Posted by: DCallaghan
on September 27, 2002 06:21 AM
Lets break it down and see how far you are from being able to run Linux on the desktop.
Norton Antivirus
- we'll just ignore that Outlook
- Ximian Evolution offers the same features and you can even keep Exchange if you wish Access
- If you are using Access as an RDBMS, you should consider upsizing. I know its simple and easy, but its not a good idea to be sloppy with business rules and Access encourages this. Excel Word Powerpoint
- Depending on your company's level of sophistication, you may have varyting levels of success with OpenOffice or StarOffice Project 2000
- This is a hole in open source. There is no good option here. WinZip
- zip and unzip manage this format. tar is equivalent Ws_FTP
- got that Label Maker Pro
- this is actually the reason why I don't think you Access - Office integration is tight. You should be printing labels from your database through your word processor Lawson Client
- I hope that Lawson come out with a Linux client soon, but until then<nobr> <wbr></nobr>... Maximizer
- I hate to keep beating on the database issue, but it really is important to do this ACT
- Maximizer and Act? Tiny Term
- this will be only slighty less necessary than an antivirus package FoxPro 2.5
- Again, you need a consistent database solution. This is very, very important. UPS software
- this has a web-based interface Windows 98
- Gnome or KDE Autocad for the engineers
- This, like Project, is a deal breaker. I wouldn't suggest top your engineeres that they switch and I'm sure you aren't going to either<nobr> <wbr></nobr>;)
Well, unfortunately you don't qualify for a full and total migration to Linux. AutoCad, Lawson, and Project do not at this time have Linux ports or adequate replacements.
However, you are certainly in the market to start a Linux migration starting in the server room. I know without asking that you have data problems. Any company that has sales, contact, and other other data information spread across Access, FoxPro, Act, Maximizer, and LabelMaker Pro has data management problems by definition. You need a database server. My advice would be to build a specific business case. Once you get the idea that its needed, price out a SQL Server 2000 solution and a Linux solution (and of the four open source databases will probably work for you). The SQL Server quote is merely to give the open source solution added flavor.
This will reduce your desktops to AutoCad, Project, Office and Lawson. Target the Office users first. Point out the vulnerabilities, record the virus hit, and plan a migration.
Some offices may find a full replacement of Linux is possible. However, this is pretty new. For a long time, this piecemeal, one at a time transition has been the norm. And, to tell you the truth, a staggered transition is often the smoothest answer. If you want to make the switch, it sounds more than possible to make a business case in your situation.
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Re:That's cool
Posted by: DCallaghan on September 27, 2002 06:21 AMNorton Antivirus
- we'll just ignore that
Outlook
- Ximian Evolution offers the same features and you can even keep Exchange if you wish
Access
- If you are using Access as an RDBMS, you should consider upsizing. I know its simple and easy, but its not a good idea to be sloppy with business rules and Access encourages this.
Excel
Word
Powerpoint
- Depending on your company's level of sophistication, you may have varyting levels of success with OpenOffice or StarOffice
Project 2000
- This is a hole in open source. There is no good option here.
WinZip
- zip and unzip manage this format. tar is equivalent
Ws_FTP
- got that
Label Maker Pro
- this is actually the reason why I don't think you Access - Office integration is tight. You should be printing labels from your database through your word processor
Lawson Client
- I hope that Lawson come out with a Linux client soon, but until then<nobr> <wbr></nobr>...
Maximizer
- I hate to keep beating on the database issue, but it really is important to do this
ACT
- Maximizer and Act?
Tiny Term
- this will be only slighty less necessary than an antivirus package
FoxPro 2.5
- Again, you need a consistent database solution. This is very, very important.
UPS software
- this has a web-based interface
Windows 98
- Gnome or KDE
Autocad for the engineers
- This, like Project, is a deal breaker. I wouldn't suggest top your engineeres that they switch and I'm sure you aren't going to either<nobr> <wbr></nobr>;)
Well, unfortunately you don't qualify for a full and total migration to Linux. AutoCad, Lawson, and Project do not at this time have Linux ports or adequate replacements.
However, you are certainly in the market to start a Linux migration starting in the server room. I know without asking that you have data problems. Any company that has sales, contact, and other other data information spread across Access, FoxPro, Act, Maximizer, and LabelMaker Pro has data management problems by definition. You need a database server. My advice would be to build a specific business case. Once you get the idea that its needed, price out a SQL Server 2000 solution and a Linux solution (and of the four open source databases will probably work for you). The SQL Server quote is merely to give the open source solution added flavor.
This will reduce your desktops to AutoCad, Project, Office and Lawson. Target the Office users first. Point out the vulnerabilities, record the virus hit, and plan a migration.
Some offices may find a full replacement of Linux is possible. However, this is pretty new. For a long time, this piecemeal, one at a time transition has been the norm. And, to tell you the truth, a staggered transition is often the smoothest answer. If you want to make the switch, it sounds more than possible to make a business case in your situation.
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