems like webmin provide a GUI for a lot of server software, but it isn’t >> easy. >> >> The target group of a GUI are people with less Linux experience and who >> wants a >> stable and secure server. People who knows the cli are probable not >> interested >> in the GUI. People with large deployments are also not interested in a GUI. >> They >> want control over all the details. >> >> Server GUI options: >> >> There are several options for a GUI. First one is to run X/gnome and make a >> GUI >> for the server. Remote server management can be done with VNC. This is the >> windows way of server management. Running X/gnome takes a lot of resources >> and >> VNC is not so fast. So this is not a nice option. >> >> Another option is to run a web server and make a web interface. As far as I >> know >> this is the current vision of the ubuntu server team (ebox). Running a web >> server also takes some resources. Another disadvantage is that web interfaces >> are not as nice and rich as QT/GTK apps. The real time graphs like system >> monitor are not possible with html/css etc. >> >> The third option is to create a curses GUI. The advantages are that it >> doesn’t >> take a lot of resources, doesn’t need some external services like a web >> server >> and it is accessible via SSH. Some huge disadvantage is that it looks >> horrible. >> How things looks are also important on the server. Server admin are also >> humans >> just like desktop users. >> >> The last option is to make a remote GUI system. Here’s a example: a user >> installs the “Ubuntu Server Console” program on his desktop. It’s a GTK or QT >> app which can be used to connect to a supported ubuntu server via ssh so it >> can >> be configured. In my opinion this is the best option. It has a nice and rich >> GUI >> and there is no web server or X/gnome. It’s comparable with Rapache. >> >> Maybe I can do a small usability test to figure out what people think of cli, >> curses or remote gtk. I can also create a ubuntuforum poll to get peoples >> preference. >> >> All the interfaces are just different front ends. So I think ubuntu needs a >> configuration abstraction layer. Something like Augeas. Augeas can become the >> back end and then it’s easier to build different GUIs. Augeas intend to cover >> all commonly used configuration files and it is still possible to edit the >> config files manual. >> >> Work together? >> There are several people working on some gui option. Why not create one big >> project, define some goals, create a roadmap and start working. These people >> might be interested in working together.. >> >> Nxvl – packaging augeas for ubuntu and want to build a cursus gui >> Rapache – working on a remote apacke gui tool >> Satega – working on ubuntu home server >> Someone else?? >> >> As far as I know all these people are on this mailing list. Together we can >> do >> nice things and I'm interested in your opinion about this. Especially in >> creating a "Ubuntu Server Console". >> >> - JAWUD >> >> >> >> > > >
-- Kindest regards, Matthew OIT Help Desk Duke University 684.2200 -- ubuntu-server mailing list [email protected] https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-server More info: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ServerTeam
