The benefits of Open Source Software and Linux for Small Businesses

° Gavin Henry – Suretec Systems Ltd/Aberdeen Linux User Group. °

"The benefits of Open Source Software and Linux for Small

businesses"Gavin Henry

Suretec Systems Ltd.http://www.suretecsystems.com

Aberdeen Linux User Grouphttp://www.aberdeen.lug.org.uk

Presented at the “Aberdeen Linux Open Day 2”16th May, 2004


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.● Both basically mean the software is free.


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.”

● Does not mean you can't charge for it


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 at Microsoft who works on Office XP!?


Current Myths of Open Sourcesource: 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 Big IT vendors as the software is so widely used.


Current Myths of Open Sourcesource: 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

laptop computers. HP will offer business customers support and testing.


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

that takes away their rights and invades their privacy!


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● Just about anything you can thing of....


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

applications.


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®

● Ed will again tell you more...


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● Be a modern company


Who uses its?


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● Too many to mention


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.

http://linuxmovies.sourceforge.net/studio/index.html


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 ExampleState of Hawaii Intranet Portal – State of Hawaii Intranet Portal – Oct. 16, 2001 - Oct. 16, 2001 - Sept. 30, 2002Sept. 30, 2002http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/os2002/view/e_sess/2456http://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

$0Pixia$600Still Graphics Application

$0jEdit$570Programming IDE

$0PHP, Python, & Zope$1,200Database Integration Engine

$0OpenOffice.org & Abiword$560Office Productivity Applications

$0Zope + CMF + Plone$4,000Commercial Portal Product

$0PHP, Python, & Zope$0Scripting Language

$0MySQL$1,350Relational Database

$0Apache HTTP Server & ZServer$0Commercial Web Server

$0Mandrake & RedHat Linux$850Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

CostOpen Source ChoiceCostCommercial 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 later released as Open Source software!


Get Open Source Software!

● GNU Win IIA free software complication for Windows.Download any/all programs from the website.Purchase a CDROM with select titles

●

● http://gnuwin.epfl.ch/


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.

http://www.theopencd.org/


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 peripheralswithout any configuration!

– Sometimes used as an “emergency”boot disc to recover a dead Linux orWindows 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

Impress, PDF, HTML, Power Point and flash formats.

Documents

The benefits of Open Source Software and Linux for Small Businesses