[svlug] Linux and a consistant environment.

[Richard Gardner]

Hi James,

That's tough, but to add perspective, it is the same for even Windows.

They key would be to divide the subset of CAD engineers from that 500, from
the rest of productivity workers; Possibly even redistributing current
hardware to gain an improved commonality, but definitely instantiating a PC
standardization project for future acquisitions.

At my company, I and 4 other techs support ~700 campus workers, plus remote
offices and sales, and all are on Windows, yet we see those same problems.
When I first came on board we had:

HP Vectra VLi8
HP Vectra VL400's, 600's, 6/800's etc etc.
HP Kayak XA, XU
Dell Optiplex 2xx
Dell Dimension xxx
IBM Thinkpad 600x/e
IBM Thinkpad T20/21/23/30
Dell M40/50, Latitude Cxxx, Dxxx

All ix86 from PII, III, IV, MGA, ATI, NVIDIA, etc

What we did was as you suggest, standardized on an "image"  but the CAD
engi's have a separate image, and we have standardized their machines to be
Dell Dual Xeon workstations.

Looking forward we are looking to either Dell or IBM to do a total refresh
of PC's either in a big bang, or 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 

Seems from your description that the CAD systems are priority one, so one
can only expect that you can do your best with what you have currently.
Standardizing the image will help, but look forward to subsequent post-asset
disposal scenarios that you would institute a centralized, mandated PC
procurement strategy.

My two cents. =)


-----Original Message-----
From: svlug-bounces+noeffort=comcast.net at lists.svlug.org
[mailto:svlug-bounces+noeffort=comcast.net at lists.svlug.org] On Behalf Of
James Sparenberg
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 3:51 PM
To: SVLUG
Subject: [svlug] Linux and a consistant environment.

All,

   One of the advantages that Sun Apple and the like have is that they
only work on a vary specific set of Hardware.  Given this control of the
hardware aspect the ability to "image" software packages or even a full
environment is easier do to this consistency.  With Linux, given the
broad range of hardware that could be the target, even in a field as
narrow as iX86 only (discount the cell phones and PDA's etc.)  How do
you deal with this?  I'm familiar with SystemImager etc.  As well as PXE
and Kickstart/Yast  But as we all know installing the same thing on two
divergent systems can yield 2 divergent problems.  

   Take for example a business where you have 500 desktops.  The Company
has standardized internally on Ygdrasil (Ok an old distro but I don't
want to start distro wars.) with X etc.  The challenge is to make it so
that despite the variations in HW (PIII PIV, Athlon, Opteron, NVidia,
ATI SiS etc.) that the companies Cad Program works exactly the same way
and displays exactly the same way regardless.  

   Problems, Questions, Discussions?  Go away?

James



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