KDE::Enterprise Homepage
Using Centralized Information Resources
Restricting access to resources is important, but so is defining which resources should be shared. It's common to find LDAP address books, proxy servers, and even public key infrastructures in the modern office. KDE not only supports a variety of such shared resources, but also allows users and administrators to easily define such resources in a central configuration panel or file. Once defined, shared resources become accessable to all KDE applications.
One example is the KDE address book, which is shared by all KDE applications. The address book itself uses the industry standard VCARD format. To establish an office-wide address book, open the "Address Book Configuration" panel in the KDE Control Center, click on the "Add..." button, and add the resources you want to share.
There are currently four possible resource types: a flat text file, a directory containing one file per contact, an SQL database, or an LDAP server. (Some of these resource types may or may not be available depending on the options used to compile KDE.) Figure One shows the KDE panel for configuring LDAP servers.
Setting KAddressbook to use an ldap resource
Once a resource has been added, it appears in the list of available resources. The resource can then be activated by simply checking the box next to its name. A resource can be set as the default resource by clicking on its entry in the resource list and then selecting "Use As Standard".
Once you've chosen the resources, lock down the /opt/ kde/share/config/kabcrc file using the KDE kiosk framework. Setting up and maintaining proxy servers for tasks such as web browsing is similarly easy.
This really only scratches the surface when it comes to defining and using centralized resources in KDE. Within the KDE Control Center you can find panels to set up Windows file shares, manage local and remote printers, and set up network resource discovery services.
This broad array of tools and infrastructure support enables KDE to be easily and seamlessly integrated into existing corporate networks.
In addition to infrastructure, KDE ships with an impressive array of applications that you can also standardize on, including KOffice (an office productivity suite), KMail (an email client), Konqueror (a robust Web browser), and others.
KDE: Kan Do Everything
Today the question isn't if the Linux desktop will take off, but where the first significant inroads will be made. The answer to that question most likely lies within the offices of small, medium and large businesses. The flexibility, stability, security, and cost of desktop systems are of much greater concern in the corporation than in the home. Moreover, companies are already adopting Linux and have the means (that most home users lack) to support new system deployments : a trained IT staff.
It's evident that the spread of free software from the server room to the desktop requires that projects such as KDE, XFree86, and Linux continue to flourish and keep their focus. Doing that requires the continued support of a community of developers, artists, documenters, translators, sponsors, and users.
But, if the future is anything like the past, then desktop Linux has a rosey future indeed.
Aaron J. Seigo is a KDE developer living in Calgary, Alberta. He can be reached at aseigo@olympusproject.org
LINUX MAGAZINE granted permission to publish the original article on http://enterprise.kde.org/ as long as we attribute the author and Linux Magazine in all variants.
KDE:The Korporate Desktop Environment
[ Edit ]
