GST Structure

Each tool consists of single universal front-end which produces configuration information in XML and passes it to a back-end specific to the underlying operating system. The back-end interprets the XML configuration instructions and applies them to the specific operating system. This has three major advantages:

• The tools work on multiple platforms, but still use the native configuration systems of the host operating system. There is no new configuration system to learn, and the GNOME System Tools does not interfere with the operation of other configuration methods.
• XML configuration profiles can be archived, permitting the "undo" feature.
• XML configuration profiles can be generated on one system and exported to another, allowing an administrator to change settings for an entire workgroup at once.