Successful migration to Linux Desktop

So, you like the idea to migrate to Linux Desktop at home or in your organisation for some or all the users.

As for any IT/ICT deployment or development you have for success to:

• Plan: Define the Scope
• Target: what best distro, equivalent applications of existing one and new useful applications
• Users: Most suitable users to start with and define training policy of trainers and enthusiast.
• Change Management: get the wright management infrastructure in place
• Pilot: Be agile change by small pilot then expand.

Prepare by planning

Business Case

The rationale for the move to Linux, and the benefits it will bring to individual users and to the organisation as a whole.

At least two reason: Economie of licences and usage of old hardware.

pre and post environment

prepare and implement the support staff needed to install and then assit new Linux users. Could be done by planning training session for technical and training session for users anthosiasts

Roles and Responsibilities

Names and responsibilities of those involved in the project, including third-parties, local communities, with contact details.
prepare all documents needed (online and offline)

Target applications and distributions

0) Choose a distro
Both corporate and community supported distributions exist and we must choose one of them oe sometime more than one distro for exemple Centos for servers and UBUNTU or Lint for desktop.


Read about choosing a distro


1) equivalent applications

PROPRIETARY APPLICATION	| OPEN-SOURCE EQUIVALENT
Microsoft Word Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Excel Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Access Adobe Acrobat Reader Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign	LibreOffice Writer LibreOffice Impress LibreOffice Calc Evolution LibreOffice Base Evince Xara LX Scribus

2) Look for a SaaS-based alternative.
If no direct open-source equivalent exists, the next best approach is to identify a Cloud or SaaS alternative that requires no client software to be installed.
Linux + browser = a fast, easy way to run any SaaS application
3) As a last resort, virtualise.
If the first two avenues have been exhausted and no suitable equivalent found, consider delivering the
existing proprietary app in a virtualised environment. (in this case for exemple you install Windows 7 in a Virtual Box ...)

TARGET THE RIGHT USERS

Before you start, do some thorough research into the types of users most suitable for Linux.

Linux ideally suited to these types of user:
>NEW GRADUATE JOINERS
the ‘Facebook generation’ have grown up with the browser and readily adapt to new apps and interfaces
>EMPLOYEES USING MAINLY SAAS OR BROWSER-BASED APPS
why pay for an OS license when all they use is a browser?
>MOBILE WORKERS WHO NEED TO STAY PRODUCTIVE
with Linux, 3G and WiFi connectivity are simple to set up and easy to manage
>Java, C, C++ DEVELOPERS
>CLERICAL STAFF USING MAINLY WORD PROCESSING,SPREADSHEETS, PRESENTATION SOFTWARE AND EMAIL
All Linux comes with LibreOffice which has all the functionality of Microsoft Office – without the price tag

//TODO to be continued