[KLUG Members] Deploying Linux on the corporate desktop.

[Bruce Smith]

My employer has recently approved Linux on our user's desktops.
We will be evaluating Linux on the desktop for a small number of users
before wider deployment.  We have been using Linux servers for years,
but this is our first user desktop installation (not counting myself and
another MIS person).

I would like to ask for advice for those who have done this before, in
the interest of doing it right the first time and making it succeed.
Specific area I'd like to discuss are:


1)  Individual PC installs vs. LTSP.

All our desktop PC's have the power to run stand-alone Linux installs.
The slowest machine being a P2-450, the lowest memory is 128MB.  Most
PC's have higher resources.  We are NOT buying new hardware, simply
adding/replacing Linux on existing Windows PC's.

LTSP would seem to have the advantage of ease of administration,
installs and upgrades.  It would also seem to be slower than individual
installs, a waste of power in our existing PC's.

Discussion appreciated.


2)  Choice of desktop.

I've narrowed down the desktop choices to Gnome or XFCE.

I need to modify the default menu choices of whatever desktop I use.
I need to add certain local programs (our ERP system), and remove
programs that are not installed or not needed.  I need to make this 
the default when a user signs on to Linux for the first time.  I also
need to change the default focus behavior to "follows mouse".

Right now I'm leaning toward XFCE because I know how to modify it's
default menus and focus behavior.  It's also faster and seems like it
would run faster if I end up with LTSP clients.  "X :1 -query remotepc"
runs rather slow with Gnome (default Redhat 7.3 install), but no delay
is noticeable when running XFCE.  Would the speed be the same for LTSP?

How do I go about modifying the choices on Gnome's default menu/panel?
How easy is it?  Is it feasible? 


3) Miscellaneous.

I covered the main two points that I am having a difficult time reaching
a decision on.  Any other tips for this upgrade would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

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Bruce Smith                bruce@armintl.com
System Administrator / Network Administrator
Armstrong International, Inc.
Three Rivers, Michigan  49093  USA
http://www.armstrong-intl.com/
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