Solutions in this Chapter:

• Assessing the Current Desktop Environment

• Designing the Linux Desktop

• Testing the Linux Desktop

• Migrating Application Data and Profiles

• Training the Desktop Users

• Deploying the Linux Desktops

• Summary

• Solutions Fast Track

• Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction

The process of migrating your Windows desktop users to Linux is similar to what we did in Chapter 1, migrating from Windows servers to Linux, but extra care is needed regarding the user s productivity you have to pay special attention to individual users systems settings and training needs to ensure that the move is swift. The process is the same in that you will go through the steps of information gathering, designing, and deploying just like in Chapter 1, but since we have already decided where our desktop machines will be within the entire network topology, we can skip that part of design. In this chapter we will analyze the Acme Widgets desktop computing environment and establish a roadmap for migrating their users to Linux with the Fedora Core operating system.

The process described here is meant to be a general overview of what is involved in the desktop migration process. We will be covering a relatively small in-house network like Acme Widgets, though the process described can be scaled upward to as many users and systems as needed. Throughout the chapter we ll offer up some suggestions to help tailor the migration roadmap to suit your company.

A successful Linux migration involves planning, a few extra computers, and some help:...