"The benefits of Open Source
Software and Linux for Small
businesses"
Gavin Henry
Suretec Systems Ltd.
http://www.suretecsystems.com Aberdeen Linux User Group http://www.aberdeen.lug.org.uk
Presented at the “Aberdeen Linux Open Day 2”
What is “Open Source?”
● “Open Source” is a kind of software license
(a kind of “End User License Agreement”)
● The Open Source Movement, which was
launched in 1998, aims to develop powerful, reliable software and improved technology, by inviting the public to collaborate in
software development.
● Much software in that movement use the
GNU GPL, which was finalised in 1991.
● http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html ● http://www.opensource.org/
What is “Open Source?”
●
Community develops, debugs,
maintains
●
High quality, high performance
●
Any one piece of software can
be reviewed and developed by
1000's of people world wide.
What is the General Public
License?
● Developed in 1980's for the Free Software
Foundation as part of the GNU project.
● GNU is a free replacement of the Unix
operating system
● Most software is released under version 2 of
this from 1991
● Used to protect software
● GPL and the Open Source license are more
or less the same.
Why is Open Source and Linux
FREE?
●
Because Linux is released under the
GPL (General Public License) – from the
Free Software Foundation
http://www.fsf.org.
●
Promotes a user's right, as oppose to
limit them.
●
“Free software refers to the users’
freedom to run, copy, distribute, study,
change, and improve the software.”
Why choose Open Source?
● Open Source developers are motivated – Most developers of Open Source are doing it
because they have a need or a want to; they are not simply programmer drones at a huge
corporation!
● Better Security, and fewer bugs!
– Accidental (or malicious) bugs are found quickly,
since anyone and everyone can examine the code.
– Viruses, “spyware,” etc. are almost non-existent! – Actual bugs are fixed quickly, and in the open.
Why choose Open Source?
● The code will survive!
– While the loss of a major corporate contributor
may be a deterrent, it will never mean the death
of a piece of Open Source software.
– The code will always be out there, since it can
always be passed along!
● You can contribute!
– Even if you cannot help write the software, you
can contribute with bug reports, feature requests, etc.
– When was the last time you e-mailed someone
Current Myths of Open Source
source: http://www.cio.com/archive/030104/open.html
● Myth 1
– The Attraction is the Price tag
● Biggest driving factor is stability and speed
● Myth 2
– The savings aren't real
● Highly scalable - As your company grows, additional
licenses are not required for more employees or computer systems.
● Myth 3
– There's no support
● Each application has a tremendous amount of support
via the Open Source community worldwide.
● Support worldwide is provided by local IT companies or
Current Myths of Open Source
source: http://www.cio.com/archive/030104/open.html
● Myth 4
– Open Source isn't ready for mission-critical
applications
● Why would all major film studios, banks use it?
● Myth 5
– Open Source isn't ready for the Desktop ● Novell
– Matt Asay, director of Linux Business Office at Novell, developed the theme.
"The default question will not be 'why are you deploying Linux' but 'Why are you not deploying Linux'."
– He said: "The desktop market right now is held back by friction - we've had
more than ten years of Windows-only experience on the desktop. Even for me personally, making the transition felt scary just because it's new. A new operating system and new applications feel weird."
● Hewlett Packard
– HP is recruiting Novell to help it get Linux running on corporate desktop and
Why Switch to Linux?
● Lower acquisition costs, lower total cost of ownership
and greater flexibility in choosing hardware and software are the top reason companies are using OSS, according to Forrester.
● Many are frustrated with bugs, viruses, and crashes. ● Others are sick of spyware, pop-up ads, and having
their computers hijacked to attack others or send spam.
● Less crashes and reboots ● No virus infections
● Some are tired of recurring costs (both new versions
of software, and new hardware just to run it!)
● Finally, many have major concerns with new licensing
What can I use it on?
● PDAs and handheld computers ● Mobile-phones and IP-phones ● Linux-powered robots
● Audio/video entertainment devices ● Tablets and webpads
● Gateways, servers, webcams, & wireless
access points
● Play Station 2
How can I benefit from all this?
● Look at a migration plan if you are already
running an I.T. system:
● For example:
– Step 1: Decide if you want to try it by yourself or get
someone in to help
– Step 2: Document what applications you use and which
areas are the least technical
– Step 3: Start trials
● Run it on the Desktop
● Very brief, consult Suretec for a more
concise method.
● Ed will take more about specific
What if I still need to use
Microsoft Products?
● Crossover office 3:
– Allows you to run many popular office
productivity software applications, such as
Microsoft Office, Lotus Notes, Microsoft Project and Visio, graphics applications like Macromedia Dreamweaver MX, Flash MX, and Adobe
Photoshop, and many more.
● You can use Open Source Software on
Windows®
Value to your Business
● Replace outdated OS
● Use same machines for up to date
software
● Run same versions on the desktop and
server for no additional cost
● Less downtime ● More productivity
Who uses it?
● Most UK Internet service providers ● Google
● Novell bought one of the biggest Linux
Distributions
● John Lewis
● UK Government
● Scottish Government ● BBC – teletext
Linux Dominates the Movies
● Digital Domain ● Disney
● Double Negative
● Dreamworks
● Flash Film Works
● Hammerhead
● Industrial Light & Magic ● Pixar
● Rhythm & Hues ● Sony Pictures ● Tippett ● Weta Digital ● A few: – Titanic – Stuart Little – Grinch – Shrek – Harry Potter
– Lord of the Rings 1 – Star Wars E2
– Scooby-Doo – Harry Potter 2 – Star Trek Nemesis – Lord of the Rings 2 – The Last Samurai
● To come:
– Shrek 2 – Shark Tale – Madagascar.
Governments Switching to
Linux and Open Source!
(Just the latest news...)
● Britain's National Health Service considering
(December 2003; http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,1101344,00.html)
● Brazil leaning away from Microsoft
(November 2003; http://apnews.excite.com/article/20031116/D7URSKHO0.html)
● “Vietnam embracing open-source products”
(October 2003; http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/business/7139304.htm)
● Massachusetts mandates open source; locks horns with Microsoft
(October 2003; http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2003/10/19/in_open_source_gain_bay_state_locks_horns_with_microsoft/) ● “Israel slams the door on Microsoft”
(October 2003; http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/33365.html)
● UK Office of Government Commerce
(October 2003; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3181108.stm)
● “Japan, China, Korea may develop Windows replacement”
(August 2003; http://www.reuters.com/locales/newsArticle.jsp?type=technologyNews&storyID=3363256)
● “City [of Toronto Children's Services Division] rolls out Linux desktop”
(July 2003; http://www.itworldcanada.com/index.cfm/ci_id/46194.htm)
Major Migration Example
State of Hawaii Intranet Portal –
State of Hawaii Intranet Portal – Oct. 16, 2001 - Oct. 16, 2001 - Sept. 30, 2002Sept. 30, 2002 http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/os2002/view/e_sess/2456
http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/os2002/view/e_sess/2456
$0 $0 Client Access License
SQL Client Access License $72
$72 Portal Client Access License
SQL Client Access License
$0 $0 $0 Single Server Config
Cost per developer seat 10,000 Client Licenses $7,650
$1,730 $2,880,000 Single Server Config
Cost per developer seat 20,000 Client Licenses
$0 Pixia
$600 Still Graphics Application
$0 jEdit
$570 Programming IDE
$0 PHP, Python, & Zope
$1,200 Database Integration Engine
$0 OpenOffice.org & Abiword
$560 Office Productivity Applications
$0 Zope + CMF + Plone
$4,000 Commercial Portal Product
$0 PHP, Python, & Zope
$0 Scripting Language $0 MySQL $1,350 Relational Database $0 Apache HTTP Server & ZServer
$0 Commercial Web Server
$0 Mandrake & RedHat Linux
$850 Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Cost Open Source Choice
Cost Commercial Choice
Not ready for Linux?
Use Open Source anyway!
● Countless applications have been released
as Open Source
● Much is developed specifically for Linux
● However, much is either designed with other
platforms in mind, or gets 'ported' later!
● Some major commercial applications were
Get Open Source Software!
● GNU Win II
A free software complication for Windows.
Download any/all programs from the website. Purchase a CDROM with select titles
●
Get Open Source Software!
● The Open CD
Another free software complication for Windows.
Includes only software for a broad audience, which has been thoroughly tested.
Get Linux
(No-commitment!)
● Knoppix - “Live CD” of Linux – NOT an install disc.
– Doesn't place Linux on your hard disk... – Runs completely from CDROM!
– When you're done, shut down and remove the
disc; reboot and you're back in Windows!
– Known for it's ability to detect
most hardware peripherals without any configuration!
– Sometimes used as an “emergency”
boot disc to recover a dead Linux or
Windows system! (Even for forensics!) http://www.knoppix.org/
Conclusion
● Linux and Open Source are here to stay
● Open Source and Proprietary software can
co-exist
● Open Source doesn't lock you into any one
provider
● You can use it immediately in your company ● Everyone is different and has different
requirements
● Make balanced decisions
● Copies of this presentation are available in OpenOffice.org
