SMB IT | Curtis Franklin » TAG: SMB Linux

October 10, 2006 | Comments: (0)

SUSE 10 Tastes Sweet to SMBs

TAGS: SMB Linux

SUSE's German (well, it started out that way). I'm German (well, I started out that way). So I know that suesse means sweet in the mother tongue. And indeed, Novell's new version of enterprise SUSE is definitely an SMB sweet.

Normally, dropping a different OS into an existing server farm is a problem. Administrators don't know how to work it, connectivity with other OSes is an issue, yada yada. Novell seems to have worked that out, though.

One of my Linux zealot friends recently proved that to me, showing me his installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10. An install he simply dropped into a mix with two Windows servers running Active Directory, print and a little mission-crit application. He wanted to use SUSE as a base to run Scalix because he was tired of playing with Exchange and moving AD to Small Business Server seemed too much of a pain.

Damn if SUSE didn't just drop in there and start chugging. Mostly we attribute this to Novell's yet-again-upgraded YaST--that's SUSE's renowned package installer. I thought it was easy back in 9, but version 10 is even more plug and play. Hell, he ran me through a test install on a spare workstation just to show it off. If you can install Windows, you can install SUSE. The only stumbler might be when the install asks you to pick a file system. Windows intermediates may flub that one, but the default selections are good for 80% of the world anyway so when in doubt, just hit OK.

After install, finding the Windows network was as easy as doing so with a PowerBook. Plug it into the network, assign the right domain name and you're a minute or so away from connected bliss. The server can even be setup to authenticate and respond to AD requests. All point and click. Very slick--should have been that way years ago.

But a base server OS isn't all that Novell throws into the mix. My friend just wanted the thing to run a low-cost email server he wouldn't need to upgrade every 18 months, but he got a chunk more for his $800 (he bought the support version and now he's wondering if he wasted the money). Novell tosses in a few more goodies. Xen virtualization and AppArmor are two biggies.

Xen virtualization is a slick deal. It doesn't go so far as to allow granular and dynamic resource allocation, but it's easy and integrated, so setting up a virtual server or two is simple. My friend was touting an Apache server that he wanted to run as an intranet server, but I kinda rolled my eyes on that--nothing is easier than SharePoint for that kind of thing. Still, the Xen stuff was sweet and it may help with his MySQL database.

AppArmor was cooler. This is an app-level intrusion detection program that works with anything running on SLES. This is an upgrade from the app-level stuff that Novell put into the last version. AppArmor has a very simple interface that lets you create threshold and alert profiles in a real sexy point-and-click GUI.

SLES 10 also has a long list of enterprise-level applications for which it's certified as well as the usual server OS goodies, like a firewall, DNS capability or even its own directory, which is all cool. But for me, it's ability to see and interact with Windows is it's primary strength and AppArmor just puts some real sweet icing on top.

For SMB admins who want to begin moving to Linux, maybe experiment with running Linux applications, or work to really save some money on Linux-based applications--all of these lend themselves real well to SLES 10. Check it out.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10
Novell
Price: $349 (base two-CPU); $799 (full support plan)
Verdict: This is one slick GUI-driven Linux server with all the connectivity and application support you need to take advantage of open source price advantages without tech headaches. AppArmor is a sweet bonus.

Screen Shots
Yast Installer

System updates

Posted by Oliver Rist on October 10, 2006 09:33 AM

August 17, 2006 | Comments: (0)

Novell SUSE Linux Enteprise Desktop 10: Check It Out

TAGS: SMB Linux

Got to give it to those Novell folks: They aren't giving up. These guys want to give Microsoft a kick in the lower regions when it comes to the corporate desktop, they've chosen Linux to do it, and they're not going to quit until they succeed.

I thought they were well on their way with version 9, but version 10 of their SUSE-based desktop product is definitely a step up. Haven't been playing with this long, but it's definitely worth a look for the SMB set--especially if you're not sure about Vista and its associated costs just yet.

First thing, it's still easy to install. They've added an AutoYAST feature that may or may not have been there before (hey, my memory sucks) but it's designed to let you roll this out to multiple desktops pretty easily.

It's also got all the graphic bells and whistles you want (as long as your vid card is pretty quick), including the ability to alt-tab between applications and tile apps, too:

and even a 3D rendering view designed to take some of the eye-envy out of what Microsoft is promising with Vista:

Again, just be sure your video card does 3D at an acceptable clip and that it's also on Novell's approved hardware list--hey, why take chances?

Novell has also updated the bundled applications with version 10. You get a desktop search tool, called Beagle and a Novell-only version of OpenOffice that not only supports all Microsoft file formats it also has support for Visual Basic for Application macros. That's pretty darn cool.

They've updated Evolution with a cool new look and new ways to manage and view email--pretty nice actually. And they gave it easy compatibility with Active Directory and Exchange. I had it talking to the SBS server I've got here after only a few Advil moments.

Downside? Not much in terms of basic functionality. You get all the OS things users want, the authentication and network tools that admins want and enough Microsoft compatibility that most basic SMB workers can get easily get by with this.

Only thing you don't seem to get--unless I screwed up my install--is CrossOver. I seem to remember this being part of the older SUSE app list, but it's not here now. So you can't simply offer users OpenOffice but promise them native Microsoft apps as a backup. This is OpenOffice only from what I can tell.

I've only just installed the thing, so I'll keep digging into it, but for now I'm impressed. Installation was actually shorter than XP and just as easy. Booting takes a bit, but after that, you're in a GUI environment that most any experienced Windows user should be able to navigate with relatively little trouble.

The OpenOffice, Firefox browser and Evolution clients are smooth and polished enough that I'd be surprised to get cranky user complaints.

And it's a money saver. Not just because the software is cheaper, but because you can roll it out on machines that are considered robust for XP. Those same machines will need to be upgraded or replaced to make Vista happy, but they run all of SUSE 10's bells and whistles just fine.

I'd think twice before offering this to serious Windows power users or folks dependent on loads of Win-only applications, but for basic office productivity workers this may be my favorite new platform.

Posted by Oliver Rist on August 17, 2006 09:32 PM

April 20, 2006 | Comments: (0)

Xandros and Scalix Team Up

TAGS: SMB Linux

Another move by Linux into the SMB space. Seems that Scalix has teamed up with Xandros to offer an integrated version of the Scalix email server product on top of the Xandros Server platform.

I haven't seen Xandros Server yet, but the Xandros Desktop is one of the few Linux distros that I recommend to complete penguin neophytes. Dead easy to setup and if you can use Windows you can pretty much use all of Xandros Desktop right away.

If Xandros Server is similarly easy, then teaming with Scalix is a smart move. Not just because they're both easy to use and cheap, but also because Scalix is what we call an "Exchange killer". Means it can act as a (mostly) full-functioned Exchange server on the back end and your users can keep right on using Microsoft Outlook on the front--they'll never know the difference unless they're using the real ragged edge of Exchange features. Scalix supports just about everything they're used to with day-to-day Exchange, including POP or IMAP email, shared contacts, shared sceduling, public folders, AJAX-based webmail and more.

No word on what the combo will cost, but it's got to be less than Windows 2003 and Exchange 2003. Stay tuned.

Posted by Oliver Rist on April 20, 2006 11:10 AM

March 31, 2006 | Comments: (0)

Damn Small Linux 2.3 Just Released

TAGS: SMB Linux

If you haven't had a chance to play with a small-size Linux distro, I highly recommend it. Damn Small Linux (DSL) is one of the leaders in this space and it just got bumped to version 2.3.

Why would an SMBer care? 'Cause these lil guys are versatile:

You can distribute them on mini-CDs as smart business cards with pre-configured visuals in place of resumes or marketing brochures.
You can boot them off a USB ThumbDrive, essentially carrying an OS on a stick.
And off that same USB drive you can select a boot option that'll boot the thing inside a host operating system--yeah, that's Linux inside of Windows, no muss no fuss.
Even run the whole thing inside of RAM, so older PCs with as little as 128MB of RAM can run pretty darn quickly.

Here's a screenshot of version 2.3.

Posted by Oliver Rist on March 31, 2006 02:13 PM

September 30, 2005 | Comments: (0)

A Couple of Interesting New Open Source Releases

TAGS: SMB Linux

If you're running a Linux desktop in some dark sub-basement somewhere, preferrably with the Gnome desktop environment, checkout GnoTime 2.2. A particulary propeller-headed buddy is using this, and it looked pretty good--for something that is very obviously designed with a programmer's concept of attractive UI. Still, so many product management features, it can actually do some good if you feel like worming your way up the learning curve. I'm wondering why nobody has put an RSS publishing feature in so the whole thing could be pumped out to a Web server: Insta-ProjectBlog.

TinyERP and Open for Business are two more worthwhile pings.

You can find TinyERP here. It's production level code now in version 3.0.3, and doesn't seem to suffer from the wow-that's-an-unbelievably-ugly-UI syndrome that plagues many open source projects. I searched hi-low but couldn't find anyone who reviewed TinyERP so my opinion is worth about as much as a lamb burger on a vegan's bedspread--I even missed it when I did my snippet on OS ERP here. The feature specs and the screenshots look good, however:

And the fact that it's in version 3 says it has more staying power than Tommy Lee's academic career. It's undoubtedly more work than a commercial package to implement, but it may be worth the sweat, considering the price tag. It's even got a small partner network, so with any luck you should be able to find some consulting-guru that hopefully doesn't look or talk like a sherpa to help with little things like deployment, training and support. That does cost extra, though; only the code is free. If any adventuresome soul has any experience with it, please post a comment here. A heart ping. Some sign of life in the universe. I'm begging now.

Open For Business is here and it's not quite fully production yet, but there are bits, pieces and modules that have managed to hit puberty. Overall, it's blossomed from a smoke filled coffee house dream project in last year's timeframe to something with real code behind it this year. So it's got an actual heart beat and some real bucks backing it. A gander:

Looks like it's trying to be a more commercial-looking competitor to TinyERP-type projects. Worth checking out before you commit to something else.

Posted by Oliver Rist on September 30, 2005 02:28 PM

September 02, 2005 | Comments: (0)

Want to Try Linspire for Free?

TAGS: SMB Linux

Linspire is a very easy-to-use and very Windows-like Linux distribution that was actually one of the first products in that space under its old name, Lindows.

The software's come a long way since then, and if you're looking for a Linux solution that won't terrify Windows users, it's a good place to start. Unfortunately, it's not a freeware OS--until now. For a limited time, eager Linspire pioneers can download the software for $49.49 from here, and then redeem a coupon for $49.95.

If you're thinking of exploring the Penguin's power, it's worth the effort.

Posted by Oliver Rist on September 2, 2005 03:38 PM

September 01, 2005 | Comments: (0)

IBM Loves the Penguin

TAGS: SMB Linux

I hate the "which OS is better" argument. To me, it's always seemed like some kind of rabid jihad with every side spending tons of effort trying to squish their favorite OS into all the round, square and triangular holes that the other OSes claim are theirs.

For me, it's always been a toolbox. You use what's best for the job--and that is usually determined by stuff like what the client has on-site, or has familiarity with, or what his purchased application images actually support or a dozen other variables. Pretty much anything besides asking Oliver which OS he likes best.

But the PR guys never tire of fanning those flames. Witness: The Big Blue Marble is publicizing a study it commissioned with the Robert Frances Group, an IT market research think tank stationed near my old stomping grounds in Westport, CT.

Seems the RFG folks did what analysts do: They called a whole range of IT 'decision makers' and queried them on their experiences, reaction, satisfaction, vexation and other metrics regarding three of our favorite operating systems: The Penguin, Darth Gates, and the Bright Shining Sun. And then they whipped out their calculators, did a TCO analysis, published that in a pdf, and made sure that Big Blue's PR folks could trumpet to the world that "Linux is 40% Cheaper than Windows." (To say nothing of more than 50% cheaper than Solaris, but they're not yelling that as loud.)

Of course if you read the fine print it goes something like:

Linux is 40 percent less expensive than a comparable x86-based Windows solution and 54 percent less than a comparable SPARC-based Solaris solution, based on a 3-year period of ownership for a system supporting 100,000 operations per second on the SPECjbb® benchmark.

Which to those of us living outside the balmy environment of a CT-based think tank means pretty much...nada. Zippo. Nil.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: You can't make blanket statements like "This OS is cheaper than that OS for everybody everywhere." It simply doesn't work like that.

Whether or not the server runs better,

Is having to re-hire existing staff expertise cheaper?
Is having to repurchase new desktop applications or clients cheaper?
Is having to retrain your users cheaper?
Are the applications you're using even supported under Linux?

That's just a few of a couple dozen questions everyone needs to ask before making an OS move. And that, far more than any benchmark, will determine whether Linux is cheaper for you and your particular circumstance.

That said, for basic office productivity, there's a real good chance that Linux really does cost less. Even significantly less. Check him out. In fact, RFG's report has quite a bit of useful information in it right along those lines, but they had to preface that with the "40% cheaper" soundbyte to get everyone's attention. Just goes to show, you've got to read past the executive summary.

The good folks at RFG aside, the Penguin really has come a long way in terms of being an everyman solution, but don't buy him a glacier and a barrel of herring until you've done the homework yourself.

Posted by Oliver Rist on September 1, 2005 12:51 PM

August 26, 2005 | Comments: (0)

The List: Favorite Linux Desktop Apps

TAGS: SMB Linux

Might as well get this thread started as I'll be returning to it again and again. What makes desktop Linux gleam as such an attractive alternative to Windows is that while there may be fewer desktop applications avialable for Linux, many of the really good ones are free. That's not only fun for propeller head penguin lovers, but good news for SMB bean counters, too.

Here's a quick list of my favorite Linux desktop applications, thus far:

1. OpenOffice -- Everyone's favorite thorn in the side of MS Office. I'll be getting deeper into its advanced feature depths as time permits, but for general office productivity all the goodies are there.

2. Evolution -- Ships with NLD and is a practical clone of Outlook from an interface perspective. All the Outlook functionality you need, no requirement for retraining users, it runs on Linux and it's free.

3. Firefox -- Mozilla is another good browser, but Firefox is so easy to use, it's another no-brainer for SMBs looking to keep user re-training panic to a minimum.

4. K3b -- There are comercial CD/DVD burning applications coming into the Linux space, but so far this is still the most reliable and easy to use.

5. Superkaramba -- a fun propeller-headed tool that probably won't make sys admins all that happy. Superkramaba allows you to create gorgeous little eye candy widgets for your KDE desktop, including stuff like CPU and MP3 playing monitors, custom toolbars and the like.

I'll be adding to this list as time goes on, but feel free to email me your submissions as well.

Posted by Oliver Rist on August 26, 2005 10:24 AM

August 25, 2005 | Comments: (0)

It Had to Happen

TAGS: SMB Linux

It's an SMB technology blog, so there's no way I can weasel out of addressing the Linux vs. Microsoft question. Usually, I stay away from operating system arguments, as they too often degenerate into flame wars between zealots of either camp.

To us IT consultant types, OS jihads just aren't worth the effort. It's not about which is better, but which is better for any given scenario. As Robert DeNiro (for whom I'm almost never mistaken) once said, "You use whatever; it's a toolbox."

And usually, that scenario is far more concerned with things like politics, convenience and an unwillingness to change than they are with what's really best deep down under the covers. Plus, the more you tweak Windows XP, the less it's 100% certain that the Penguin really has the advantage.

So expect this thread to go on for a while -- I've got NLD and Xandros coming up, several books on the subject winging their ways over here and some other stuff brewing as well. But don't expect an overall one-is-always-better-than-the-other slant. We'll look at SMBs and Linux on a case-by-case basis and go from there.

Meantime, check out Real Tech News Alice Hill's take on OpenOffice, which is really one of the key reasons to explore a Linux desktop. I'll post my own take on OpenOffice as soon as I've used it for an appreciable amount of time.

Meantime, if anyone is actually using a Linux desktop in the real-life SMB universe, let me know how it's going. Or just flame me for something miscellaneous.

Posted by Oliver Rist on August 25, 2005 10:32 PM