I am in a situation where "roaming profiles" are required (11 machines), so that the desktop settings etc move with the user, i.e. the user expects his desktop on whichever workstation he logs in. I was thinking that the easiest way would be to put /home on the server and do an nfs mount at login. Unfortunately the environment is a bit more complex, the clients run different linuxes, currently there are SuSE Linux V8.2, SuSE Linux V9.1, SuSE Linux V9.2, Ubuntu 6.06 and Fedora workstations. I can't see how "roaming profiles" could easily be realised in such an environment, the question is can it be done without too much effort? Peter -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Wednesday 19 July 2006 09:25, Peter Sutter wrote:
I am in a situation where "roaming profiles" are required (11 machines), so that the desktop settings etc move with the user, i.e. the user expects his desktop on whichever workstation he logs in.
I was thinking that the easiest way would be to put /home on the server and do an nfs mount at login. Unfortunately the environment is a bit more complex, the clients run different linuxes, currently there are SuSE Linux V8.2, SuSE Linux V9.1, SuSE Linux V9.2, Ubuntu 6.06 and Fedora workstations.
I can't see how "roaming profiles" could easily be realised in such an environment, the question is can it be done without too much effort?
It will be difficult, since different versions of desktop software (gnome, kde etc) requires different versions of the config files, so it's hard to switch around It makes a lot of administrative sense to have all workstations on the network run the same software. If you don't want to run the same distribution, at least you should make sure they run the same versions of kde or gnome (or whatever you use). Then your idea of a remote mounted /home would work Having multiple versions of things for no good reason is just a recipe for headaches -- Ut supra post festum sunt obscura -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
Hi Peter, I can't recall if I've seen a response here to your post, so here's my take on your problem: On Wednesday 19 July 2006 03:25, Peter Sutter wrote:
I am in a situation where "roaming profiles" are required (11 machines)
This statement sets forth a clear requirement. Its akin to saying "I need to drive a fully loaded 18 wheel semi tractor-trailer from New York to San Francisco in five days."
so that the desktop settings etc move with the user, i.e. the user expects his desktop on whichever workstation he logs in.
"If I leave tomorrow and maintain an average speed of 50 miles per hour, I'll meet my customer's deadline."
I was thinking that the easiest way would be to put /home on the server and do an nfs mount at login.
"According to my atlas, Interstate 80 is the shortest route and it looks like I'll just be able to make it in time."
Unfortunately the environment is a bit more complex, the clients run different linuxes, currently there are SuSE Linux V8.2, SuSE Linux V9.1, SuSE Linux V9.2, Ubuntu 6.06 and Fedora workstations.
"But the engine's due for a tune-up... it isn't tolerating steep or extended inclines very well... and descending steep grades is getting harrowing, too. The brakes start to fade if I let them get too hot." (note: "Mountain Time" is aptly named and *must* be traversed during this trip.)
I can't see how "roaming profiles" could easily be realised in such an environment, the question is can it be done without too much effort?
"What's the easiest way to make this trip?" Advise your client that in order to 'deliver their goods safely and in one piece' they've either got to loosen their deadline (expectations) a bit so you can schedule a tune-up and fix the brakes or you'll have to lease another rig and transfer the load to meet the deadline... for a bit more money. (This implies some OS and/or platform upgrades might be unavoidable.) It might be possible to standardize everybody on a 'least common denominator' minimal desktop with a limited menu of likewise 'least common denominator' applications... slightly earlier and stable packages that'll run equally well across all the boxes. How much effort this would be depends on a lot of missing details, but I'm sure you get the idea. hth & regards, Carl -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
Thank you very much, Anders and Carl, for your replies. Both answers confirm what I assumed to be the case. It appears that roaming profiles depend on two condition that must be met: 1. The participating machines must run the same version of the operating system. 2. The participating machines must have the same software with the same software version installed; and preferably use the same windows manager. I am a technical person, not a diplomat, so I wanted to have another opinion before I say to the users "It can;t be done this way". Thanks again Peter -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
Peter Sutter wrote:
Thank you very much, Anders and Carl, for your replies.
Both answers confirm what I assumed to be the case. It appears that roaming profiles depend on two condition that must be met:
1. The participating machines must run the same version of the operating system.
2. The participating machines must have the same software with the same software version installed; and preferably use the same windows manager.
I am a technical person, not a diplomat, so I wanted to have another opinion before I say to the users "It can;t be done this way".
Thanks again
Peter
Hello Peter, which applications do they use ? Is it possible to put all applications on a central server and use it remotle via X11, VNC or Tarantella ? Also backup is easier to handle on a central server. Best regards! Wigbert -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Thursday 20 July 2006 17:43, Wigbert Lindenbauer wrote:
Peter Sutter wrote:
Thank you very much, Anders and Carl, for your replies.
Both answers confirm what I assumed to be the case. It appears that roaming profiles depend on two condition that must be met:
1. The participating machines must run the same version of the operating system.
2. The participating machines must have the same software with the same software version installed; and preferably use the same windows manager.
I am a technical person, not a diplomat, so I wanted to have another opinion before I say to the users "It can;t be done this way".
Thanks again
Peter
Hello Peter,
which applications do they use ? Is it possible to put all applications on a central server and use it remotle via X11, VNC or Tarantella ?
Also backup is easier to handle on a central server.
Best regards! Wigbert
Thanks Wigbert, That will certainly be an avenue I will explore. I presume the server will be powerful enough (EMT64) to handle 11 clients. I will definitely have a look at vnc, because there are still some windows machines around. Was not this the situation we had about 20 years ago? One big server and many dumb terminals - all working reliably. I seem to be somehow brainwashed, not to have thought of this, funny how quickly one forgets solutions that were working. Peter -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Thu 20 Jul 2006 17:12, Peter Sutter wrote:
On Thursday 20 July 2006 17:43, Wigbert Lindenbauer wrote:
Peter Sutter wrote:
Thank you very much, Anders and Carl, for your replies.
Both answers confirm what I assumed to be the case. It appears that roaming profiles depend on two condition that must be met:
1. The participating machines must run the same version of the operating system.
2. The participating machines must have the same software with the same software version installed; and preferably use the same windows manager.
I am a technical person, not a diplomat, so I wanted to have another opinion before I say to the users "It can;t be done this way".
Thanks again
Peter
Hello Peter,
which applications do they use ? Is it possible to put all applications on a central server and use it remotle via X11, VNC or Tarantella ?
Also backup is easier to handle on a central server.
Best regards! Wigbert
Thanks Wigbert, That will certainly be an avenue I will explore. I presume the server will be powerful enough (EMT64) to handle 11 clients. I will definitely have a look at vnc, because there are still some windows machines around.
Was not this the situation we had about 20 years ago? One big server and many dumb terminals - all working reliably. I seem to be somehow brainwashed, not to have thought of this, funny how quickly one forgets solutions that were working.
The other option of course is to mount more than just /home over NFS. Is network booting an option here? Even without a network boot, if you mount /bin /lib etc via NFS also you can push out new applications at will just by installing them once on the server, but still have them run locally (unlike a thin client solution). This lets you still use the cpu power in your desktops and you don't need as powerfull a server. (On the other hand a thin client solution is the way to go if you have underpowered dekstops and want to make them faster) However, If you are considering the thin client option I also suggest you check out NX from nomachine.com as the basic system is GPL, but there is a nice commercial management server if you wish to purchase it. (My company is a distributor so feel free to contact me offlist if you want a quote) Cheers -- Peter Nixon http://www.peternixon.net/ PGP Key: http://www.peternixon.net/public.asc
participants (5)
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Anders Johansson -
Carl Hartung -
Peter Nixon -
Peter Sutter -
Wigbert Lindenbauer