How to run MS Teams on Debian ?

Xeratul · 10-19-2023, 02:06 AM

Hello,

It isnt so easy to use MS products on web.

Herewith a screenshot.

Is there a solution to use it on Debian oldstable?

Kind regards

Person_1873 · 10-19-2023, 03:43 AM

you could install edge on linux?
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge...ad?form=MA13FJ

Otherwise there are instructions on the Wine AppDB to get it running
https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManag...sion&iId=41484

I've seen mumblings around online about there being a linux native version of MS Teams, however i can't actually find where to download it, plus i don't want it.

There is an unofficial client in the snap store if you wanted to give that a try?
https://snapcraft.io/install/teams-for-linux/debian

_blackhole_ · 10-19-2023, 04:03 AM

There is a Linux client. Be aware that whether you install that or edge, you are enabling and trusting a Microsoft repository and running proprietary closed source software provided by Microsoft.

hitest · 10-19-2023, 10:41 AM

In addition to the excellent suggestions of Person_1873 you could also run a Windows virtual machine and use Edge within that.

Person_1873 · 10-19-2023, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _blackhole_

There is a Linux client. Be aware that whether you install that or edge, you are enabling and trusting a Microsoft repository and running proprietary closed source software provided by Microsoft.

Getting a little off topic here, but Microsoft has quite a lot of code in the Linux kernel already.
Yes it's always a good idea to avoid installing their code directly, but it seems pretty inescapable at this point.

Xeratul · 10-21-2023, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Person_1873

you could install edge on linux?
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge...ad?form=MA13FJ

Otherwise there are instructions on the Wine AppDB to get it running
https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManag...sion&iId=41484

I've seen mumblings around online about there being a linux native version of MS Teams, however i can't actually find where to download it, plus i don't want it.

There is an unofficial client in the snap store if you wanted to give that a try?
https://snapcraft.io/install/teams-for-linux/debian

i will install ubuntu 22.04 amd64, i guess the store has MS Teams in apps....

edit virtyalbox runs on 22.04.
but the edge on vm isnt possible, freely, where you get the free os to run edge?

hitest · 10-21-2023, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xeratul

but the edge on vm isnt possible, freely, where you get the free os to run edge?

https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/soft...d/windows10ISO

You can Download a free copy of Windows. If you have a license key you're all set. Sometimes when I've installed Windows on bare metal it'll pick up the license key automagically (not sure if it'll do that in a VM).

rkelsen · 10-21-2023, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hitest

Sometimes when I've installed Windows on bare metal it'll pick up the license key automagically (not sure if it'll do that in a VM).

Narrator: It doesn't.

But what you can do if you have a Windows license on a physical machine that is no longer needed, is transfer the licence:
- Link old machine with your Microsoft account
- Run a P2V conversion from the old machine
- Turn off the old machine and turn on the VM
- When it complains about licensing (which it will do), sign into your Microsoft account and tell it you're using the same machine
- You're contractually obliged (by the EULA to which you agreed) to wipe Windows off the old machine

IME, this only works if you P2V it... and it's a one-way move. You can't go back.

The other question is: How well do microphones, cameras and speakers work in VMs? OP is probably best off installing the native Linux Teams application. Despite it being "blech-ware," like Edge it works well natively under Linux.

Person_1873 · 10-22-2023, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkelsen

Narrator: It doesn't.

But what you can do if you have a Windows license on a physical machine that is no longer needed, is transfer the licence:
- Link old machine with your Microsoft account
- Run a P2V conversion from the old machine
- Turn off the old machine and turn on the VM
- When it complains about licensing (which it will do), sign into your Microsoft account and tell it you're using the same machine
- You're contractually obliged (by the EULA to which you agreed) to wipe Windows off the old machine

IME, this only works if you P2V it... and it's a one-way move. You can't go back.

The other question is: How well do microphones, cameras and speakers work in VMs? OP is probably best off installing the native Linux Teams application. Despite it being "blech-ware," like Edge it works well natively under Linux.

Windows does give you a 30 day trial period, which IIRC can be reset a number of times, however this is getting very heavy for running a simple communications app.
I would suggest installing Edge on debian & running teams through the Edge browser

Xeratul · 10-22-2023, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkelsen

Narrator: It doesn't.

But what you can do if you have a Windows license on a physical machine that is no longer needed, is transfer the licence:
- Link old machine with your Microsoft account
- Run a P2V conversion from the old machine
- Turn off the old machine and turn on the VM
- When it complains about licensing (which it will do), sign into your Microsoft account and tell it you're using the same machine
- You're contractually obliged (by the EULA to which you agreed) to wipe Windows off the old machine

IME, this only works if you P2V it... and it's a one-way move. You can't go back.

The other question is: How well do microphones, cameras and speakers work in VMs? OP is probably best off installing the native Linux Teams application. Despite it being "blech-ware," like Edge it works well natively under Linux.

Vmware vmplayer has excellent usb, devices, camera support, but it isnt free.

sundialsvcs · 10-23-2023, 08:34 PM

Phooey(!!) on VMWare, purveyor of "hobbled horses."

VirtualBox® is fully-featured, runs on everything, and is absolutely free. It's supported by the biggest software company in the world – Oracle – so it certainly isn't going away anytime soon.

I'd buy a Microsoft Windows license, install it in a [VirtualBox ...] virtual machine, and use it to run Microsoft Teams. "Windows" is really the foundation software layer of their entire, vertically-integrated software "stack." Therefore, I think it's mostly a waste of time to try to "jerry rig" something else ... just do as the Romans do. Windows is (in most cases) inexpensive, and it runs quite well in a VM.

hitest · 10-24-2023, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sundialsvcs

I'd buy a Microsoft Windows license, install it in a [VirtualBox ...] virtual machine, and use it to run Microsoft Teams. "Windows" is really the foundation software layer of their entire, vertically-integrated software "stack." Therefore, I think it's mostly a waste of time to try to "jerry rig" something else ... just do as the Romans do. Windows is (in most cases) inexpensive, and it runs quite well in a VM.

Agreed. I like and prefer Virtualbox for my VMs; it works well. I've also used Virt-manager with Qemu/KVM.

_blackhole_ · 10-25-2023, 03:32 AM

Nice advertising for microsoft, oracle and virtualbox there, but that "solution" is total overkill when far simpler and inexpensive solutions exist as already detailed in the thread.

I'm amazed that on a forum which is supposed to be about Linux and FOSS, that proprietary software and two big tech corporations with history of hostility to FOSS are being promoted, Richard Stallman's battle with cancer hasn't even warranted a thread.

Xeratul · 10-25-2023, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hitest

https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/soft...d/windows10ISO

You can Download a free copy of Windows. If you have a license key you're all set. Sometimes when I've installed Windows on bare metal it'll pick up the license key automagically (not sure if it'll do that in a VM).

How can you do that under linux?? wine ?

Code:

Create Windows 10 installation media
To get started, you will first need to have a licence to install Windows 10. You can then download and run the media creation tool. For more information on how to use the tool, see the instructions below.

Download tool now
Privacy
Windows 10
Using the tool to upgrade this PC to Windows 10 (click to show more or less information)
Using the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) to install Windows 10 on a different PC (click to show more or less information)
Follow these steps to create installation media (USB flash drive or DVD) you can use to install a new copy of Windows 10, perform a clean installation, or reinstall Windows 10.

Before you download the tool make sure you have:

An internet connection (internet service provider fees may apply).
Sufficient data storage available on a computer, USB or external drive for the download.
A blank USB flash drive with at least 8GB of space or blank DVD (and DVD burner) if you want to create media. We recommend using a blank USB or blank DVD, because any content on it will be deleted.
When burning a DVD from an ISO file, if you are told the disc image file is too large you will need to use Dual Layer (DL) DVD Media.
Check a few things on the PC where you want to install Windows 10:

64-bit or 32-bit processor (CPU). You’ll create either a 64-bit or 32-bit version of Windows 10. To check this on your PC, go to PC info in PC settings or System in Control Panel, and look for System type.
System requirements. Make sure the PC meets the system requirements for Windows 10. We also recommend going to the PC manufacturer's website for additional info about updated drivers and hardware compatibility.
Language in Windows. You'll need to choose the same language when you install Windows 10. To see what language you're currently using, go to Time and language in PC settings or Region in Control Panel.
Edition of Windows. You should also choose the same edition of Windows. To check what edition you're currently running, go to PC info in PC settings or System in Control Panel, and look for Windows edition. Windows 10 Enterprise isn’t available in the media creation tool. For more info, go to the Volume Licensing Service Center.
Microsoft Office products. If you just purchased a new device that includes Office 365, we recommend redeeming (installing) Office before upgrading to Windows 10. To redeem your copy of Office, please see Download and install Office 365 Home, Personal, or University on your PC. For more information, check How to upgrade to Windows 10 on new devices that include Office 365.

_blackhole_ · 10-25-2023, 09:37 AM

I was easily able to install edge in Debian:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/download

Scroll down and click either the deb or rpm file.

Quote:

Microsoft Edge is now available on Linux. Download for Linux (.deb) | Linux (.rpm)

I'm using Debian (oldstable), so it was a matter of:

Code:

# dpkg -i microsoft-edge-stable_118.0.2088.69-1_amd64.deb
Selecting previously unselected package microsoft-edge-stable.
(Reading database ... 118866 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack microsoft-edge-stable_118.0.2088.69-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking microsoft-edge-stable (118.0.2088.69-1) ...
Setting up microsoft-edge-stable (118.0.2088.69-1) ...
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/microsoft-edge-stable to provide /usr/bin/x-www-browser (x-www-browser) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/microsoft-edge-stable to provide /usr/bin/gnome-www-browser (gnome-www-browser) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/microsoft-edge-stable to provide /usr/bin/microsoft-edge (microsoft-edge) in auto mode
Processing triggers for mailcap (3.69) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.26-1) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.9.4-2) ...
#

Open edge and go to MS Teams the sign in page: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/log-in

Works here.

Afterwards you may want to have a look at the following Microsoft repository and consider deleting it:

/etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft-edge.list

Code:

### THIS FILE IS AUTOMATICALLY CONFIGURED ###
# You may comment out this entry, but any other modifications may be lost.
deb [arch=amd64] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/edge/ stable main

It seems straightforward to me.