At present it is possible to use a Windows emulator (like Wine) to get an 

application running on the Linux client. This should, however, be seen as a 

temporary workaround. This is not a solution for the long run.

The most economical solution in the case of unmigratable applications might be 

to consolidate all unmigratable applications to a fixed number of Windows 

clients. These are then used by the entire end user population to access the 

unmigratable applications. These central clients are used in a single user mode 

with a single user sitting at the keyboard. Because if multiple users can access 

the application at once it is better to use a remote solution like in 4.7.2,  Terminal 

Server, Citrix Metaframe, or NoMachine solutions  on page 82. The centralized 

clients can be used remotely by tools that enable remote use by a single user. An 

example of a tool like this is VNC over a secure socket layer connection. This will 

remote the display, mouse, and keyboard to the VNC client on the Linux desktop. 

By using a secure socket connection we make sure that the remote connection is 

secure.

Of course, if the unmigratable application is a heavily used application, all these 

methods are unusable and a Linux client migration becomes extremely difficult.

4.8  Post migration troubleshooting and technical 

support

After migrating a group of clients to Linux, the clients will have to be 

supported not just in the normal day to day operations, but also for problems 

arising from the migration itself.

Not all of the support is of a technical nature. The usage patterns on the Linux 

client will be different from what the end user was used to on his previous client.

The administration of a Linux client also needs a new methodology for 

troubleshooting. Finding and solving problems under Linux is very different from 

Windows. Administrators have to adapt to the new troubleshooting methods for 

Linux clients. The first step in this process for the Linux client is not a reboot like 

it mostly is on the Windows client.

4.8.1  What to expect

To prevent a lot of post migration troubleshooting the end users have to be 

prepared for the new Linux client. The expectations for the Linux client have to 

be managed very carefully. 

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