Linux for Business - Workstation Integration

Date: 9th June 2011 - NTI Leeds. Old Broadcasting House, 148 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds. LS2 9EN

A unique hands-on course providing system integrators with the insight and technical knowledge required to seamlessly implement a licence free and secure desktop Linux platform with Microsoft Active Directory.

• Are you running an outdated IT platform?
• Struggling to fund an upgrade?
• Worried about security?
  
  Linux is now a mainstream operating system and a real option for Enterprise networks. 
  Migrating to Linux will revitialise and secure your IT platform whilst substantially reducing TCO.
  
  In this comprehensive one day workshop you’ll learn to integrate Linux, effortlessly synchronising users with your Windows Active Directory network, save time in image deployment using Clonezilla, find out about MS Office alternatives and learn how to access Exchange Mailboxes with a free email client.
  
  Full content breakdown for the day is as follows :

​Section 1 - Origins.
We spend a few moments to review the origins of Linux, look at related open source & free software foundations and discuss how such a great product can be free and yet still sustain itself.

Section 2 - Why Linux?
We examine the structure of the operating system and codebase, highlighting it's strength and suitability as an efficient and secure choice for both desktop and server. We will look at real world TCO projections against proprietary offerings and review a real world implementation study across a major European organisation.

Section 3 - Linux Desktop
Here we begin the hands-on exercises with a workstation installation and accompanying file format & operating system functionality. You will be familiarised with software application & package installation and introduced to the power of command line administration.

Section 4 - Enterprise
This section covers the bulk of the workshop and begins with file format compatibility through an introduction to WINE for Microsoft applications. 
We move on to domain networking our Linux desktop for Microsoft Active Directory integration through Likewise Open and Enterprise with corresponding MS Exchange installation and connectivity. 
You will be shown how to configure AD OU's & GPO's across Likewise Cells and manage users, groups and NFS based network home directories. 
The final portion of the MS server module covers remote access and we shall be configuring our Linux client to access an MS based VPN. 

After lunch we reverse roles into Samba, covering network folders and installation of a Linux PDC for MS clients with corresponding OpenBSD mail server to replace MS Exchange. 
Finally we look at thin client options across PXE booting for LTSP.

Section 5 - Supporting Linux
This final section covers Linux support and begins with centralised network administration and bulk redeployment. 
We shall also examine vendor packages, commercial vs community options plus avenues for industry recognised qualifications and training.