Easing Linux Into The Enterprise

Applications are still driving the choice of desktop, but that no longer gives Microsoft's OS a clear edge. The ability now to replace nearly every application with a Web app theoretically makes Windows or any other platform's software portable to the Linux desktop, noted Rick Sizemore, director of technology transformation practice at Alsbridge. "The big game changer today is becoming the cloud."

The pulling points for migrating either to the Linux desktop (to replace Microsoft Windows) or the Linux server (to replace other server environments) often are reduced to two things. One is the cost of not migrating. The other is a decision to deploy Linux gradually -- or entirely -- throughout the office infrastructure.

Individuals and businesses migrate to Linux for a variety of reasons. Some do it for cost efficiency. Others make the computing change for the greater flexibility open source software provides. Either way, leaving behind an existing computing system is not impossible. Deploying Linux desktop or server takes planning and resources, but that is what any business implementation takes...