Cut costs via open source tech

INTELLIGENT COMPUTING

For institutions world-over which have already invested heavily in proprietary technologies such as Microsoft Windows, the option to migrate to open source technologies such as Linux might just be too big a change for now.

But for small and medium enterprises which do not wish to incur heavy capital expenditure on proprietary products can look at a cheaper alternative such as Linux.

The article seeks to provide information on what an open source platform such as Linux is all about and how a migration from a proprietary technology can be achieved in a swift manner.

Windows operating system belongs to Microsoft. But in the case of Linux, many variants are available. Some for a price and others totally free. After successfully installing a variant of Linux operating system, the computer will ask you to choose between Windows or Linux at the time of booting.

While you work on one operating system, you will also be able to access files under the other operating system. While in Linux, you will not be able to run software applications such as MS-Word and MS-Excel, but you can access files created with these applications.

Linux has come a long way in the last five to six years. Today for every commonly used application in the proprietary platform, a Linux version is available. This does not mean the software will be from the same company or with the same brand name.

It will be an application developed by a Linux developer delivering the same service that the proprietary version offers. The fun part is most of these are in fact free of cost.

What to lookout for when a migration is attempted? K S Saravanan, who heads the Linux initiatives at Accel ICIM Systems and Services Ltd, cautions, "It is essential to align with the right partner or support provider. Simple questions like, how many engineers does the Linux vendor has in case of trouble would suffice to judge the quality of the vendor."

Post-migration, it is important to remember that the hardware too should support Linux. Any capital investment on hardware must be made only after due-diligence is done on the Linux compatibility.

This rule holds good for software applications too. There are software applications in the market that can be run only on Windows.

The bottom line is not just about lower total operating cost under Linux. It is in fact more important to remember that support in the open source technology is available at beck and call.

There are organised service providers such as vendors and regional vendor partners who will do the hand-holding. For SMES or individuals who cannot pay for the services, there are hundreds and thousands of Linux enthusiasts who will be more than willing to help out. You can search in Google for web blogs that will provide access to these developers.

It is important to buy Linux variant from distributors of international repute. Some of the big names in this business are - Red Hat Enterprise Linux (www.redhat.com/software/rhel/), Novell (SuSE) (www.suse.com), Mandrake (www.mandrakelinux.com), ELX Linux (www.elxlinux.com) and Fedora Core, (www.fedora.redhat.com).

These companies have local partners in India who will provide the entire suite of products and also provide good support in the long run.

A brief history of Linux

The Linux kernel was initially written as a hobby by Linus Torvalds, who was studying at the University of Helsinki. He released the original version of Linux on the Internet in September 1991. Subsequently, thousands of volunteer developers throughout the world participated in the project.

The history of Linux-based operating systems is closely tied to that of the GNU project, a prominent free-software project led by Richard Stallman.

The GNU project was started in 1983 to develop a complete Unix-like operating system including compilers, application programs, development utilities etc - made up entirely of free software.

By 1991, when the first version of the Linux kernel was written, the GNU project had produced nearly all of the components of this system - except the kernel.

Torvalds and other early Linux-kernel developers adapted their kernel to work with the GNU components to create a fully functional operating system. Linux thus filled the last major gap in the GNU project.