From: http://www.techrepublic.com/printerfriendly.jhtml?id=r00620010629nor02.htm

Consider these cost issues before choosing Linux

Jun 29, 2001
Dana Norton
© 2001 TechRepublic, Inc.


Linux is on the move. Since its creation in 1992, the Linux operating system has slowly carved its own market share in the OS space and, according to Gartner, Linux arrived “with gusto” and hasn’t looked back. Last year, Linux was the fastest growing OS, garnering the support of most large independent software developers and computer manufacturers and is gaining favor with Internet service providers (ISPs), according to Gartner. By the end of the year, Gartner predicts that Linux’s market share will grow to about “…10 percent of worldwide server shipments.”

Even if you’re the most devoted of Microsoft users, it’s easy to see why so many people are attracted to the “alternative OS.” Linux is billed as stable, easily modified, and, best of all, free.

But nothing is ever truly free. In this article, we discuss three cost issues you should consider when evaluating Linux for your enterprise.

Expect to hire a specialist
Technically, you can download free versions of Linux. But running a free version of any OS is futile unless you know how to use and support it.

To fully unleash Linux’s potential, you’ll need someone in-house with the expertise to manipulate the Linux kernel code, Linux experts told TechRepublic.

If you and your staff lack Linux experience, be prepared to hire someone who is a Linux specialist. Retraining current staff with a course or two simply isn’t a viable option with Linux, explained Jim Wildman, founder of Rossberry Consulting, a consultancy specializing in open source solutions and UNIX system administration.

“You can’t learn it by taking a course,” Wildman said. “You have to live it for a while. You have to understand how it works.”

Stacey Quandt, associate analyst with the Giga Information Group, recommended that you look for someone with UNIX or Linux experience. For many IT managers with tons of Microsoft-certified staff, that’s the bad news. The good news is that you may find a qualified candidate with Linux experience by hiring someone straight out of school, Quandt said.

“The best and brightest university graduates are using Linux and want to work for companies who are using cutting-edge technology,” said Quandt.

Being careful of who you hire to maintain the Linux OS is a sure way to avoid a bad experience, according to Russ Herrold, founder of the Owl River Company, a consultancy specializing in systems analysis and administration, network design, and open source solutions.

“Don’t hire Joe Linux user who just wandered in from the street and just graduated form high school and expect to get a professional product,” Herrold advised.

Support and maintenance issues
If you want structured support, buy Linux from a Linux vendor like Red Hat or Caldera. Since free versions of Linux exist, vendors usually offer their versions at reasonable prices. According to Gartner, in May 2001, the price for Linux ranged from $0 to $150.

There are ways to receive help if you don’t buy a version of Linux or other support services. There are many Linux-based Web sites that announce bug fixes and virus alerts daily. The Linux community is tight-knit and if you look, there are many free user groups you can join. You can also buy support from third-party organizations.

Whether you buy a version or choose a free version, be sure to document any changes made to the kernel. Since the kernel can be manipulated by those with the correct authorization, your staff can waste time trying to maintain the OS if they don’t know what other team members have changed.

Tom Rule, an IT support technician and full-time computer skills teacher for the Mount de Sales Academy in Macon, GA, knows firsthand the importance of documentation.

“We had a student who did a lot of the [Linux] research. We had a very nonstandard installation of Linux, and the student who set it up wasn’t a believer [at the time] in documenting what he did. Now we’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out where things are and how to fix them,” said Rule.

Savings on equipment
When you’re weighing the costs of a Linux solution, be sure to factor in hardware since Linux can help you realize savings by allowing the use of older hardware.

“The capability to run on aging hardware is especially appealing to end-user organizations, effectively extending the life of an old x86 PC or ancient RISC workstation that would otherwise be destined for the garbage heap,” said Gartner in a recent report on Linux.

Finding new uses for old systems is a great way to stretch your budget.

“You have to ask yourself, can I reuse older hardware to get through an economic downturn?” said Herrold. Linux can help you do that, he added.

Rule agreed.

“Linux has also been good for us because it has allowed a much longer time between server hardware upgrades—our 90 MHz Pentium was useful for five years,” he said.

Linux is also not a hardware hog. According to Gartner, it can run on a minimum of 16MB of RAM. “In comparison [to Windows 2000], Linux requires such little computing power that it can run well on older 386 and 486 systems,” said Gartner.

Worth a look
Linux has a lot to offer. It can run file servers, database servers, DNS servers and intranet Web servers. According to Gartner, Linux is also gaining attention from Internet service providers (ISPs) that are attracted to Linux’s low cost and maintainability.

Some Linux uses are more creative.

“The most revolutionary part of our Linux usage is [that] we have file servers and data servers on NT, but the NT backup/OS scheduling software cannot be trusted. Our Linux servers perform regular backup/maintenance on our NT servers, which makes the backup/maintenance more reliable,” said Terry Fielder, a network engineer with Great Gulf Homes/Ashton Woods Homes.

Despite the success stories, Linux requires time, patience, and practice. It is not a cure-all and needs to be approached carefully.