People,
I would like to use the list for a request that has little or nothing to
do with xfs, but a lot to do with moves to open-source products.
One task I am currently involved in is putting together a document
defining the problems and costs of moving from proprietary platforms to
FREE/OSS. The client wanted us to extract most of our input data from
what is
already available on the web, but (as any of you who have made such a
study will be aware) there is much exhortation, much claiming that there
will be cost savings, some TCO studies (which often have undocumented
bases and hence must be regarded as useless) and not a lot else in any
useful detail.
We have produced a document which details the likely moves and the
mapping of proprietary and OSS products involved and are producing some
estimates of the costs - both transition and ongoing. We now need to try
and find organisations that have done such a change and are prepared to
talk to us and help us validate our statements.
How much of the result will get published for general public use is up
to the client, not us, as the contract specifies that they have
copyright. If confidentiality is required then there should be no
problem, but all parties will probably want to discusss terms.
Note that we are talking all OSS products, not just Linux. Any product
whose licence conforms to the OSI definition will be examined, although
we have a preference list (primarily to reduce the excessive choice
available in some areas). We are also talking moves from green screen
mainframe environments as well as from MS server/desktop environments
and proprietary Unix based solutions.
Since the document covers all non-specialist application areas we have
broken the recommendations down by functional areas (e.g.mail servers)
and are happy to talk at that level.
Our brief is to cover public administration but everyone involved
recognises that private sector admin usage is just as valid. Development
shops and such like are not being considered.
The only cost to you will be time, we will send someone to you. We are
prepared to travel to anywhere in Europe or the Mediterranean area plus
the East Coast USA/Canada. The client's budget does not allow to travel
further without special need. We will allow half to one day for each
visit unless you advise that the discussions might take longer. We do
not currently see dealing with things by email as appropriate due to the
volume of discussion that might well be required.
If anyone has appropriate experience and their management is willing for
them to help would they please contact me directly.
Thank you.
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