Linux Installfest at Engage
Next week, a large part of the HCL software community will gather in Ghent, Belgium, for the annual Engage conference. For many of us, it’s that rare opportunity to meet in person the people we usually only interact with online. One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is the strength of the HCL community, especially around products like HCL Domino and HCL Connections, where people are always willing to share knowledge and help each other.
This year, I’m listed as a speaker in four sessions, an absolute personal record. The reality, however, is slightly less ambitious than it sounds. Together with Daniel Nashed and Bill Malchisky, I proposed a hands-on workshop on the Monday before the conference. Our goal: help Domino administrators who are still hesitant about Linux take that step with confidence.
Since the Monday workshop slots were already full, the Engage team offered us something even better: three dedicated sessions during the conference itself.
Before diving into those sessions, let’s first explore why we believe this topic deserves attention.
Why run Domino on Linux?
Domino and Linux have been a natural fit for quite some time. There are several compelling reasons why Linux often outperforms Windows as a platform for Domino.
One of the biggest advantages is resource efficiency. Running Domino on Windows with 4 GB of RAM can feel tight, while the same setup on Linux runs much more comfortably. This is largely because Linux typically runs fewer background services by default, and you install only what you actually need. As a result, Linux systems are not only lighter but often more secure as well.
That said, I completely understand why many Domino administrators still rely on Windows. If your organization is heavily invested in a Windows-based infrastructure, Linux can seem unfamiliar, maybe even intimidating.
I’ve been there myself. Back in 2010, I migrated my home server, including Domino, from Windows to Linux. It was a steep learning curve. At the time, tools like Samba 4 (which can turn a Linux server into an Active Directory-compatible server) were still maturing. But interestingly, moving Domino itself turned out to be one of the easiest parts of that transition.
A lot has changed since then.
A special mention goes to Daniel Nashed, whose startup scripts and automation tooling have significantly simplified running Domino on Linux. Thanks to these efforts, I can honestly say that today, running Domino on Linux is often easier than running it on Windows.
Linux Installfest sessions
Of course, that last statement is something you really need to experience for yourself. That’s exactly why we wanted to run a workshop, and why we’re now hosting three dedicated sessions instead:
Linux Installfest I – an introduction to administering a Linux server
Bill will walk you through the essentials of administering a Linux server. It’s just 45 minutes… so it can’t be that hard, right?
Linux Installfest II – Installing Domino on Linux (the hard way)
This is the session I’ll be presenting.
Think of it like this: recently in the Netherlands, full self-driving capabilities were approved for Tesla cars. While the car can technically drive itself, you still need a driver’s license to sit behind the wheel.
That’s exactly the idea here. Even if you’ll ultimately rely on automation, it’s important to understand what’s happening under the hood. In this session, we’ll go through a manual installation so you gain that foundational knowledge.
Linux Installfest III – Why Domino on Linux offers the best experience
Daniel will let you play with the tools and enhancements he has built over the years that make managing Domino on Linux not just easier, but genuinely enjoyable.
To make things even better, Daniel has created a fantastic lab environment. By simply registering, you’ll get access to your own Linux server hosted at Hetzner, ready to use during the conference. You do need your own laptop to connect to your server!
Our goal
This initiative builds on a long tradition. Back in the Lotusphere days, Bill hosted Linux roundtable sessions for Domino administrators.
Our hope is that these Installfest sessions will inspire enough people to make the switch that next year, Bill can host something entirely different: a Windows roundtable.
Not to promote Domino on Windows, but perhaps to offer moral support to those who, for one reason or another, still have to run it there 😉
Hope to see you at Engage!
