I feel like a stuck record saying this, but if there was a serious contender to Group Policy on Linux I honestly think Windows in the workplace would be dead in five years.
Negative. Windows on Desktop uses vendor lock-in to maintain it’s user base. It’s been that way for nearly 30 years. People only think they are choosing Windows themselves. Anywhere Microsoft can not enforce vendor lock-in, Linux dominates. Even IoT, a brand new market (well it was brand new ten years ago), 80% dominated by Linux. Microsoft had to make Windows free for IoT and 9" or less devices just to try and be competitive. People only think everything is made for Windows, because OEMs are forced to sell a Windows license with every PC or lose their volume licensing deals. That means every OEM has to spend engineering dollars on Windows drivers, software, and testing. When your business has very thin margins, you can’t afford to have second or even third engineering efforts for competitor OSes. Imagine how Linux would be if PC companies were spending engineering dollars on Linux for the last 30 years. Right now the money comes primarily from server sales money. If there was demand for Linux on Desktop in the workplace, there would be tons of competing FOSS Group Policy implementations.
I’ve seen YaST used at a distance and I think it’s up to the job of managing servers and headless systems but, seriously, it’s not even close to Group Policy. I not trying to sound dismissive of alternatives - I really do want a FOSS replacement - but it is hard to overstate how flexible and granular Group Policy is.
For what it’s worth, Ubuntu integrates ADsys, which allows for dconf updates through gpo templates. I’ve not heard anything on it for a while but the github repo was last updated 6 months ago
I feel like a stuck record saying this, but if there was a serious contender to Group Policy on Linux I honestly think Windows in the workplace would be dead in five years.
Negative. Windows on Desktop uses vendor lock-in to maintain it’s user base. It’s been that way for nearly 30 years. People only think they are choosing Windows themselves. Anywhere Microsoft can not enforce vendor lock-in, Linux dominates. Even IoT, a brand new market (well it was brand new ten years ago), 80% dominated by Linux. Microsoft had to make Windows free for IoT and 9" or less devices just to try and be competitive. People only think everything is made for Windows, because OEMs are forced to sell a Windows license with every PC or lose their volume licensing deals. That means every OEM has to spend engineering dollars on Windows drivers, software, and testing. When your business has very thin margins, you can’t afford to have second or even third engineering efforts for competitor OSes. Imagine how Linux would be if PC companies were spending engineering dollars on Linux for the last 30 years. Right now the money comes primarily from server sales money. If there was demand for Linux on Desktop in the workplace, there would be tons of competing FOSS Group Policy implementations.
I’m convinced everyone on Lemmy works IT
I’m convinced they all live in the moms’ basement eating chicken tendies.
I guess both of these are confessions then
Observations.
What about YaST?
I’ve seen YaST used at a distance and I think it’s up to the job of managing servers and headless systems but, seriously, it’s not even close to Group Policy. I not trying to sound dismissive of alternatives - I really do want a FOSS replacement - but it is hard to overstate how flexible and granular Group Policy is.
For what it’s worth, Ubuntu integrates ADsys, which allows for dconf updates through gpo templates. I’ve not heard anything on it for a while but the github repo was last updated 6 months ago