Hey guys,

We run a small business with around 40 users and it's all Windows-based - Servers and Desktops, although it's 100% cloud-based.

My manager gave me green light to deploy/test Linux into the business.

What kind of Infrastructure & daily tasks related to Sys Admin can I move from Windows to Linux?

It's a broad question so any insight/help/hint would be appreciated.

Cheers!

Moving this question to the Linux Server forum to gain it better exposure.

You should inform us what you had in mind when you convinced the boss to green light this idea.

Be it Windows or Linux, the system administration of your office, a 100% cloud based business, is a serious undertaking. It would be helpful for people to know your experience with Linux and what your plans for this deployment are.

1 members found this post helpful.

I'm a newbie and have fixed some minor desktop-related issues using Ubuntu and talking to my manager (who has zero exposure to Linux) I said, look we can explore to switch some Sys Admin tasks to Linux.

At first, I want to move daily IT infrastructure tasks;

- Build and manage a file server/backup as there isn't anything in place at the moment as we need it asap
- Patch management non-Windows apps (.exe)
- Desktops management, monitoring, Wi-fi

More importantly, management is open to adopting new technologies, so there's no error in trialing it, you can see that mindset as since the business was acquired and 'refound', it's 100% cloud-based.

If I were to guide a small business in a migration to GNU/Linux, here is how I would do it:

1. Set up common services on Linux: file sharing (Samba, nfs, and maybe NextCloud or OwnCloud) and printer sharing (also Samba). If you really want, get fancy and join Windows desktops to the Samba Active Directory!
2. Set up Linux DNS servers. They can exist without interfering with the current solution. Switch a few volunteers' machines to use the new DNS servers and ensure everything works. Ensuring AD functionality (all those _kerberos._tcp.example.com entries) takes a small amount of extra work, but is worth it. A Samba AD installation can include its own little dns server, but it's only good for nice, small environments.
3. Set up DHCP servers.
4. Introduce open-source desktop applications to volunteers: Libre Office in preparation to replace Microsoft Office (omit if you use exclusively the web-based options), Thunderbird or Claws email client to replace Outlook (pie in the sky, I realize, but this is my fantasy).
5. After a few months, have some volunteers switch their workstations to Linux (ergo the nfs in step 1).

My list is incomplete, but I will leave it here for reference. Maybe some of those ideas can help you.

1 members found this post helpful.

To be safe, I'd suggest that you get some training. It won't be easy to secure a system for a company in a few short web articles.

I'd think that your local schools may have night classes or have your company pay for some training.

There are commercial companies like Suse and Red Hat that offer support.

Companies like 2x.com can offer ways to integrate linux into windows.

These might also be worth considering (as alternatives to a samba network)...
http://www.citadel.org/doku.php
https://alternativeto.net/software/ox-open-xchage/

Training from companies such as Suse and Red Hat are great but fairly expensive, neither I nor the business can afford it at this stage.

I have done an entry-level course on Linux Academy and read the book 'How Linux Works' from Brian Ward - happy to keep self-learning.