Bringing a Linux box to Work - Part 1
Let me give you a little background. I have been using Linux at home for about 5 years. I work for an independent software vendor that makes proprietary Windows-based software. I find having to use Windows at work very frustrating. Many basic Windows applications don't do half of what there OSS counterparts do. This, combined with the fact that my 3ghz P4 with 1GB RAM runs at a snails pace, has led me to get make a change.
A few days ago, I began using Parallels at home and have been able to migrate one of my machine's tasks over to a virtual environment. As a result, I have a spare machine that needs a job. My idea is simple. I am going to take this machine to work with me tomorrow and attempt to use it in our Microsoft environment. This series of articles will document my successes and my failures.
I chose to use the brand new PCLinuxOS MiniMe 0.93 distribution. PCLinuxOS has not been around very long, but they are definitely heading in the right direction. I use PCLinuxOS 0.92 on my main home workstation, so this was a good excuse to try their latest release.
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today's howtos
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Waste of Time
What type of hack network admin allows foreign machines to connect to their internal network? I can't think of one shop that wouldn't fire this guy for wasting time. ALL of their dev tools are windows based. How inefficient will this guy be rolling between his "pet" Linux box and his "real" work approved and managed dev box. Unless this guy is the CIO, what business does he have in making IT decisions???
re: Waste of Time
I tend to agree. This is a case of migrating to Linux, for the sake of Linux. (Simply because the Admin doesn't like Windows).
In the business world...
(1) You pick a distro that works and is polished for the business desktop user.
(2) Paid support...Who are they gonna shout at, when the crapper hits the fan?
(3) Do a survey of the users that can be migrated. That is, find out all the apps they use and see if there is Linux compatible alternatives. If there is, migrate those folks, once you get permission from your boss or upper management.
(4) Don't bother migrating those who need Windows or simply refuse to. Let them be. (as well as those who need Windows due to Windows-specific apps that don't work in Linux).
(5) For those folks you can migrate, make it look like Windows. Why? Because that's what they're use to. You also want to minimise training time of the transition. Throwing a Mac infront of them won't make anything better. (Some people don't like or understand the three coloured dots for "minimise", "maximise", and "close". Others don't like it when they have to learn a whole new thing again!)
(6) Demonstrate the benefits of the migration. Management people need to see lots of case studies and rough numbers to get an idea of how much money it will cost or save them.
(7) If your boss says OK, do a trial. Its important to conduct a trial run before committing to anything. Once your boss sees the benefits in a practical sense, they're more than likely to favour the migration as a whole.
The problem with some Linux folks, is that they believe forcing the migration on a business is good. It isn't. You must take a gradual approach, such that it doesn't negatively affect the business.
In the business world, no one cares if you use Linux or Windows. What they care about is that it MUST work and the money saved or wasted. They don't care about open-source politics, they're in it for the money.
To encourage the use of open-source in a business environment is a challenge in itself. Its not just about installing Linux and reaping the benefits of open-source, its also about a company's politics. You also must win the crowd over!
You must approach a migration with alot of planning and preparation. This is to ensure a relatively problem-free migration. Do it half-arse, and you WILL get fired. (And end up as another example on the Microsoft "Get the Facts" site! OR even as an article on ZDNet/eWeek/CNet!)