Ok; ok; I know you are dizzy already, but still thought you can take some more.
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Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi Suppose you have a server running windows 2003 server edition. And about 25 computers. Of which 4 are macs already. |
This means you have licences for X nos of some version of windows on the client PCs. Check the documentation of the server to find the value of X.
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Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi Most users will use this computer for email (outlook type), office applications (Word, XL, PPT) and general non specialized work. |
This is the ideal atmosphere to switch over to linux. First, install windows versions of Openoffice (office suite) and mozilla / firefox (net suite / browser). Your users will be using these applications most of the time once on linux, and these applications run on both windows and linux. Once they get used to openoffice and mozilla, the pain of switching over to linux will be lessened.
If you allow chatting, give them pigdin (an instant messaging client which works for most chats - MSN, yahoo, etc.). This too is available for both linux and windows.
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Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi Some of them run Tally - the accounting software. |
Last time I checked, tally v. 7.2 was available for linux. But then, I suspect you will have to use only Red Hat's version of linux. Ask your vendor / supplier of of tally for details.
If tally does not support linux, retain the machines which need to run tally on windows, and switch rest to linux.
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Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi We want to go only legal. Some of our IBM machines come with XP preinstalled. Some laptops and PCs dont. This means I have about 12-13 computers with no operating system, or a pirated XPSP2. |
See the above suggestion about switching over machines which do not require tally to linux.
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Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi I have purchased XP home edition (since this is sufficient for our use) and a copy of MSoffice. But I realise these are single user applications so we're looking at spending about 12K (for office+windows) per computer. |
Single user licenses are for only one computer. For teh time being, go in for windows version of openoffice.org. See
download: Instructions for Downloading and Installing OpenOffice.org 2.0 Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi > Can computers in a mixed environment (some windows, some Linux some MacOS) run in harmony from a single windows based server? |
Actually, it is easier to manage with a linux server and windows clients.
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Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi > Can they share files and printers? |
Yes, install "samba" to do file sharing and "cupsys" to do printing on the server.
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Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi > As an application, does tally run on Linux? (I know the answer is prolly no, but I want to hear it from the experts) |
See above.
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Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi Of course based on your anwer I will call my dealer and order 10 more copies of XP home edition. (I am averse to Vista and XP business edition costs 2.5K more than home edition) |
The trouble with licenses is that they bind you - when you modify your car, worst thing that can happen to you is a voided warranty, a totalled car and (god forbid!!) injuries. When you violate licenses terms, you are committing a crime; because once you violate the license, your copy (yes, the same copy of the OS which you paid with your hard earned money) becomes an illegal copy; thus you become a violator of the copyright law; thus you become liable to be prosecuted - not just sued for damages.
So, when you are told to use a copy of XP home edition at your home, you ARE bound to use it only in your home; not in your office.