On Fri, 21 Sep 2001, Soc Tatunay wrote:
> Eric,
>
> You have a point. But, take into consideration
> that not all services/apps are simple to migrate like
> the ones you mentioned.
> Web/mail/ftp/dial-up/print/proxy/firewall/name/file
> servers are easy to migrate but what about the other
> servers which have custom made apps?? clustered
> solutions?
> I'm not saying that linux can't do what unix or M$
> servers can do. My concern on the server end are the
> ff.:
> 1. application license issues
> - I'm not referring to out of the box apps
> I'm talking about business apps which are
> custom made for the govt. institutions that
> come from consulting companies...home grown
> confidential apps.
I think this is a matter of government demanding that applications
delivered to the government be supported to run on linux or any
non-proprietary OS. This makes sense if it were a law, and would save
taxpayer funds in the process.
> 2. porting issues
> - I know there are lots of developers out there
> who wants to go out and port any application
> from one platform to another but this is not
> kid's game. Porting apps takes time.
True, but the move to non-proprietary platforms need not be done
overnight. Sooner or later, there will be new specs and requirements
and this can surely be implemented in an open environment.
> 3. legal issues, copyright and etc...
> someone raised the issue on bundling
> staroffice from sun....that can be worked
> out coz sun gives it away anyway but
> business apps are mostly not free.
Again it need not be a 100% move towards linux. We can have a heterogenus
environment to start, and then move over to a totally free environment
slowly, and skipping over legal impediments. It would be a lot simple if
congress recognize the value of open source software and follow the
example of other countries like germany which have laws promoting the use
of open source.
> 4. support issues
> After porting the apps...who's going to
> support
> it? If a software written by accenture(aka
> andersen consulting)for a specific platform
> and this project successfully ported that
> application...will accenture still support
> this new configuration? If you load linux on
> a proprietary hardware like sun...will they
> support that configuration? If your response
> is to replace proprietary hardware/software
> ...then I warn you about "RETURN OF
> INVESTMENT" issues that will come up once
> you justify these in the next budget meeting.
Yes linux can be loaded on sun hardware, and it would run quite happily on
it too. Support fo that setup would now come from the parties providing
such open source technology. The support contract would move from the
traditional solaris vendor to the linux vendor.
> There are lot's of things you need to put into
> consideration on the server and this differs from site
> to site. But on the desktop, assuming there are no
> custom-made front end apps on the desktop...you
> already
> have most of the user's requirements(e.g. staroffice,
> evolution..etc.., and telnet/x or whatever access to
> the linux/unix server then you're ok already.
> The servers are transparent to users...
> what they see are their desktops...so that's where the
> project
> will have most of the resistance. Sysads are easy to
If there are orders from the powers that be from the government, then
resistance is futile. If there is government order for a cease and desist
in purchasing microsoft office, then people will have to contend with
using alternative open source programs or run the risk of the BSA raids.
This is all political will, and i'd say if the government was really
serious is cutting costs, this is one big cost center which needs cutting.
_
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