Today marks the release of SuSE’s new Linux Desktop for Enterprises. The theory behind this product is that it provides (in press release-speak), “a user-friendly, flexible, SuSE maintained desktop built for large IT infrastructures, software development and high performance computing environments.” Sounds great, but what does that mean? Read Roblimo’s article at NewsForge.
SuSE Linux Desktop Released
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Eugenia Loli
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… about the new consumer-thinggy…
but I found Roblimo was most informative with his link to “Anything Windows can do, Linux can do better”
1. Yesterday I installed linux on one of my computers to use them like a proxy using squid. Well, I search for a graphical program to configure squid and I didn’t find it. Then I opened the configuration file “squid.conf” and I started to understand it. I would like to see an linux distribution with all configuration files in a control panel with each a graphical program with all the same options the .conf file was.
That’s the problem of linux. The distributions that exist don’t have any interface to that files in a control panel… for now we must edit .conf files and be an expert to undertand it.
When I talk about .conf files I also needed to edit a file in rc.d to start a program when the os boot.
2. One other thing that is important for linux is to be plug and play of devices, and have an option in control panel to install it easily… Yesterday I install the linux operating system without my modem connected. When the linux is installed and working I connected my modem to it, I make a connection in dial up and I choose modem port, don’t work! Then I choose the port i don’t remember now, but I think ? TTY01 ? and worked, fine:)
I would like to know what’s happened if I was a internal modem…
>> Well, I search for a graphical program to configure squid and I didn’t find it. Then I opened the configuration file “squid.conf” and I started to understand it. I would like to see an linux distribution with all configuration files in a control panel with each a graphical program with all the same options the .conf file was.
That’s the problem of linux. The distributions that exist don’t have any interface to that files in a control panel… for now we must edit .conf files and be an expert to undertand it.
In order to configure a proxy server you need to understand it, you cannot configure options without understanding what they do (well you could, but that’s another story). Whether the options are in GUI or a text file they will still be as complex, and you will need to understand. The best that a GUI could hope to offer is a number of sample options for various common situations (which you often get with sample config files) or a subset of the possible options to simplify matters (but the full options would still need to be provided). All of this can be provided in at text file by putting the most frequently used options at the beginning (and maybe marking them as such). I do not believe a config. file is more difficult to use than a gui (per se). In fact, it is possibly easier because you can quickly search for a relevant term (which is difficult with a gui (IMHO)).
It is also worth remembering the automatic configuration which SuSE will do for (e.g. when you install mod_php it edits your Apache configuration). BTW I imagine that SuSE will include more server configurations options in YaST eventually (mainly because there are currently more than there used to be). Also the default configuration for squid will be sufficient for most users.
>> When I talk about .conf files I also needed to edit a file in rc.d to start a program when the os boot.
You shouldn’t need to edit any files in rc.d, with any distro, so long as the server is part of the distro (most include squid). You might possibly need to make a couple sym. link to the rc file, however most distros provide this functionality in their ‘control panel’ (SuSE include it in YaST, Mandrake include it in the Mandrake Control Centre, Red Hat include it in their thingy (I don’t recall the name)). Generally it is in something called the ‘Runlevel Editor’, it should allow you to start and stop services, and select the services you want (and don’t want) started at boot time.
>> 2. One other thing that is important for linux is to be plug and play of devices, and have an option in control panel to install it easily… Yesterday I install the linux operating system without my modem connected. When the linux is installed and working I connected my modem to it,
In SuSE when you select the modem installation option YaST it will run the exact same routine that it runs during install and will detect your modem (or not) just the as if you did it at install time.
>> I make a connection in dial up and I choose modem port, don’t work! Then I choose the port i don’t remember now, but I think ? TTY01 ? and worked, fine:)
The ‘modem’ port as you call it is a shortcut to a real port. This shortcut can only be made once the hardware has been detected, hence you will either need to: use the ‘real’ port, run the relevant detection/configuration utility (some distros do this at boot time), or make find out where the hardware is yourself and make the shortcut.
>> I would like to know what’s happened if I was a internal modem…
Most Linux distros detect and install hardware which is supported directly by the Linux kernel. Hardware which requires external (proprietary) drivers (most internal modems) generally aren’t support by distros.
BTW none of this is particularly relevant to SuSE releasing their Desktop for Enterprises software, however I have replied in the hope that it may be of help you.
SuSE is hammering the value-add of Linux to the enterprise with this announcement and blindsiding all the FUD generated by SCO over the past few months. All the Linux distributors (Red Hat, are you listening?) need to really start creating positive “win” news for Linux ASAP.
As soon as SuSE can get more graphical deployment apps in place, they’ll be well position to move down to the mid-market and the smaller business looking for a managed network solution.
Now, we’ll have to see if Microsoft will try to counter by (illeagaly???) slashing their prices again.
Vic
“The distributions that exist don’t have any interface to that files in a control panel…”
If you want a GUI, you can use Webmin (http://www.webmin.com/) for these things.
“Well, I search for a graphical program to configure squid and I didn’t find it.”
http://www.webmin.com/screens/squid.gif
“When I talk about .conf files I also needed to edit a file in rc.d to start a program when the os boot.”
Webmin -> System -> Bootup and shutdown
Get a life, this isnt a helpdesk. There a places to ask what you’ve posted on THREE threads, go find one. You’ve been answered three times, and yet…whoops, you went an posted again on the “Edge” article.
I’m not asking, i’m suggesting…
Yes, webmin is a good interface to that files:)
http://www.madpenguin.org/article.php?sid=255&mode=thread&order=0