[ILUG] Linux is more expensive than Windows

[Ruairi Newman]

On Tue, 2004-04-06 at 13:32, adam beecher wrote:
> No doubt Matthew is trying to infuriate a little more with the headline. Go
> on lads, tear into him! After 'im! :)
> 
> adam /slaps linux.ie on the back of the head and tears off on his
> late-seventies bicycle
> 

One of the big problems is that a large-scale switch from any operating
system to any other is going to be disruptive initially, even if done
right.  Microsoft have provided clear documentation and supported
migration tools to facilitate migration from other platforms to Windows.
The open source community needs to respond in kind.

Though I believe we can supply all of the tools needed to migrate from
Windows as seamlessly as any such migration can be, we still lack the
definitive guide to migration.

A comprehensive guide would need to detail the major differences between
the two platforms.  Differences in the security model, at filesystem and
network levels, explaining how best to obtain similar group permissions
et al would be a good start.

I still feel that the lack of support for access control lists is a big
stumbling block, very few organisations moving from Windows would be
enamoured at having to patch their kernels for ACL support, but perhaps
this could also be dealt with by giving clear, concise & accurate
instructions in a migration guide.

Well, there's more I want to say, but I'm off to another meeting :(

Later,

R.

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