Migration granularity and tech refresh cycles. Windows Vs Linux models

[Oren Beck]

In the pre-Linux world IT departments migrated data to the current MS
incarnation.
Which was often concurrent with the hardware needing replacement for
whatever reason.
The applications were either the bundled MS or niche "suite concept"
style with attendant learning curves. And it hammered tech support in
grim fashions. Then it got worse. Having seen migrations from Win95 to
present,  we all have war stories to share. Some of them having
avoidable Very Stupid Things. And then there are the
migrations/refresh projects we saw go in smooth flow states. I have
been cursed to suffer the botched projects. And blessed with some
joyously easy ones.

The short list make or break so to speak centers on process preview
and bottom back up to top feedbacks. Trying a dry run on a sandboxed
desktop and/or network segment for example. Having a "THIS IS STUPID"
feedback channel/s  With an inviolable policy of *ZERO* risk in using
it!
 IF folks fear saying Foo is an epic fail and why/how -it won't get
commented on let alone fixed
The last shortlister is granularity. Choosing your applications for
interactions where practical- if possible.Some applications demand
data conversion or unique servers. Where others are a painless import
. So far there's a body of comment covering nearly everything I list
here both on KCLUG and the rest of the web

MY little whack at these scenes is from NOT wanting anyone else to be
still onsite at WtFthirty because some clue lacking exec decided
pre-imaged drives were not worth it.Or that swapping a drive into new
hardware and copying files with a tech onsite made more sense than
using a USB copy the night before!

Same concept goes to installing Firefox and Thunderbird for your
supported user base ASAP. So by the time you do give users a desktop
lacking IE and Outlook-They won't curse at you :>

There is an inestimable gulf between the "one true path" dogmatic
model and the "Best tool for the job" view.

Choose wisely or much wailing and gnashing of teeth will be the reward.

-- 
Oren Beck

816.729.3645