Questions and Answers:
Q.1) How can linux be used in my business to lower costs?
Q.2) Is linux more reliable that windows?
Q.3) Can I use linux in a system where all the desktop computers run MS windows?
Q.4) Is is possible to run my entire business on Linux based computers.
Q.5) Can I have my own email server on linux and still have similar facilities to MS Exchange and still use Outlook?
Q.6) What sort of service plans do you offer?
Q.7) Does Linux suffer from virus attacks like Windows?
Q.8) I know Windows is the biggest software company in the world, who uses Linux?
Q.9) Why should my business contepmlate using Linux when the whole world uses Windows computers.
Q.10) Who supports Linux and will it be supported in the future
A 1.) Most of the savings from using Linux come from its basic stability and reliability. Not from savings in the purchace price. Mind you you can't beat the cost of $0 for the basic operating system. The cost of an operating system is only a small part of the cost of running any IT or computer network system most of the costs come from maintaince and support. Again look at the first sentance of this answer, these basic attributes (stability and reliability mean lower costs.
A 2.) In our experience Linux is vastly more reliable than Windows. In sites we support we would have a support ratio of 10 windows calls to one Linux call. We have had Linux servers running for over four (4) years with zero outage for any reason.
A 3.) Yes Linux servers play well with Windows clients and this model of operation is used my many business both small and large across the world.
A 4.) It certainly is, and we have organisations who use Linux only systems, The only limitation of this approach is if an orginisation requires a special program or programs that only run on windows computers which is often not the case.
A 5.) Yes you can there are Linux based mail servers that can do a pretty good job of providing the facility of Exchange including for Outlook clients on Windows computers.
A 6.) We offer plans which provide for total IT support for small to medium business in Queensland on a quartly payment basis. The pricing for these plans is based on the number of users and the number of servers.
A 7.) No Linux does not suffer from Virus attacks like Windows does and this is one of its many strengths. Linux servers will run anti-virus software to protect Windows clients.
A 8.) Windows might well provide software for over 90% of the desktop computers in the world, With servers this picture is very different many of the worlds Internet providers use linux computers including some well known companies like Google. Linux is also used in many places where is has been very successful but mostly unseen such as the operating system for mobile phones and GPS devices. If you use a tom-tom you use linux, If you use Google you use Linux. Most people in their daily lives are using processes provided by Linux based computing.
A 9.) The whole world does not use Windows and if having more security and lower costs of operation are not what you want you might as well continue to use Windows. We certainly support customers who continue to use windows only. They just have to pay more to support the un-reliabilty.
A 10.) The Linux operating system is supported by Major companies around the world. Companies like IBM, Redhat, Canonical and Mandriva. Major companies like Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Google and many others have taken on Linux as part of their future.
"According to Linux.com, the United States Department of Defense is the "single biggest install base for Red Hat Linux" in the world. Nor was it an unconscious choice, as Brigadier General Nick Justice, the Deputy Program Officer for the Army's Program Executive Office proclaims "open source software is part of the integrated network fabric which connects and enables our command and control system to work effectively, as people's lives depend on it." Justice went on to state that "when we rolled into Baghdad, we did it using open source", and that he was indeed Red Hat's "biggest customer.""
