In planning a Linux client migration for mobile (laptop based) users, you can 
expect that selection of a Linux based messaging client to replace a MS 
Windows based client will be the single most important design decision in your 
mobile desktop application migration strategy. The challenge of providing for a 
functionally equivalent (or acceptable) messaging application that supports 
offline use is another reason that inclusion of notebook based users can 
increase the complexity of a migration. (See the  Planning Tip  in 4.6,  Desktop 
vs. notebook considerations  on page 76.) 
There are Linux based messaging client options that provide for offline access 
modes. Mozilla Thunderbird is one example. Thunderbird supports both POP 
and IMAP protocols. More information about Thunderbird can be found here:
http://www.mozilla.org
Although Thunderbird will support offline messaging modes, it does not provide a 
way to integrate calendaring and scheduling functionality into the messaging 
client the way systems such as MS Exchange/Outlook and IBM Lotus 
Domino/Notes do. For this reason, we choose to demonstrate use of Novell's 
Exchange Connector 2000 combined with the Novell Ximian Evolution e mail 
client in Chapter 6,  Client migration scenario  on page 113. Extending the 
example migration scenario in Chapter 7,  Integration how tos  on page 133, for 
the notebook user means that you will also have to test and evaluate the offline 
capabilities of that Novell based solution.
Offline files
As every user to some extent creates and manages her own files and folders, it 
follows that the notebook user should be able to access copies of her files in 
offline/disconnected mode. And the primary storage location for those same files 
should be a regularly backed up and highly available server.
For example, Microsoft provides methods for automatic synchronization of files 
between servers and mobile clients. One of these methods uses the 
Briefcase
, a 
special folder in which one had to put the files that should be synchronized. A 
second method was provided with the launch of Windows 2000/XP, where a new 
function called 
offline files
 was implemented. This mechanism is able to 
synchronize whole folders, and while the notebook is offline, the files are fully 
accessible. Changes are retransmitted after connecting to the network 
automatically. 
In Linux, there is no direct equivalent for this kind of server to client file 
synchronization built into the operating system itself. Instead, the task of 
developing and supporting Linux based file synchronization services between 
client and server is left to ISVs. For example, Novell is offering a new solution for 
taking files offline and sharing them with other users. The product is called 
80 
Linux Client Migration Cookbook   A Practical Planning and Implementation Guide for Migrating to Desktop Linux






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