You’re a Linux specialist working for Go2Linux LLC, an organization that specializes in helping companies migrate their environments to Linux. Your company was approached by a potential new client, Faster Computing Inc., which is looking to migrate some of its environment from Windows to Linux.
This will be a multipart project where you will:
- present Faster Computing with a proposal for migration (due Week 3)
- produce a memo responding to questions that the senior management team has after reviewing your proposal (due Week 5)
- produce a brief tutorial for Faster Computing that demonstrates how to install Linux and use some basic commands (due Week 7)
You will be playing the role of a Linux specialist working for Go2Linux, an organization that provides expert help for organizations that are migrating to Linux. As your first major assignment, you’ll be working with Faster Computing, a company that is contemplating a major migration to Linux.
On Board with Go2Linux!
You recently completed your degree and have landed your first gig working for Go2Linux. A small but growing company, Go2Linux provides Linux consulting services to clients across the United States and a handful of European countries. Go2Linux is actively recruiting talented Linux administrators, and you’re working with some other recent grads.
Your initial task will be to create a proposal for Faster Computing to help its leaders understand the potential benefits to the organization. Faster Computing is also a growing organization, and leadership believes that transitioning to Linux may help reach the company’s goals. You’ll need to present the company with not only the “general” benefits of Linux, but also specific suggestions that are relevant for the organization.
Client Background
Faster Computing is a young and growing company in the field of smart home technology. The company imagines and designs technologies that are used in a variety of smart home products. Faster Computing has 500 employees across three different sites. The main site, where most employees work, is in New York City. There are two satellite sites: one in Los Angeles and one in London, England. The company expects to experience rapid growth over the next three to five years, eventually opening additional sites and reaching as many as 5,000 employees.
The current server environment consists exclusively of 20 Windows Servers. These systems provide a variety of services, such as file sharing, web servers, and email servers. They have a mix of hardware configurations, but all are sufficient to run any popular Linux derivative. The company would like to migrate all of these to Linux.
The 500 employees primarily use Windows 10 for their workstations, although there are some users are running Windows 7, and a few in the design department use Macs. The plan is to allow any users with a specific need to remain on Windows; others will be migrated to Linux. The Mac users will continue with Mac.
As with the servers, the client systems have a mix of hardware, but all are sufficient to run any popular Linux derivative. Their primary requirements for a Linux distribution are that it be able to interact with their remaining Windows environment, that support be available, and that it be flexible to run on different types of hardware.
Linux Implementation Proposal: Migration Proposal Presentation (due at the end of Week 3)
Faster Computing has contacted Go2Linux and requested a brief proposal presentation for migrating its systems from Windows to Linux. The company is specifically interested in seeing the following information:
• Based on your current understanding of Faster Computing’s business, what are some potential benefits of Linux?
• The company is aware that many different Linux derivatives exist. Which would Go2Linux recommend, and why?
• Are there graphical interfaces available for the Linux workstations that would provide similar functionality to Windows? Some users are concerned about working with a command-line interface.
• What steps will be required to migrate the systems from Windows to Linux?
• What tools are available on Linux for the servers to provide file sharing, web servers, and email servers?
The deliverable for this phase of the project is a three- to five-slide PowerPoint narrated presentation. For each slide, you will embed your own audio recording as if you were presenting the content to the Faster Computing team. Faster Computing has not yet committed to the project, so this should be presented as a proposal.
The presentation should be visually appealing; inclusion of at least one image that supports the content and adds value to the proposal is required. You must cite at least two quality sources.
The first step of getting started with a new Linux system is installing the OS and booting it up. Most Linux flavors have come a long way in recent years in terms of simplifying and automating this process. The following scenario provides further insight into these topics.
Installing and Booting Linux
The process of installing Linux at Faster Computing will vary depending on the flavor of Linux the company chooses. Using your platform expertise and knowledge of the organization, you’ll help the company decide whether to install on-base hardware or in a virtual environment.
Organizations are moving to virtualized (or cloud-based) solutions because of the many benefits they offer. Although the installation process itself works much the same, different steps may be needed before installation. Whether company officials decide to go physical or virtual, you’ll help Faster Computing ensure that its systems meet the vendor requirements, and that those systems have the appropriate media for installation.
Since the employees of Faster Computing have more experience with Windows, they may find the booting process to be a lot different in Linux depending on the flavor. During the boot-up process, they may see a lot of messages about the installation stages. This may seem daunting, but is normal—and can actually be helpful if they run into boot problems—as it helps identify where the problem might lie.
Interacting with Linux
One of the topic areas you’ll be addressing in your presentation for Faster Computing is graphical user interfaces and how to interact with Linux. For many organizations, a distinction is made between user workstations and servers. For workstations, most end users prefer to have a graphical user interface (GUI). On servers, though, it’s common to not use a GUI at all and complete all work at the command-line interface. With that said, every organization is different, and you’ll have to work with Faster Computing so the company can make the right decision for its business needs.
Faster Computing will also need to understand how software installation works in Linux. It’s critical for Faster Computing and any organization to be able to install and run the software needed to support the business. The process is significantly different than on Windows, so there will be new things to learn here.
Migration Proposal Presentation
Instructions
Faster Computing has contacted Go2Linux and requested a brief proposal presentation for migrating its systems from Windows to Linux.
The company is specifically interested in seeing the following information:
(10.1.1: Identify the problem to be solved.)
• Based on your current understanding of Faster Computing’s business, what are some potential benefits of Linux?
• The company is aware that many different Linux derivatives exist. Be very specific and choose only one version (e.g., Ubuntu, Mint, Zorin, Redhat, CentOS, Kali). Which would Go2Linux recommend, and why? Give specific reasons for your choice (e.g., security features, support, updates, user interface).
(10.1.2: Gather project requirements to meet stakeholder needs.)
• What steps will be required to migrate the systems from Windows to Linux?
• Are there graphical interfaces available for the Linux workstations that would provide similar functionality to Windows? Some users are concerned about working with a command-line interface.
(10.1.3: Define the specifications of required technologies.)
• What tools are available on Linux for the servers to provide file sharing, Linux services, and printing? (e.g., Apache/Nginx, Samba, CUPS, SSH/SCP). Ensure you identify what the functions/services are used for (e.g., Samba is used for file sharing).
(1.1.3: Present ideas in a clear, logical order appropriate to the task.)
The deliverable for this phase of the project is a three- to five-slide PowerPoint narrated presentation.
• An introductory slide
• A summary slide
• Voice narration on every slide
For each slide, you will embed your own audio recording as if you were presenting the content to the Faster Computing team. Faster Computing has not yet committed to the project, so this should be presented as a proposal. The presentation should be visually appealing; the inclusion of at least one image that supports the content and adds value to the proposal is required.
(1.3.3: Integrate appropriate credible sources to illustrate and validate ideas.)
You must cite at least two quality sources.
You used at least 2 references and your references were cited properly following an accepted style. Ask your instructor for clarification.
Use the Migration Proposal Presentation template to get started.
(2.3.1: State conclusions or solutions clearly and precisely.)
How Will My Work Be Evaluated?
As you progress in your IT career, you may find yourself making presentations to customers, client audiences, and professional peers. By creating an effective presentation, you are showing how you use your technical knowledge and convey your ideas to others in a professional setting, an important workplace skill.
The following evaluation criteria aligned to the competencies will be used to grade your assignment:
• 1.1.3: Present ideas in a clear, logical order appropriate to the task.
• 1.3.3: Integrate appropriate credible sources to illustrate and validate ideas.
• 2.3.1: State conclusions or solutions clearly and precisely.
• 10.1.1: Identify the problem to be solved.
• 10.1.2: Gather project requirements to meet stakeholder needs.
• 10.1.3: Define the specifications of the required technologies.
You should present your proposal as if you are selling to the company. Revisit all of these important reasons in the summary slide.