Anyone else going to switch to Fedora?

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FreeGPL.com

I am faced with a decision soon as our company is still on Windows
2000 and need to upgrade.

I've been playing with Fedora Core 4 and I've got to say, I see no
reason why we shouldn't migrate our entire organization to it! It will
definitely save us a bundle in fees and we can spend a bit of that
money to help support Open Source.

Evolution is way better at managing imap email, sharing calendar
information and it comes stock. OpenOffice has also done an amazing
job with the remaining programs our business really needs.

Our network is linux based so aside from some initial difficulties
with learning the short cut keys is there anything else I'm missing
about migrating?

I'd appreciate your help!

Thanks :)

www.FreeGPL.com
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reviews and comparisons to handle business critical elements in order
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that have been tested in a live environment.



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Fedora Core 5 is now out, and I am trying that. Over at
comp.os.linux.setup I asked-
"I am trying to install Fedora core 5 from 5 CD's which I have burned,
without success. All CDs pass the media test, but the installation
still fails due to several corrupted files. I now would like to
checksum each file before I burn the iso, but do not see how. At the
site where I download the 5 files and the rescueCD file, there is a
file "Sha1sum" but I cannot see how to use it. I am totally new to
Linux.
Is there a reason the checksum of each file is not given in the clear?
Am I permitted to post here the size of each of my files to verify they
are correct?

Once I have verfified the checksums, I plan to burn the 6 CDs again at
1X speed using higher quality CD blanks."

If anyone here can answer my questions, I would appreciate it.

Lefty
 
I am faced with a decision soon as our company is still on Windows
2000 and need to upgrade.
Click to expand...
Our network is linux based so aside from some initial difficulties
with learning the short cut keys is there anything else I'm missing
about migrating?
Click to expand...

Did I miss something? Your entire user base is now Windows-oriented,
but you want to switch them to linux? Is this a company full of
techno-nerds, who can't wait to start using their favorite distro at
the office? Or the typical "I don't *have* an 'any' key" group of
workers, who consider a computer as just another tool to get the real
work done?

Whether your *network* is linux-based, Windows-based or running on
Commodore 64 servers makes absolutely no difference to the
workstations. Or to the users, most of whom don't know the difference
between NOS and CAT-5 - or care. All they care about is "Where did
you put my Start button? You mean I don't have a Start button any
more? Then how can I xxx? You broke my computer!"

If I'm wrong, and Bart PE is one of the prized freebies at the company
holiday party then, by all means, install a well-supported distro on
everyone's computer. But if yours is the typical office, I'd think
twice, I'd install linux and the GUI of your choice on one machine and
get some opinions from the people who are going to have to actually
produce work with the new arrangement. (As a systems analyst, I let
the user design the system - I just make the computer "do that stuff",
but do it his way. The user is MUCH more efficient doing it his way
than having to learn to do it my way - and getting his work done every
day is the name of the game, isn't it? With Windows, with linux, with
magic - the "with" part is pretty much not the issue, as I see it.)
 
Make sure that your current users of Windows know how to convert and
edit all of their files in Linux-based applications.

That is the reason that we havn't switched to Linux. Too many files
Microsoft files have been generated in the past that won't open or edit
in Linux applications.
 
FreeGPL.com said:
I am faced with a decision soon as our company is still on Windows
2000 and need to upgrade.

I've been playing with Fedora Core 4 and I've got to say, I see no
reason why we shouldn't migrate our entire organization to it! It will
definitely save us a bundle in fees and we can spend a bit of that
money to help support Open Source.

Evolution is way better at managing imap email, sharing calendar
information and it comes stock. OpenOffice has also done an amazing
job with the remaining programs our business really needs.

Our network is linux based so aside from some initial difficulties
with learning the short cut keys is there anything else I'm missing
about migrating?

I'd appreciate your help!
Click to expand...

Not sure I understand why one would have a *need* to upgrade from W2K,
but that's not the question, is it?

Might consider going dual boot. Would make the transition less
traumatic, I'm sure. I'm a recent convert to linux, but haven't totally
severed all ties with Windows. Nonetheless, I find myself booting to
linux more and more often. I suspect that one day I'll realize that
Windows is my "other" OS, instead of the other way around.

Please keep us posted. I for one would be interested in how the whole
thing shakes out.
 
In message said:
Fedora Core 5 is now out, and I am trying that. Over at
comp.os.linux.setup I asked-
"I am trying to install Fedora core 5 from 5 CD's which I have burned,
without success. All CDs pass the media test, but the installation
still fails due to several corrupted files.
Click to expand...

I'm having similar problems, and the installer isn't at all graceful in
the way it recovers. Or fails to. I'm just trying to reinstall from
scratch, it seems to be the only way out.

(The installer aborts without making the hard disk bootable. Grub error
15 - file not found)
 
Not sure I understand why one would have a *need* to upgrade from W2K,
but that's not the question, is it?
Click to expand...

End of Life for it (Win2K) is this year, June of 2006, isn't it?
Might consider going dual boot. Would make the transition less
traumatic, I'm sure. I'm a recent convert to linux, but haven't
totally severed all ties with Windows. Nonetheless, I find myself
booting to linux more and more often. I suspect that one day I'll
realize that Windows is my "other" OS, instead of the other way
around.
Agreed

Please keep us posted. I for one would be interested in how the whole
thing shakes out.
Click to expand...




--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
El Gee Www.mistergeek.com <><
Know Christ, Know Peace -- No Christ, No Peace
Remove .yourhat to reply
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
End of Life for it (Win2K) is this year, June of 2006, isn't it?
Click to expand...

So? It won't stop running.

And before you start with the nonsense about viruses and upgrades,
I've never run that junk (one of the first things I rip out is
automatic upgrades - Symantec <anything> comes next) and I've never
been hit with garbage from the internet. Of course I've only had
computers connected since it was called ARPANET, so who knows - maybe
I just haven't been running an unprotected computer long enough.
 
98 certainly ain't dead yet.
Click to expand...
I'm not considering changing till we see Vista.
Click to expand...

Veni, vidi, yawni. I came, I saw, I yawned. The message box is nice,
but I can duplicate it under XP or 2k, and I'm not installing a whole
new crop of bugs for a pretty message box.
 
[piggybacking]
It's the files that are corrupted, not the CD. You have to download
uncorrupted files before you burn them to the CD.
 
Veni, vidi, yawni. I came, I saw, I yawned. The message box is nice,
but I can duplicate it under XP or 2k, and I'm not installing a whole
new crop of bugs for a pretty message box.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much what I expected, and I expect it will be even slower
than XP.

But one day the hardware etc will force me into the century of
the fruitbat :(

mike
 
I have to agree with you on this. At last you are making some sense...

Now start reading about the other stuff too. Perhaps there is still hope for
you.

--
Kenny - www.ComputerBoom.com

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

-Arthur C. Clarke
--
 
Al said:
Veni, vidi, yawni. I came, I saw, I yawned.
Click to expand...

Aargh, don't get me started ;). One of the lasses in our office
commented that one of the problems with XP was that it was essentially
beta-quality software, for which MS subsequently issued patches.

With Vista, it very much sounds like it's deja vu all over again. Some
testers have mentioned stability problems. These have apparently
lessened as time went on. However, it seems that Vista is going to be
sold real soon now, it appears that, ONCE AGAIN, the world will be
treated to beta-quality software.

Overcomplicated, overly resource-intensive, underdone. That's what I'm
expecting from Microsoft. Now with extra DRM, which can only possible
serve to make things worse for the user.

You know, by now, we should have a perfect Operating System. Microsoft
should have taken Windows 95, cleaned up the bits which were obviously
crap, and added support for new hardware. Fixed some bugs, and did some
/selective/ rewrites of the hairier bits. But they keep re-engineering
everything, and cramming in shite like .Net.

Anyways, to respond to the original poster ...

I've never really had much luck with Fedora. We use SuSe at work (on the
servers) - and my dad has SuSe on his machine. And trust me, if my dad
can use it, then anybody can. I've played around with Mepis lately -
quite good, but it let me down when I tried to install a round of
development packages. My intention is to move back to Ubuntu when Dapper
Drake comes out. I'll probably try either Xubuntu or Kubuntu. A
Debian-based system is the way to go, and Ubuntu is probably the best of
the lot.

Good tip for OP: install KDE, otherwise you'll only have users whining
endlessly about how complicated Linux is, where's my email, I like
Firefox on my taskbar, how do I tie my shoelaces. You'll thank me for it
later.

Some pitfalls to watch out for that spring to mind:
* printers - watch out for the drivers
* Samba - you'll probably want it. Be prepared for a little bit of
headscratching as you try to get it set up correctly. Some distros are
trickier than others (Slackware actually rocks as far as setting up a
server is concerned).
- MS Office compatability. Hmm, this is never going to be an easy one;
and I think you'll have a hard sell ahead of you. Be prepared for some
harsh criticism, and just hope none of it comes from your boss.
 
I have to agree with you on this. At last you are making some sense...

Now start reading about the other stuff too. Perhaps there is still hope for
you.
Click to expand...

You mean the whoopie-do "if I can't understand how it's done it must
be some god doing it" <or other fairytales to that effect> nonsense?

Sorry, john, that went out with togas and chariots. There are very
few gaps for gods to hide in these days, and we sort of have a handle
on most of them already even if some of it is not much more than
speculation. I mean "creation science" is about as accurate a
description as artificial "intelligence". But keep telling them not
to shear your wool off.

And as far as someone "inventing" something that violates a physical
property of the universe that we, but not you, have understood
completely for years, send me your money and you, too, can become
wealthy. And be careful where you step - oil, whether the snake kind
or anything else, is slippery and I wouldn't want you to fall and hurt
something.
 
Aargh, don't get me started ;). One of the lasses in our office
commented that one of the problems with XP was that it was essentially
beta-quality software, for which MS subsequently issued patches.
Click to expand...

Yes, and? :)
With Vista, it very much sounds like it's deja vu all over again. Some
testers have mentioned stability problems.
Click to expand...

No, it's VERY stable. The crashes are a design feature. It only
crashes randomly.
Overcomplicated, overly resource-intensive, underdone.
Click to expand...

And those are the good parts.
You know, by now, we should have a perfect Operating System. Microsoft
should have taken Windows 95, cleaned up the bits which were obviously
crap, and added support for new hardware. Fixed some bugs, and did some
/selective/ rewrites of the hairier bits.
Click to expand...

Oh, you thought their goal was to produce a stable OS? Hah, hah. What
a kidder.

Is Gates getting richer every year? Then where's the problem?
But they keep re-engineering everything, and cramming in shite like .Net.
Click to expand...

Would you spend $300 on VB SP7 because you could name 100 more colors?
Or for the Handles word? A 1962 Chevy with a new raccoon tail on the
antenna is still a used car. Redesign the fenders, make the muffler
fatter and THEN come up with a new color and you can sell a new car.
85 MPG? Nah, people LIKE internal combustion engines, gasoline and
mortgaging the house and kids to drive to the store.
Good tip for OP: install KDE, otherwise you'll only have users whining
endlessly about how complicated Linux is, where's my email, I like
Firefox on my taskbar, how do I tie my shoelaces. You'll thank me for it
later.
Click to expand...

That's where we part company. Winslow is perfectly good for the "I
don't have an any key" end-abuser. "The best software is the one
you're most productive using" holds here. My heavy duty stuff runs on
linux (or an Alpha for the slightly heavier iron), but the end user
sees XP (or 2k as we bring the new boxes with XP on line) and sees the
same buttons in the same place on all the in-house written apps. Most
people have no idea how things work, and don't want to know - as long
as they DO work But they're comfortable sitting in this chair, having
lunch at that sandwich shop and using a computer with Windows on it.
As long as the letters get written and the database update program
runs, who needs linux on those boxes?

YM probably DOES V. :)
 
That's pretty much what I expected, and I expect it will be even slower
than XP.

But one day the hardware etc will force me into the century of
the fruitbat :(
Click to expand...
You can always refuse to update, like me.
 
That's pretty much what I expected, and I expect it will be even slower
than XP.
Click to expand...

"Slower"? No, it's not even as fast as slower. Unless you run it on
a 4 gig 64 bit machine, since that's what it was designed for.
Otherwise you're back to running XP on a 95 box.
But one day the hardware etc will force me into the century of
the fruitbat :(
Click to expand...

My wife just got a new laptop. 2 gig 64 bit Athelon Turion, 2 gigs of
RAM, 120 gig HD, (XP Multimedia runs the PCI TV set nicely) ... a bare
minimum machine for Vista (we hope it's enough for the first run of
Vista).

A 55 foot semi hauling a peanut for linux. My 486DX33 with 5 MEGS of
RAM runs linux (no GUI) without breaking a sweat.

You'd think Gates has stock in Intel and the RAM foundries.
 
Hey Al,

Those are all great points - We have a number of different teams that
we're providing support for:

Accounting
Sales
Developers
SysAdmins

For the developers and SysAdmins, I'm not worried - they'll be able to
adapt (spending most of their time in shell anyway).

For the sales people, we have to show them the start menu anyway - so
instead of wasting time and licencing money - we figure we'll just
waste time :) We are still able to show them the KDE RedHat icon and
the user experience is so similar to windows that ultimately I think
the training will be the same

Now the accountants will likely cause us a problem and I'm thinking of
keeping them on windows. They are very set in their ways, and while
they'll appreciate an overhead reduction of $60k - I think they'll
become too frustrated :) Plus, their accounting software is windows
based (although I have considered only keeping one machine and just
letting them remotely login to do their windows stuff).

I have installed the KDE desktop on a couple of workstations to see
what people think but I agree with you - taking it to the next level
and moving key people over to get their feedback is a great idea.

Thanks again!


www.FreeGPL.com
Open Source for Enterprise


Did I miss something? Your entire user base is now Windows-oriented,
but you want to switch them to linux? Is this a company full of
techno-nerds, who can't wait to start using their favorite distro at
the office? Or the typical "I don't *have* an 'any' key" group of
workers, who consider a computer as just another tool to get the real
work done?

Whether your *network* is linux-based, Windows-based or running on
Commodore 64 servers makes absolutely no difference to the
workstations. Or to the users, most of whom don't know the difference
between NOS and CAT-5 - or care. All they care about is "Where did
you put my Start button? You mean I don't have a Start button any
more? Then how can I xxx? You broke my computer!"

If I'm wrong, and Bart PE is one of the prized freebies at the company
holiday party then, by all means, install a well-supported distro on
everyone's computer. But if yours is the typical office, I'd think
twice, I'd install linux and the GUI of your choice on one machine and
get some opinions from the people who are going to have to actually
produce work with the new arrangement. (As a systems analyst, I let
the user design the system - I just make the computer "do that stuff",
but do it his way. The user is MUCH more efficient doing it his way
than having to learn to do it my way - and getting his work done every
day is the name of the game, isn't it? With Windows, with linux, with
magic - the "with" part is pretty much not the issue, as I see it.)
Click to expand...



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