Ubuntu Dapper LTS as Client for SuSE 10.1 Office Server

Why this article

If you're using a linux machine as an autonomous office server, there are a few things to consider.

In most cases you are deeling with

• special hardware (Printers, DSL, Fax, ISDN, Raid System, backup systems, ...)
• special Ssoftware (Services, like mail, virus scanner, dns, samba, cups, ...)
• no need for a graphical interface

When it's up to install a client machine, there a other preferences

• workflows for everyday use (file management, programm choose)
• no program overhead - just software installed, you really need
• fast installation - there is probably more than one client to install
• "standard" linux office programs - evolution, openoffice.org, firefox
• performance - for week client hardware
• installation of software has to be easy

There are really good choices out there for office server solution. Almost any linux distribution can handle that. But when it comes to offer support for such a solution, beeing able to flexibly and easyly update, maintain and upgrade such a machine, hand made solutions come to an end.

Server

I prefer - and this is only a short-view on the subject - Redhat or SuSE systems for such a server. This is, because there is a lot of handy tools shipping with these distributions, that make system administration of an office server easier.

Clients

On of the best - in my opinion - desktop distribution available by now is the Ubuntu Dapper LTS. There is no overhead with installed programms. It is installed very fast. The look and feel of both, the KDE (kubuntu) and Gnome (ubuntu) versions are very easy to understand an configurable.

Pittfalls

If you like to share directories you have

Also see

• SuSE 10.1 SuSE 10.1 - YUM PackMan and GPG
• SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop using XGL with NVidia
• Debian - handbook for apt-get