[NTLUG:Discuss] Linux newbie has a few questions

[Chris Cox]

Geoff Staples wrote:
...snip... 
> NOW THE ACTUAL QUESTIONS!
> 
> Should I use Linux boxes as programmer development workstations or should
> the developers machines run Windows 2000 pro?

Linux.  Given your description (which I snipped... see prior post).
...or FreeBSD.  I think there is more to offer in Linux though... you can
still deploy on FreeBSD if you want.

> 
> Given general office administrative functions, is it realistic to get rid of
> ALL of our Windows machines for clerical / administrative personnel?

Nope.  I'd keep Windows for them.  Linux and other *ix are still not
targeting the desktop user well.  This may change... but I don't think
it necessarily has to change.  We all be talking to computers or using
hand held devices eventually... probably not Windows, but possibly not
Linux either.

> 
> Or, do I need to keep Windows on the desktops of admin folks?

For the admin (non-technical)... probably best to keep Windows.  No need
for NT though.  Some will praise its stability.  All I know is that
I can diagnose DOS easier than NT.  I've seen NT take out many a machine
to the point of complete system failure (where you have to reinstall).

> 
> If I continue with Windows for website developers and for administrative
> staff, should I be using Linux for anything other then servers?

Actually, you can use Linux reasonably well for website development.  It
depends.  If you have non-technical web developers... that is, ones who
have trouble spelling HTML, then you probably need to stick with Windows.
There are some tools coming of age on Linux... but they are not there
yet IMHO.

> 
> FINALLY,
> 
> (And I know you will find this unbelievable) But, I've never actually seen a
> Linux machine, much lest played with one. Where can I go to see an actual
> Linux workstation, well outfitted with Linux software so that I can get an
> idea of what the touch and feel of a Linux system is?

I agree with the other poster... come to an NTLUG meeting.

> 
> WELL, THIS REALLY IS THE FINAL ITEM:
> 
> If I need to give developers and/or administrative personnel access to both
> Linux and Windows, can I get by with dual boot machines or do I need to put
> two workstations at the desks of those that need access to both Linux and
> Windows?

Now if the developers are technical (remembering the spelling of HTML) and
do a lot of dynamic content stuff using php which the "snipped" content
seemed to say... then Linux (or *ix) makes good sense.  There a lot of good
server side tools in Linux.

As for Windows... often Windows means MS Office.  I know because at BEA (where
I work), we have to use MS Office as our inter/intra productivity package
(spreadsheets, internal documentation, etc.).  What I have deployed is a Linux
platform (running SuSE 6.4) with VMWare installed (which allows you to run
other OS along side simultaneously) with a Win98SE as a guest OS.  So I basically
run Win98 and Linux at the same time.  I can use the power of Linux tools for
things like web (apache) and news (inn) and X, yet still interface with
the rest of my comrades using the corporate sanctioned MS Office.  I run this
configuration 24x7 (occasionally rebooting the guest OS about once every
two or three weeks... it may be a virtual machine, but still has the limitations
of Windows).  I use a dual processor machine with 256M of memory.... you'll
want this kind of horsepower to run the two OS's at the same time.  I also
have an NT guest OS that I can boot up as well... I just don't use it that
much.  So basically I have two machines on the network, but one platform
on my desk.

> 
> Thank you in advance for any wisdom you may willing to share!

Advice is always free.  Taken advice usually isn't.

Regards,
Chris