How to organize the transition from Windows to Linux in the enterprise?

Question

linux

The task was set to transfer half of the employees to open source software. The distribution kit was the first question, the choice fell on the last minute, as the most optimized and easy for users (if there are your options, I will be glad to hear the arguments). Office in the old fashioned Libre (we have been using it for a long time).
Questions:
1. how to organize the process, despite the fact that the machines are different in power and release date.
2.Whether the distribution kit is correctly selected? Which one is better for gigahertz machines to pull the libre office?
3. What minimum set of software would you recommend?

Answer 1

I would install Debian with Xfce. from Firefox minimum, LO, everything.
Mint is chosen incorrectly - a weak percentage, brakes, that's all.
Process - I would install via PXE on all machines at once.

Answer 2

The first thing to think about is the implementation and maintenance processes, not the choice of distribution.
Think about how you will install them, update them, and solve user problems.
How will you integrate with the current infrastructure and how to make it easier.
It's easier to raise foreman/katello/pulp (automatic deployment and centralized configuration of workstations), set up freeipa (centralized authentication a la active directory), monitoring/logs to taste.
Then, with one click, install workstations with the necessary software.
And the choice of a distribution kit - is practically not important. The software is almost the same. In case of rpm-based centos/fedora you have more options for centralized management (katello/pulp).
I recommend installing fedora! ;)

Answer 3

The undoubted plus is that you don't have to keep a warehouse of drivers for the entire hardware zoo - everything will most likely be in the kernel. This is also a minus - if there is no driver for a printer or scanner, then the device will turn into a pumpkin under Linux, unfortunately.

Answer 4

You can’t do without dismissal: it is impossible to retrain venduziatniks.
Strongly powerful machines are not needed for office tasks.
Libreohfis is better to use only for the exchange of documentation with offices that do not know how to pdf. And do all the work in latex: it's faster and more convenient, and it's easy to automate.

Answer 5

1. Create a list of software needed for work and make sure that everything can be painlessly replaced. Not just in words, but to check how it works.
2. Create a list of available hardware and try to understand what hardware will be problematic. Solve as problems are identified (automating installation, rebuilding the kernel in case of problems with modules / drivers, updating the fleet of machines)
3. After practical experiments on point 2, choose a distribution kit.