--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unfortunately, the contact number announced earlier was wrong. The right phone number is 2826 1301. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ENTERPRISE GNU / LINUX IMPLEMENTATION
Hotel ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton, Mumbai
June 12 & 13, 2003
Day One Thursday, June 12, 2003
09:15: GNU/LINUX - GENESIS & ITS PRESENT RELEVANCE
* Free Software Paradigm vs. Proprietary Software Paradigm * Fundamental Difference: o Is software a goods or a service? o Copy able and non-copy able resources * Ethics & Business Model for copy able resources * Creativity, Hacking & Publishing * Users� right to repair * What is the meaning of �free� in free software? * The genesis of Free Software: 1984 to today * The birth of GNU/Linux * Why is GNU/Linux Relevant? o Stability o Security o Virus Free o Open Standards o Economical o Social Relevance o Ethics & Economics o Education o Owned & Regulated by the community * Is it legal to sell free software? o Sell software with the source code * Free software in India
Dr. Nagarjuna G Director (Free Software Foundation, India), Academic Member (HBCSE)
10:00: GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
Dr. S. Ramakrishna, Senior Director, Ministry of IT
11:00: OPEN SOURCE ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE
* Current trends and landscape of non-proprietary software * Open source, free software, GNU Public license - Explained
* Industry trends in adoption of non-proprietary software in large * enterprises and organization - benefits and challenges
* Role of open source / non-proprietary software, including Linux, in the * enterprise architecture planning in the near and medium-term future.
* Defining Enterprise Architectures involving structured moves towards * increasing use of non-proprietary software.
* Strategies for enterprise architecture planning and experiences in * adopting Linux and other non-proprietary software in complex settings
* State of the industry in enterprise strength non-proprietary software * architectures
Dr. Gautam Shroff, Head: Enterprise Architecture, TATA Consultancy Services
12:00: ENTERPRISE STRATEGIES AND CHALLENGES FOR LINUX MIGRATION
14.00: Strategies for Deploying Linux on Enterprise Servers
Basant Kerketta, System Analyst The New India Assurance Co. Ltd.
14:45: LINUX IN AN ON-DEMAND ERA
The emerging e-business on demand marketplace is resulting in heightened need for interoperability and standardization within the IT infrastructure that supports it. Linux shines out in this regard, because of it's unique ability to run across hardware platforms, right from embedded devices to the biggest mainframes in the business, as well as its ability to support a broad range of middleware, software and enterprise applications across the board.
In this session the latest trends in Linux, as well as how it can used in various customer scenario's, to meet today's rigorous demands from cutting edge technology will be discussed
Sandeep Menon, Linux Business Manager - ASEAN/SA, IBM India Ltd.
15:45 :Linux Usage in an Online Environment
G.M. Shenoy, Sr. Vice President, NSE.IT
16.30 :Deploying GNU / Linux
Abhijit Dasgupta, VP: IT, Times of India Group
Day Two Friday, June 13, 2003
09.15: Deploying GNU / Linux in a Multi User / Multi Environment
Dr. G. Sivakumar, Head: Computer Centre, IIT, Mumbai
10.00: Deploying Financial and HR applications on Linux Platform
* The background under which we went in for the HR and Financial applications * What OS options were available to us * Why we chose Linux over others * What were the concerns * How we addressed these concerns * What was our experience with Linux implementation (what were the issues that we faced and how we resoved them)
Neeraj Bhai, CTO, IDBI Bank
11.00 State of the Dolphin
Gerardo Narvaja , MySQL AB
12:00: COST EFFECTIVE SUPER COMPUTING FOR THE ENTERPRISE
An alternative to traditional supercomputing is a method of linking multiple computers together to form a unified and very powerful system.. Beowulf clusters are specialized supercomputers that are gaining popularity in the technical and enterprise computing market because of their high performance at a relatively low cost
* Evolution of Supercomputing * Details of Beowulf Clustering and how to select the right cluster for your application * Designing a linux cluster * Network Interconnects * Storage management * Cluster Management and Monitoring * Scalabiltiy , Reliability and Availability. * Area of Applications * Case studies on price performance gain with clusters
Narayanan Subramaniam, Technical Head Benz Infotech Consultancy Services
14:00: LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF NON-PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE
* The Alternative Intellectual Property of OSS * The Legal innovation involved in Open Source Software * Legal Validity of the GPL: Is the GPL legally enforceable? * Understanding the differences between the various licensing options available within the Open Souce Movement - the Free Software v. Open Source Debate * Survey of cases / judicial developments in the area
Lawrance Liang, Legal Researcher, ALF
14.45 Deploying GNU/LINUX in eGovernance
N. C. Nagarjuna Reddy Officer on Special Duty IG Registration & Stamps, Govt. Of A. P.
16:00: LINUX ON THE DESKTOP
Breach Candy hospital runs a totally integrated hospital information system that runs on a Linux platform for both backend and front-end operations. Mr. Desai would discuss the implementation strategies and how this has benefited the hospital.
Dilip Desai, Head IT, Breach Candy Hospital
16:20 GNU / Linux Deployment for the Enterprise - Indian Scenario
* Is GNU / Linux Enterprise Ready ? * Economic viability of Linux implementation for the Enterprise. * Factors to be considered before deploying Linux in organizations. * Infrastructure Requirement. * Migration Challenges - Windows to Linux * Legal aspects of GNU / Linux Service providers. * Long term and short-term financial viability. * Evaluating economic viability of desktop implementation of GNU / Linux
MODERATOR: Prakash Advani, Sr. VP, Netcore Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
* Dilip Desai, Head: IT, Breach Candy Hospital * Shashank Sathe, CIO, Repro India
Co-sponsors: Benz Infotech Consultancy Services
Official Publications: Linux For You
More information, contact: HASHIM POONAWALA T: +91-22-2826 1301 F: +91-22-2828 1305 or 2826 1305 E: hashim@marcusevansin.com abid@marcusevansin.com
Dear FN,
The suprising thing is that I have sent 2 emails to the contact below asking for detals of how much the seminar will cost and how to register. Unfortunately, I have not heard from them.
Do you know what they are charging for the seminar ?
Regards Saswata
----- Original Message ----- From: "Frederick Noronha (FN)" fred@bytesforall.org To: linuxers@mm.ilug-bom.org.in Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2003 12:26 AM Subject: [ILUG-BOM] Enterprise GNU/Linux implementation (a seminar at Mumbai)
GLUG Meeting on 8th 4pm at PUKAR, Near CST. ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unfortunately, the contact number announced earlier was wrong. The right phone number is 2826 1301. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***** ***** unwanted parts deleted ****** *****
More information, contact: HASHIM POONAWALA T: +91-22-2826 1301 F: +91-22-2828 1305 or 2826 1305 E: hashim@marcusevansin.com abid@marcusevansin.com -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frederick Noronha (FN) | http://www.fredericknoronha.net Freelance Journalist | http://www.bytesforall.org http://goalinks.pitas.com | http://joingoanet.shorturl.com http://linuxinindia.pitas.com | http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks ------------------------------------------------------------------------- T: 0091.832.2409490 or 2409783 M: 0 9822 122436 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
My account of the two-day seminar. I would like to quote Nagarjuna when he summed up the panel discussion at the end of the second day:
"So far we have been wondering whether GNU/Linux is ready for the Enterprise; but now I think we should wonder whether the Enterpise is ready for GNU/Linux!"
... and before anyone else thinks of it, I am not talking about that cute saucer with engines sticking out the back that goes around our sector of the Galaxy chasing space-time anomalies and distress signals from never-before-encountered alien beings that are mysteriously understandable by human technology.
Coming back to the Conference ...
DISCLAIMER: The opinions mentioned below are based on my own observations and inferences at the Conference and the mention of any person or company does not mean that they necessarily endorse the view that I express about them.
The biggest fact that stood out at the Conference was the distinction between OSI and FSF ideologies. All the speakers at the conference were very frank in admitting that the prime reason in opting for OSS (and _not_ FLOSS) was the drastic reduction in costs, and to some extent the possibility of prevent vendor-lockin. But that's where their enthusiasm in OSS ends. Most of the people present looked at OSS from a customer's point of view, and consider the community as just another software vendor. The fact that opting for OSS meant joining a large and diverse, free-thinking community has _not_ found any ground in the corporate decision-making process.
OSS is an interesting option to them because being free (as in beer) its economical and being free (as in freedom) its robust and stable and portable and scalable and this and then that! The attitude borders on being purely parasitic, since all they are interested in is saving their money, but they have no idea about the community that is providing them with this option.
This is too big a concept to be understood by the corporate world overnight, but there have to be concrete steps (maybe by FSF-India, or the LUGS?) to make them aware of the efforts that go into making this great technology a viable option. They have to be made to realise that for the savings they make by using OSS, it might actually be useful for them to give something back to the community - that maybe hosting, or support for a few programmers, or funds for the various foundations and projects and so on. We should come out with a campaign that makes them aware of the needs of the community and the fact that their contribution can go a long way in keeping OSS alive and making further improvements and innovations possible.
All this said, the conference also reveals a very good business opportunity for most experts in GNU/Linux and related stuff - and that is the service industry. During the panel discussion, people admitted that they understand the viability and financial significance of changing over to OSS. But they were afraid to "take the plunge", since they were not sure who would help them out. Some people expressed the need for agencies/companies that can take up the job of providing support for the migration process and maintenance thereafter.
The guy from IBM made an all-out pitch for their Linux-based services, the TCS guy made a guarded attempt at saying that even they seriously consider Linux when serving a customer. The RedHat guy had convincing slides on a preconceived process of migration and support. But there's ample room for more people to jump in. All we need is Linux users growing a good halo of credibility for themselves and setting up support companies - the market is surely there for the taking.
Another thing that needs to be conveyed articulately is the option for these companies to hire people from the Linux user community - in-house experts that can deal with situations and provide a good interface to the FLOSS community as a whole.
Sameer.
Go to the following site and click on Linux link. It has a section that will explain how to setup a e-commerce site for a business. It is in 3 parts.
After that, ask yourselves "Is Linux ready for enterprise level deployment?" Linux is a boon for small and medium businesses. Ying Zhang has done a great job at documenting what is required to setup a e-commerce site.
Enjoy!
On Sat, 14 Jun 2003, Subba Rao wrote:
After that, ask yourselves "Is Linux ready for enterprise level deployment?" Linux is a boon for small and medium businesses. Ying Zhang has done a great job at documenting what is required to setup a e-commerce site.
Umm, an e-commerce site is not an enterprise. Most enterprises have nothing whatsoever to do with ecommerce. They need computer systems to run their accounting software, their HR software, etc. They have desktop users. Can all these systems be replaced?
On 0, Philip S Tellis philip@ncst.ernet.in wrote:
GLUG Meeting on 8th 4pm at PUKAR, Near CST.
On Sat, 14 Jun 2003, Subba Rao wrote:
After that, ask yourselves "Is Linux ready for enterprise level deployment?" Linux is a boon for small and medium businesses. Ying Zhang has done a great job at documenting what is required to setup a e-commerce site.
Umm, an e-commerce site is not an enterprise. Most enterprises have nothing whatsoever to do with ecommerce. They need computer systems to run their accounting software, their HR software, etc. They have desktop users. Can all these systems be replaced?
You are right! I agree that e-commerce site is only a part of the infrastructure i.e. if the company decides to have a e-comm site. I was only trying to point out to the skepticals, that Linux could be used very effectively ($/Rs/E/Y wise) for an enterprise. The link I sent earlier shows how to setup up a e-comm server with Linux in no time.
My take on "Enterprise Linux": chapter 3 (probably) - Desktop environment
This will be the greatest challege and will take a while to iron them out. There are too many issues here. What daemons are allowed to run on the Linux Desktop? IPSec Setup and routing issues for the workstations. Configuration changes on Workstation by users. Software/Tools download controls
My .02 cents/euros/piasa or whatever.
On Sat, 14 Jun 2003, Subba Rao wrote:
What daemons are allowed to run on the Linux Desktop? IPSec Setup and routing issues for the workstations. Configuration changes on Workstation by users. Software/Tools download controls
These are technical issues, not relevant at all. The real question is, do users want to change their desktops? What are the risks involved? What if something goes wrong three months from now? Who do I call? etc. This is the problem with any irreversible change.
Hi Phillip, Interesting scenario. People in my wife's company have just moved from typewriters to computers 2 years back. They are comfortable with Windows and Outlook etc. The challenge really lies in convincing these grassroots it users to actually shift to linux. It needs a serious amount of education as well as projection of relative stablity of a GNU/Linux system as against windows. No IT Manager would like to reccomend everyone to move to GNU/Linux unless the users are comfortable with it. This in my opinion is more important than hosting mail server internet connection etc etc. The server market is already being acquired by Linux at a fast pace. It is the desktop market which Linux still needs to target.
Regards Aditya ----- Original Message ----- From: "Philip S Tellis" philip@ncst.ernet.in To: "GNU/Linux Users Group, Mumbai, India" linuxers@mm.ilug-bom.org.in Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2003 5:18 PM Subject: Re: [ILUG-BOM] Enterprise GNU/Linux implementation (a seminar at Mumbai)
GLUG Meeting on 8th 4pm at PUKAR, Near CST.
On Sat, 14 Jun 2003, Subba Rao wrote:
What daemons are allowed to run on the Linux Desktop? IPSec Setup and routing issues for the workstations. Configuration changes on Workstation by users. Software/Tools download controls
These are technical issues, not relevant at all. The real question is, do users want to change their desktops? What are the risks involved? What if something goes wrong three months from now? Who do I call? etc. This is the problem with any irreversible change.
-- He draweth out the thread of his verbosity finer than the staple of his argument. -- William Shakespeare, "Love's Labour's Lost"
The core business of our company is Linux based network management and email solutions for the SME market. (Note the subtle ad for our company ;-) )
But even within our company, apart from the techies, there is resistance to shift to the Linux desktop. We have now forcibly convinced ;-) our graphic designer to move. She is now using GIMP and getting used to it.
This is definitely the way to go. Linux on desktops will go a long way in creating awareness and removing mindsets like
OS=Windows Wordprocessor=MSWord
Vinayakam Murugan wrote:
But even within our company, apart from the techies, there is resistance to shift to the Linux desktop. We have now forcibly convinced ;-) our graphic designer to move. She is now using GIMP and getting used to it.
Is'nt it possible to use Adobe P'shop with Crossover office? P'Shop still beats gimp's pants(with due respect for gimp developers)
Maybe if your techies are still wanting to use windows, try to get them hooked by exporting X to their machines via vnc or a windows X server. Maybe then they will explore Linux a bit more and will be convinced to switch.
That is like having half a baby. Either have it the whole or none at all. ;-) Gimp hasn't reached the level of Photoshop but is good at what it does.
The techies have already shifted and are very happy.
Is'nt it possible to use Adobe P'shop with Crossover office? P'Shop still beats gimp's pants(with due respect for gimp developers)
Maybe if your techies are still wanting to use windows, try to get them hooked by exporting X to their machines via vnc or a windows X server. Maybe then they will explore Linux a bit more and will be convinced to switch.
On Mon, Jun 16, 2003 at 11:58:20AM +0530, Sthitaprajna wrote:
GLUG Meeting on 13th July, 4pm at KReSIT, IIT Campusm, Powai.
Vinayakam Murugan wrote:
But even within our company, apart from the techies, there is resistance to shift to the Linux desktop. We have now forcibly convinced ;-) our graphic designer to move. She is now using GIMP and getting used to it.
Is'nt it possible to use Adobe P'shop with Crossover office? P'Shop still beats gimp's pants(with due respect for gimp developers)
Maybe if your techies are still wanting to use windows, try to get them hooked by exporting X to their machines via vnc or a windows X server. Maybe then they will explore Linux a bit more and will be convinced to switch.
Though it is old news, it may help those who are not aware: use gimp for the screen (say web graphics) and use filmgimp for print quality graphics, and movie special effects. Both are production quality and feature rich.
Nagarjuna
----- Original Message ----- From: "Sameer D. Sahasrabuddhe" sameerds@it.iitb.ac.in To: "GNU/Linux Users Group, Mumbai, India" linuxers@mm.ilug-bom.org.in Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2003 3:46 PM Subject: Re: [ILUG-BOM] Enterprise GNU/Linux implementation (a seminar atMumbai)
The biggest fact that stood out at the Conference was the distinction between OSI and FSF ideologies. All the speakers at the conference were very frank in admitting that the prime reason in opting for OSS (and _not_ FLOSS) was the drastic reduction in costs, and to some extent the possibility of prevent vendor-lockin. But that's where their enthusiasm in OSS ends. Most of the people present looked at OSS from a customer's point of view, and consider the community as just another software vendor. The fact that opting for OSS meant joining a large and diverse, free-thinking community has _not_ found any ground in the corporate decision-making process.
Corporate decision makers are not interested in idiology. They are interested only in what makes business sense, money made or saved. They will always decide on terms of profits and margins and how GNU/Linux will help them in increasing value and profits
I think we should accept that fact. Even if they are using Linux and OSS only because of that, and that they do not bother about FS idiologies, increased user base for GNU/Linux helps the cause. An increased user base makes it worthwhile for companies and software developers to work on the platform even on commercial basis. Finally it is important for people to make money out of Linux, whether it is through creating software or providing services and support.
I am not saying abandon the FS idiology. Keep harping on it in private meetings and disucssion with corporate users. Keep talking of it in conferences and seminars. Out of the large user base who are now using GNU/Linux because it is OSS, there will be some who will understand and appreciate the idiology and will contribute to it. That is enough. Starting an open "campaign" and trying to convince people to move from OSS to FLOSS would probably be counterproductive.
All this said, the conference also reveals a very good business opportunity for most experts in GNU/Linux and related stuff - and that is the service industry. During the panel discussion, people admitted that they understand the viability and financial significance of changing over to OSS. But they were afraid to "take the plunge", since they were not sure who would help them out. Some people expressed the need for agencies/companies that can take up the job of providing support for the migration process and maintenance thereafter.
This is very true. I know of companies who have experimented with it on the fringe and were willing to pay for services of expert teams who can help and support them during and after migration. In one case, a team from mumbai failed misrably to do a very simple thing like set up firewall and proxies (they had very specific requirements which they had put forward well in advance) and in 3 other cases, the support companies (or individuals) promised to come back with a solution, migration path, etc. and didnt bother to revert to the company.
With experiances like this, I am sure another 10 companies who were considering moving to Linux have shelved the idea after talking to these companies.
What is needed is not big guys like IBM and RedHat, whom small companies will not approach due to cost consideration or the fear that they will be marginal clients for them and therefor not given much attention. What is instead needed is a whole set of smaller (but highly reliable and available) companies that can support SMEs. That is the reason why Microsoft succeeded. There are thousands of people in Mumbai who are in a position to install, support and solve problems and write programs for windows system.
Another thing that needs to be conveyed articulately is the option for these companies to hire people from the Linux user community - in-house experts that can deal with situations and provide a good interface to the FLOSS community as a whole.
Small companies do not hire full time or inhouse EDP support staff or programmers if they can help it. The growth of linux will come more from small companies rather than from large enterprises who have the money to put into windows system in any case.
On Saturday 14 June 2003 18:09, Saswata Banerjee & Associates wrote:
Corporate decision makers are not interested in idiology. They are interested only in what makes business sense, money made or saved. They will always decide on terms of profits and margins and how GNU/Linux will help them in increasing value and profits
actually they are conditioned to redistributing wealth to their own advantage. Only a handful of Indian corporates are engaged in creating wealth . IMHO creating wealth happens only when you provide new and innovative products and services. This entails RISK. Having sat on the fat of their Ass for the better part of 50 yrs and bled the Indian consumer to death, taking risks of the type very common in industrialised and capitalist societies are very un palatable.
I think we should accept that fact. Even if they are using Linux and
OSS
only because of that, and that they do not bother about FS
idiologies,
increased user base for GNU/Linux helps the cause. An increased
user base
makes it worthwhile for companies and software developers to work on
the
platform even on commercial basis. Finally it is important for
people to
make money out of Linux, whether it is through creating software or providing services and support.
I am not saying abandon the FS idiology. Keep harping on it in
private
meetings and disucssion with corporate users. Keep talking of it in conferences and seminars. Out of the large user base who are now
using
GNU/Linux because it is OSS, there will be some who will understand
and
appreciate the idiology and will contribute to it. That is enough.
Starting
an open "campaign" and trying to convince people to move from OSS to
FLOSS
would probably be counterproductive.
OSS is a disaster in the making Corporations and individuals like SCO are the result.
Who cares if corporates do or do not use GNU/Linux. The wise ones will. The others are not worth wasting time on.
Rather than pursuing corporates it is very important to ensure that all publicly available documents and services are available in formats that are completely open. If closed software companies pursue corporates / individuals for licences, they will be automatically shooting them selves in the leg. If they do not pursue licences they will be shooting themselves in the leg anyway. Also as a share holder in a corporate question them about the IT budget and the wisdom in blowing up share holders money.
What is needed is not big guys like IBM and RedHat,
Talking of Redhat and Linux ver 9.0. I know of several individuals who are / were undergoing Redhat certification courses. All of them referred to GNU/Linux as Linux 8.0, 8.1 etc. It seems that Redhat makes no attempt to convey the values and processes on which they rely for their very survival. Not suprising. There is conflict in the business model for Redhat.
whom small companies will not approach due to cost consideration or the fear that they
will be
marginal clients for them and therefor not given much attention.
What is
instead needed is a whole set of smaller (but highly reliable and
available)
companies that can support SMEs. That is the reason why Microsoft
succeeded.
Absolutely. A well trained software engineer has absolutely no need for REDhat or Suse. As Linux spreads, local service will be provided by individuals and small firms. Where does that leave Redhat and Suse. IBM has increased it's hardware value proposition by embracing Linux. Suse has the German government to play ball with. Redhat is seeding it's own demise - the more popular it becomes the lesser is it's percieved value. Incase of Microsoft the proprietory nature of it's software ensures that it gains from spreading.
There are thousands of people in Mumbai who are in a position to
install,
support and solve problems and write programs for windows system.
At least superficially.
Small companies do not hire full time or inhouse EDP support staff
or
programmers if they can help it. The growth of linux will come more
from
small companies rather than from large enterprises who have the
money to put into windows system in any case.
You said it. But will they make money. Not very much. Infact GNU/Linux will become so stable and usable that it would require very negligible support. That would leave only one segment. Customised software.
rgds jtdsouza@softhome.net
-
Adi -
Frederick Noronha (FN) -
J. T. D'souza -
Nagarjuna G. -
Philip S Tellis -
Sameer D. Sahasrabuddhe -
Saswata Banerjee & Associates -
Sthitaprajna -
Subba Rao -
Vinayakam Murugan