I work at a small tech outfit and its all windows this, windows that; even though all the people here dislike M$ products, its all we sell for OS's (with the ocasional NetWare on a server, but not much). I am always trying to suggest linux/floss but no one is too interested. Someday I will rule this company!

I digress.

One of our clients wants a Citrix server to be able to access data from anywhere, including airport kiosks and coffee shoppes, but he doesn't want to pay the price that we quoted. He wants a Fortune 500 solution for bargain basement prices.

I suggested Linux!

No one here seems to care. But if I have a solid case for it they might change their tune. We would need a solution that would allow this company to access data and applications via a webbrowser, basically a remote desktop of windows OS and the company's apps, but running on a linux server. Print, copy/paste, and audio would be needed capabilities.

is this near possible? Or would we just end up with Linux desktops and without their non-ported applications? I seriously doubt that they would want to move their whole business to Linux, especially since I am the only one in their tech firm who knows anything about linux, and I don't know THAT much.

Maybe have Windows in qemu that can be booted from inside a remote connection? That sounds a bit slow, though, especially if there are multiple people doing it...

Ideas? Or should I go see a doctor?

can you be more fine.
the company had they application and data on windows?
linux as proxy and web server (router?), applications stay on windows (a dedicated box). You can add a vncserver on it to show the windows screen.
if the data reside on linux, install mysql.
if the applications are ported to linux, linux make it well, but install a firewall.
For convenience, you can mount a robust vpn across a ssh tunnel. Very professionnel, it's accessible. your linux box act like a gate to a windows machine in the first case, or an applicatioins server in the last case.

OK, let's get this straight:
>can you be more fine.
>the company had they application and data on windows?
Yeah, they have apps and data on windows and that won't change.

>linux as proxy and web server (router?), applications stay on windows
>(a dedicated box). You can add a vncserver on it to show the windows screen.
OK, so we'd make the Linux box the main gateway to the 'net? And then on "it" (the windows box?) we would have a vncserver to direct the windows screen to the linux box?


>if the data reside on linux, install mysql.
It doesn't, but thanks.


>if the applications are ported to linux, linux make it well, but install a firewall.
They're not and probably won't be anytime soon, if ever.


>For convenience, you can mount a robust vpn across a ssh tunnel. Very
>professionnel, it's accessible. your linux box act like a gate to a windows
>machine in the first case, or an applicatioins server in the last case.
Which two cases are we talking about? I believe you're saying "if the apps are on linux its an app server" and they don't so that won't work.

But if they're on a windows box we would vpn them to the linux box via ssh, and then from there (linux box) the windows vpn would be accessable to the WWW?

How would someone sign on to this linux box to see the Windows screen?

Can more than one person sign on simultaniously?

Can they sign in using a browser or other basic tools available on a default windows install (cafe, airport, etc)?

Thanks for this much info, Back_To_Linux, I am very interested in this... if anyone can walk me through a bit more, or can clarify, or point out places that might be of trouble...

thanks again B_T_L!

the problem reside in the windows applications.
If their output can be redirect in a web browser, you put it in an html page (or what you want to see in browser) and you send these page to the linux web server.
In first, can you see the output of these applications in browser ? with only windows ?
at work, in the private lan, we have an application running on a windows server, but the web server is on IBM AIX, and all the client are on windows workstation. They all point their browser to the IP of AIX. it seems like in linux,
connect a modem to the linux box and buy an internet name to point your linux server; More than one can connect simultaniously. all depend with the rate of the line and modem. If it's work in a lan (a linux web server connected to widnows applicatioin server, and client conected to linux box) it will work, but you will need more security than a lan.
The VPN was a standard now, MS use its implementation when you connect a DSL/cable modem to their box. see the proprieties of the network system under windows when you connect a kind of modem.

Maybe a combination of this http://www.ltsp.org/ with Wine/Crossover Office & Apache?