[ubuntu-uk] Desktop or Server?

[Tony Travis]

Rob Beard wrote:
> [...]
> The only time I would install a complete desktop on a server is if it is
> to run as an LTSP server.  Then it can need everything a desktop
> requires.  When I last installed an LTSP server I was also pleased to
> see that FreeNX works with it as well. :-)

Hello, Rob.

I don't use LTSP, because most of our users run Windows on their PC's 
and they don't want to reboot their PC's to run as Linux Xterminals...

FreeNX gives me the option of providing Linux GUI login sessions via a 
stand-alone NX client downloaded by the Nomachine Java 'helper' applet 
on the server. In this way, people can use Linux with minimal impact on 
their existing Windows desktop environment and don't need administrator 
rights to run the stand-alone NX client unless hostile network admin 
restrict which Windows executables are allowed to use the network.

I've used this approach successfully for several years now in computer 
classrooms, and on individual user's Windows PC's. Some people do make 
the switch to run Linux on their own PC after using it like this via 
FreeNX, but they are only a small minority. Providing a FULL desktop 
environment for 'fat' clients like this is, of course, a compromise. 
However, it does enable me to provide a Linux desktop in an otherwise 
Windows-centric environment. I don't think I am alone in doing that.

What irritates me is the implicit assumption that this is somehow the 
'wrong' way to run a server: In my opinion, it is absurd to avoid using 
GUI tools to manage a server. Long ago, there might have been an issue 
about memory fooprint or disk space but these days it is not an issue. 
One of the arguments in favour of Windows on the server is that it's 
easier to manage because of the GUI tools. Of course 'real' Windows 
admins to everything from the command-line in Perl just like we do!

The 'right' way to run a server is to provide the services required.

Bye,

   Tony.
-- 
Dr. A.J.Travis, University of Aberdeen, Rowett Institute of Nutrition
and Health, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, Scotland, UK
tel +44(0)1224 712751, fax +44(0)1224 716687, http://www.rowett.ac.uk
mailto:a.travis at abdn.ac.uk, http://bioinformatics.rri.sari.ac.uk/~ajt