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In search of ... guidance on Zorin as portable
barney:
OK, there've been a number of threads anent various *nix distros. In fact, I think one (1) of 'em was where I learned about Zorin.
But what I need at the moment is a bit of guidance. What I'm considering is installing Zorin (or maybe a better distro for the purpose?) on a USB stick. This will be used on various machines, a couple of which do not have functional CD/DVD drives. Rationale for this procedure is that others, mostly XP or Win7 users, will be driving the machine(s) most of the time. My readings indicate that Zorin is likely the most Win-like OS, but I've misread before.
So the question is whether this would be a viable approach, and, if so, what's the best way to accomplish this. Is there a particular USB boot loader that surpasseth all others?
If memory serves, all the machines in question are USB bootable, so that shouldn't be an issue :-\. However the bootloaders for USB that I've seen mention of are widely variant, and I'd prefer not to spend the next six (6) months discovering which would work best for this situation, if I can avoid that :o.
Reason for using a distro is that a friend of mine has, or created, a program that will track activity - not quite a key-logger, but pretty close - which should let me analyze activity over a period of time in order to discover bottlenecks, hardware issues, and the like. Unfortunately, it will not run on the MS platform, nor on OSX.
Open/Libre Office and email are the primary usages involved, so that should not be a problem, or at least not a significant problem. If they want video/audio, they're on their own, although there a a number of *nix applications available for such activity. I'll prolly install some of them, given the USB stick is large enough.
Sticks I have available are 1G, 4G, 8G, 16G, 32G, 64G, so those will dictate what can be added to the basic loading. (Just once, I'd love to see a stick that is 25G, 50G, or the like ... I'm accustomed to thinkin' in decimal, not binary ;).)
So, any suggestions? Anyone?
ewemoa:
I'm not sure if this is the sort of thing you're looking for, but I've had some good luck with (haven't tried Zorin OS -- but have tried others):
YUMI
Version 0.0.7.0 claims to support Zorin OS -- see "List of Installable Live Linux Distributions" on the aforementioned page.
Also came across:
http://zorin-os.webs.com/apps/forums/topics/show/2031471
I've not used the mentioned UNetbootin.
One more thread:
Persistent for USB
I have used Universal USB Installer before but I don't remember about its persistent-related functionality.
40hz:
I've run into stability problems (i.e. app crashes, odd behaviors, and lockups) with Zorin in the past. I don't know if they've since fixed it or if it was just my installation that was having those problems.
Q: You mentioned Zorin being very Windows-like. How important an issue is that?
I'm also a little confused who you're doing this for. Is this a USB key just for you - or is it something that you may also want to hand out to others?
:)
barney:
Q: You mentioned Zorin being very Windows-like. How important an issue is that?
I'm also a little confused who you're doing this for. Is this a USB key just for you - or is it something that you may also want to hand out to others?
:)
-40hz (September 01, 2012, 05:41 AM)
--- End quote ---
A friend, Jim, has his own small business. Has five (5) desktops in use. He wants to track activity on those machines in order (he says) to see whether he can justify some expenses to a couple of [silent] partners. With the software another friend has, statistics can be generated to show time spent in spreadsheets, word processing, financial software, and the like. That software needs a *nix platform. Since these folk are accustomed to Windows, the more Win-like the platform, the less confusion they'll encounter. All the software in use will run under Wine, so that shouldn't be an issue. Since Jim can't change the software/OS on the machines, he broached the idea of a bootable USB stick.
The basic idea is to gather monthly data off the sticks for maybe six (6) months, then distill that into something he can take to the silent partners. Right now, they're doing sneaker-net data transfers, and Jim wants to show his partners enough justification to get a small server installed. His partners, in spite of using smartphones, are pretty much Luddites (my grandfather did it that way, my father did it that way ... you know the drill), so he needs some serious numbers to justify the server.
Primary usages are
* word processor
* spreadsheet
* inventory control (no scanners)
* scheduling
* billing
I think he also wants to snoop on his employees, but that's neither here nor there :-\ ;).
This whole concept is his, but I told him I'd help if I could. Personally, I think the whole plan is overly complex and fraught with problems, but it's not my call. There is nothing he is using that cannot be replicated on a *nix box, but his partners are Windows - the only OS they've ever known, apparently - fanatics.
Hence the original query ... I don't have any experience with Zorin, and less than I should have with bootable USBs. 'Twould appear that's going to be corrected shortly :huh:. I'm just trying to shorten the initial learning process as much as possible :P.
Oh, one (1) other thing. If Jim can get the server justified, he'll be switching the desktops to a *nix distro, undetermined as yet. Probably Ubuntu, but there are likely distros better suited for a business environment.
40hz:
Ok...a few things...
1. It's generally not a good idea to try to use Wine on a production basis for business apps. It's ok in a pinch - or for occasional use. But if you're going to be doing something like running Excel or Word or an accounting program all day you're asking for trouble. I'd keep the users on Windows if that were the case.
2. If he just needs to monitor business use of the machines, and compile stats, he'd probably be better off downloading the free edition of ManicTime and using that. It's Windows native and a whole lot easier than the science fair project you've outlined above.
Regarding this:
I think he also wants to snoop on his employees...
--- End quote ---
He might want to check up on what the legal ramifications are for that where he operates. Where I am it's a semi-gray area that poses significant legal risks for the employer. Better suggest he check with an attorney as to exactly what's allowed in his jurisdiction. One thing that does seem to be an almost universal constant is you're not allowed to monitor employees secretly. Advance and ongoing notice has to be given. And very often some form of consent needs to be gotten back from the employees as well. So: Danger Will Robinson!!!
...but that's neither here nor there undecided Wink.
--- End quote ---
Um...yeah...well...it is for me. :)
My company has turned down numerous requests from people over the years who wanted to do that. It's something we don't personally believe in or want to be a part of. So I'm afraid can't help him with that piece of the puzzle if that's where he's going with it.
3. Servers are dirt cheap for what most SMBs need. Actually...what most of them really need is centralized network data storage rather than a full server solution. In his case, it may be easier to just acquire a mini-server (HP etc.) for around $500, load it with a freebie Linux small biz server solution, and call it a day. That's a lot easier (and cheaper in the long run) than dealing with Luddite silent partners and trying to convince them to buy a server.
8)
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