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Abstract

Open source software has generated much interest, especially in the wake of a slow economy. This has forced many Information Technology (IT) departments to cut back on spending. One of the main reasons open source technology is being considered by more IT departments is because open source technology is perceived as being free of charge. While that perception is not all together true, this article will discuss an example of the real cost savings of open source technology as an enterprise system solution. All costs related to the implementation of an open source server operating system including the hardware costs to run the operating system software, training costs to setup the operating system software, support cost to maintain the operating system software, and staff salary to administer the operating system software will be recognized in this article.

Open Source Technology The Cost at the Enterprise Level

Open source refers to any program whose source code is made available for use or modification as users or other developers see fit. (Historically, the makers of proprietary software have generally not made source code available.) Open source software is usually developed as a public collaboration and made freely available (Open Source, 2008). When companies are deciding on whether to use open source products versus commercial products the benefits of both choices are apparent. Commercial products typically favor visible features (giving marketing advantage) over hard to measure qualities such as stability, security and similar less glamorous attributes. Some experts describe this phenomenon as quality versus features (Benefits of Using Open Source, n.d.). This paper examines the enterprise level cost of an open source technology system. Different factors discussed in this paper include the cost of open source software, the cost of open source hardware, the cost of open source training to support this platform, and the salary requirements for open source administrators. For the purpose of this paper, the total cost of ownership of an open source production database server will be discussed in detail.

There are many different distribution options or flavors a technology manager can choose from that are considering an open source operating system. Linux is about freedom and choice, so one has plenty of freedom to choose the flavor of Linux that best fits the business needs (Linux Distributions, n.d.). Common flavors of Linux include:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Mandrake Linux The Fedora Project The Debian Project Knoppix SUSE Linux Slackware Linux MEPIS Linux Ubuntu Linux Xandros PCLinux OS Linspire

Jim Klein (2009) writes that Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) can be defined as all of the costs of acquiring and maintaining a network of computers. This includes the cost for Hardware and software technology client computers, servers, software, printers, networking equipment, external service providers

Direct labor – those responsible for purchasing, training, implementation, management and support of the computer environment Indirect labor time spent by users in training, dealing with computer and networking issues, and effect of computer or network down-time.

Red Hat Linux is one of the most supported Linux operating systems on the market. Red Hat provides operating systems for the individual users as well as the large enterprises. When pricing operating systems its very important to know the hardware that this operating system will reside on. For example, it makes a difference if this operating system is a dual processor or a quad processor. For the purpose of this paper, the server we want to install Red Hat on is a quad Intel processor. Because this server is a production server, 24/7 support is required. According to Red Hat, the best license option for this configuration is the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Advanced Platform, Premium Subscription (Server Operating Systems, n.d.). When you subscribe to a Red Hat subscription, youre renting the use of that software. With the Premium Subscription of Red Hat Enterprise Linux Advanced Platform you get the following:

Unlimited CPU processors Unlimited virtualized guests Red Hat global File System and Cluster Suite Web and phone-based comprehensive support 24×7 coverage 1 hour critical response (4 hour normal response time) Red Hat Network Update Product Updates Installation and documentation media Covered under the Open Source Assurance program Server applications to include ISV applications, Apache, Samba, nfs, ftp, Tomcat, MySQL, and PostgreSQL

For the purpose of this paper the server this Red Hat software will run on will be a Dell PowerEdge Energy Smart Quad Core Intel Xeon L5410 server. This server comes with 8 Gig of ram and 3 73 gig hard drives. The cost of this server is $6250.00 (Dell, Select Components, n.d.). This hardware is approved by Red Hat as a supported hardware platform.

The skill sets required to support an open source environment requires a person who completely understands how each component in an environment works. In most environments this persons title would be a Linux administrator. A capable Linux administrator will have a variety of skills. Jay Beal (2004) provides skill sets a Linux Administrator should have would include security, operating system hardening, software installation, hardware installation, system assessment, troubleshooting, and intelligence gathering (Essential Linux Skills, 2004).

Security in any environment is essential. A Linux administrator must understand that any port on any server is venerable to an attack. Every port must be accounted for and the Linux administrator needs to know what log files are tracking all port traffic. Those log files need to be monitored daily for malicious attacks. In case an attack occurs, a Linux administrator should know how to recover from a server that has crashed.

Most default server installations install more services that are generally needed. A Linux administrator needs to be aware of the purpose of the server and understand specifically what services need to be running and just as important, what services do not need to be running. Those services that do not need to be running should be shut down and the Linux administrator needs to recognize these services and shut those services down along with the ports they use.

At some point, the server may need software and/or hardware upgrades. A Linux administrator needs to be prepared to apply upgrades or patches for software upgrades. Those software patches may require more hardware in order to run optimally. In this case a Linux administrator needs to be comfortable upgrading the hardware if there is a need to do so.

Finally, the Linux administrator needs to be able to assess the system and if there is concern, research the problem and find the solution. Because open source software is mostly supported by the community, it can be tedious to find solutions to complex problems. If the Linux administrator is fortunate, support is paid for when the subscription is obtained. If support is not paid for, the Linux administrator has to rely on good research skills to solve the problem.

Finding a good Linux administrator to administer the open source environment is hard to do. When you do find them, it is obvious that they are in great demand by the salary requirements they are demanding. A seasoned Linux administrator that is industry certified will demand as much as $90k 120k per year if he/she is considered a full-time employee (Salary Search, n.d.). Linux contractors range from $60.00 $120.00 per hour.

One of the benefits of having an open source environment is training courses are usually reasonably priced. The only difficulty is finding a training center that specializes in open source technology training. Most 3-day classes will range anywhere from $1200 to $1400 dollars per class. Most 5-day classes will range from $1800 – $2200 dollars per class. If your Linux administrator is a good self-learner there are many options online that he/she can take advantage of. Many websites offer free online training videos and free training manuals for anyone interested in taking advantage of them.

As it is evident, the notion of open source technology being free is far from true. However, many experts agree that the total cost of ownership is less than it would be if commercial software was being used. Dan Orzech (2002) writes that the cost of Linux is roughly 40% that of Windows, and only 14% that of Sun Microsystems Solaris based on a study of various operating systems over a 3 year period. Below is a table that summarizes the total cost of ownership for a typical open source database environment.

Total Cost of Ownership
(Annual)

Description of Service

Cost

Linux OS Software including Premium Support

$1299.00 per year

Linux Administrator

$100,000 per year

Ongoing Training

$1500.00 per year

Total Cost

$102,799.00 per year

Total Cost of Ownership

(One-Time Cost)

Server Hardware

$6250.00 purchase price

Total One-Time Cost

$6250.00

As one can see from the table above, open source technology is not free. Open source proponents and proprietary companies disagree on the total cost of ownership. Proponents claim that even if open source requires more expertise, the TCO is ultimately lower. Companies claim that the required expertise is daunting and the other costs of proprietary solutions are exaggerated (Open Options, 2005). Yes, there are some ways that prices could be cut. The Linux administrator could be contracted out on an as needed basis. It is also possible to purchase a server with fewer features and less processors if cost was a factor when purchasing hardware. Training could be kept to a minimum or even limited to online training only. Even with all this being said, the myth that open source technology is free just is not a true statement, especially in a production environment. However, open source technology is the preferred technology in many IT shops for reliability reasons.

What Is Linux :-

Linux is an operating system that was initially created as a hobby by a young student, Linus Torvalds, at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Linus had an interest in Minix, a small UNIX system, and decided to develop a system that exceeded the Minix standards.

Linux is developed under the GNU General Public License and its source code is freely available to everyone. Linux may be used for a wide variety of purposes including networking, software development, and as an end-user platform.

Linux is often considered an excellent, low-cost alternative to other more expensive operating systems. Due to the very nature of Linux’s functionality and availability, it has become quite popular worldwide and a vast number of software programmers have taken Linux’s source code and adapted it to meet their individual needs.

At this time, there are dozens of ongoing projects for porting Linux to various hardware configurations and purposes. Here are 10 reasons why Linux could be the best operating system for you.

A Linux Distribution has thousands of dollars worth of software for no cost (or a couple of dollars if purchased on CD). Linux is a complete operating system that is :-

Stable – the crash of an application is much less likely to bring down the operating system under Linux

Reliable – Linux servers are often up for hundreds of days compared with the regular reboots required with a Windows system. Extremely powerful.

Comes with a complete development environment, including C, C++, Fortran compilers, and toolkits such as Qt and scripting languages such as Perl, Awk and sed. A C compiler for Windows alone would set you back hundreds of dollars.

Excellent networking facilities: allowing you to share CPUs, share modems etc; all of which are not included or available with Windows 95 The ideal environment to run servers such as a web server (e.g. Apache), or an FTP server.

A wide variety of commercial software is available if the free software doesn’t satisfy your needs.

An operating system that is easily upgradeable. After any length of time a typical installation of Windows and software gets into a complete mess. Often the only way to clear out all the debris is to reformat the hard disk and start again. Linux, however, is much better for maintaining the system.

Supports multiple processors as standard.

True multi-tasking; the ability to run more than one program at the same time.

Excellent window systems called X; the equivalent of Windows but much more flexible.

Linux holds a major share as a server operating system and has the largest market share for the entire Internet. It is also increasingly popular on the desktop as well. Internet Presence Division provides value-added service and support on all versions of Linux.

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The appeal of an online education through distance learning as an educational alternative is ever increasing. Its presence will continue to grow, say curriculum directors, who expect that by 2010 nearly a fifth of students will be taking some of their career training coursework through online education or E-learning at an online university or college.

Technological advances in medicine, aerospace, agriculture, the environment, communications and education permeate the world we live in. We have new drugs and vaccines, new ways to strengthen the immune system, the International Space Station, alternative crop and livestock systems, renewable energy sources, personalized information technology and E-learning, online education and distance learning.

With the introduction of $100 Laptops by MIT, E-learning will reach millions of children in developing nations like Brazil, China, South Africa, Egypt and others.

Nicholas Negroponte, co-founder of the Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is working on a plan to distribute the laptops to schoolchildren. A goal of the project is to make the low-cost PC a grassroots movement like Linux or Wikipedia. The laptops will have a 500MHz processor, 1GB of memory and an innovative dual-mode display that can be used in full-color mode, or in a black-and-white sunlight-readable mode. Power for the new systems will be provided by electric current, batteries or by a windup crank attached to the side, since many countries do not have power in remote areas. The systems will be Wi-Fi and cell phone-enabled and will include four USB ports for connectivity. The idea is simple. Its an education project that will make online education a simple reality.

Research has predicted that in the future more people will complete their studies at home as distance learning concepts continue to evolve. Over two million students enroll for online university and online college courses each year. Just as the world continues to change so must the conditions in which we live and learn. In a fast paced society we will see E-learning designed to accommodate busy students time flexible, geographically independent, competitive cost and value and learner-centered. E-learning offers both synchronous and asynchronous modes of learning thus enabling a student to access information anywhere and at anytime. The numerous features and benefits of an Online Education and E-Learning will play a major role in post secondary career oriented education.

E-learning is self-paced and gives students a chance to speed up or slow down as necessary

Geographical barriers are eliminated, opening up broader education options

24/7 accessibility makes distance learning easy and allows a greater number of people to attend classes

Travel time and associated costs (parking, fuel, vehicle maintenance) are reduced

Online education fosters greater student interaction and collaboration

E-learning is self-directed, allowing students more control over their learning process, leading up to a 60% faster learning curve.

Web-based products allow instructors to update lessons and materials across the entire network instantly.

Develops knowledge of the Internet that will help learners throughout their careers

Exposure to resources not commonly found in standard classroom settings

Wireless technology has paved way for Mobile Learning, where one can easily access learning materials anywhere and at anytime. Instructional and communication techniques create an interactive online education environment including case studies, demonstrations, role-playing, simulations, streamed videos, online references, discussion groups, personalized coaching and mentoring, chat rooms, bulletin boards, tutorials, FAQs and wizards.

Collaborative education will play an important role in developing future Online Education and E-learning strategies. Almost all Learning Management Systems (LMS) conforming to E-learning standards offer collaborative networks, enabling students from remote areas to share knowledge and communicate ideas with fellow classmates from around the country and the world.

Virtual and Augmented learning will gradually replace existing scenarios thus giving a new dimension to knowledge management. Certain concepts which are difficult to imagine or simulate can be implemented using augmented learning.

When you are going to hire a hosting service to build your website for your small business then you need to know the basic things of web hosting. You are the best person to judge that what required features are and what about your budget.

Commonly, this choice to host your website depends upon the scripting language that is used in your website. If languages like PHP, MySQL, or Perl are used in your website, Linux server hosting is preferable. But if you are thinking for ASP Dot Net scripting language then your finest choice would the window hosting.

If you need some interactive facilities like chat or searchable database, Linux may not be the best choice. Also, a Linux-based web server is not fully acquiescent with Windows technologies. If you are using any Windows-centric technologies like Visual Basic, then Windows-based servers would be the required choice for you.

Advantages of Linux server hosting

1. Linux is an open source software product and thus it does not need the high licensing fees that other operating systems do; you can freely download and use it at no cost.

2. A Linux website can easily be converted to a Windows website without much hassle. Also, the website can easily be changed as the requirement of the user grows.

3. Linux web hosting is very economical as Linux is a free operating system. Usually, only the cost of distribution is borne by the host or owner.

4. When the scripting language like PHP, MySQL, or Perl etc. are required for your website then Linux server hosting is the most reliable and cost effective solution for you. Unless heavy load of scripting language, this will not be traceable.

5. There are many kinds of databases that run on Linux hosting, but the most widespread most likely among web host providers are mSQL, MySQL and PostgreSQL. These databases are relational by nature, and permit vastly optimized communication with your website for rapid reclamation of data.

6. By lots of circles Linux hosting is supposed to be much securing than Windows hosting, and for that reason only Linux server hosting is also the more popular choice for web designers and programmers.

Advantages of windows server hosting

1. .NET technologies like ASP dot net VB dot net are available on this platform. If you have a website built with Microsoft .NET technologies then you will have to choose a Windows server hosting plan.

2. If you need an enterprise class database there are some different features that run on a Linux platform but if you need Microsoft’s MSSQL database, a Windows hosting plan will be your best choice.

3. Access Databases are only obtainable with a Windows server hosting plan. Access can only run on a Microsoft Windows platform and thus it is unavailable on a Linux hosting. If your site needs particularly this feature then you will have to accept windows server hosting.

4. If you are using some of the Microsoft’s Sharepoint services a Windows Hosting plan is only reliable choice for you.

5. Windows plans typically much costly because of the license costs compulsory by Microsoft.

Normally, Linux server hosting plans are at least 20% economical than windows server hosting plans. If you need not to have any unique features for your website, like cart, searchable database etc, Linux server hosting is a finest alternative for your needs.

When you are required for specific Microsoft technologies, Windows hosting plans generally will be your favorable think. But for all small business owner needs Linux hosting plans will generally perform quite well for its cost effective features.

The recent boom in field of Information Technology has seen a steep rise in the demand of trained professionals in PHP and MySQL. Software companies specializing in php mysql web development are always searching for skilled professionals for recruitment in several important projects. The current supply of PHP experts is much below par, in terms of potential growth in the industry.

To train the educated work force in this regard various MySQL and PHP training courses have been developed. These courses provide elaborate training to the professionals for developing website with the usage of these languages.

PHP Training Objectives

Two main objectives of php and mysql web development program are:

? To develop skills to create interactive and data-driven sites

? Skill development for database creation in MySQL programming

Prerequisites For Training

The most important criteria for acquiring PHP training is thorough knowledge of HTML. The course should focus on any level in programming for teaching database creation.

On the other hand there are courses for fresher in the field of php and mysql web development. Some institutes like Indus Net Academy, has launched ACE Web Developer course with the aim of teaching real applications in PHP and MySQL. These courses are beneficial for creating awareness among candidates about programming language.

Course Details

Once you get enrolled into these training courses you can acquire knowledge in areas like PHP Programming Fundamentals, Strings Functions, Arrays Functions, HTML/CSS and Forms, File Handling and Email Handling in PHP, Object Oriented PHP and Session Handling etc. On the other hand, the ACE Web Developer course emphasizes on other programming languages such as MySQL Basics, Extended PHP, OOPS in PHP 5, Exception handling in PHP 5, XML / SOAP etc.

Another vital aspect of these php mysql development courses are; 70% hands-on and 30% lecture ratio, as far as the training part of the course are concerned. By engaging the students in live projects the courses ensure that the students have a thorough understanding of the actual application of such programming languages.

So if you have some knowledge about HTML, then you can get online training as well as work as a freelancer for php mysql web development. Some of the requirements essential for learning this programming language are:

? A personal computer at home

? Linux, Windows, MacOS X, or Solaris operating system

? Web server (either Apache httpd or Microsoft IIS)

? PHP 5 or later with the PEAR extensions enabled

? MySQL 4.1 or later (5 or later recommended)

? Internet Explorer 6 or Firefox 2

PHP programmers can now get quality work through the Internet from the freelancing websites. It is an open source language and is free to install and use. This is the main reason for the increase in the popularity of this language.