3.2.3  Web applications

Unfortunately, it is not possible to find similar or bridging applications for all of 

what is needed. Applications for ERP, CRM, or Collaboration are especially likely 

to have thick client implementations for which there are not cross platform 

equivalents between Windows and Linux. Enterprise application vendors are 

responding to this not by developing separate thick client implementations for 

each OS, but by focusing on the Web browser as the container for extending their 

client applications to alternative client platforms (Linux).

This strategy is a good one to rely on because once you have a Web enabled 

application, it will never cause any dependency on a specific operating system. 

A good example for this situation is Domino Web Access, which was formerly 

known as iNotes. Until Version 6.5, the design of iNotes limited its use to Internet 

Explorer only, and thus was only usable with a Windows based client. The latest 

version of Domino Web Access now supports the Mozilla browser, thus making it 

a cross platform client application. SAP provides another example of this. They 

provide a fully functional Web client and Java based fat clients that can be run in 

platform independent browsers.

In the case that such a solution is not available, the approach of bridging 

applications to the new desktop by first transitioning to a cross platform Web 

client interface cannot be used. In this case you may have to migrate the 

application to a newer version that does support multi platform clients, or you 

may have to consider switching to another software vendor that meets 

cross platform client requirements.

3.2.4  Building bridges to the server

In the last three sections we showed ways to make the change over easier for 

the end users by switching to ported applications or Web clients. Another 

possibility to bridge gaps regarding functionalities is moving the application from 

the client to the server, which means the implementation of terminal servers.

Server based computing brings along many advantages, such as a centralized 

point for updates or a better server utilization, but at first it makes an abstraction 

from the client. Regardless which operating system is installed or which sort of 

client is in use, you always get the same user interface delivered in your terminal 

application. The only requirement is the availability of an application that makes a 

stable and secure connection to the Terminal Server.

In the case of Windows Terminal Server or Citrix Metaframe, the requirements 

are met clients are available for both Windows and Linux. Native Windows 

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Linux Client Migration Cookbook   A Practical Planning and Implementation Guide for Migrating to Desktop Linux