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Many corporations are looking to migrate from mainframes and UNIX-based computers to new Intel-based solutions that provide equal or greater power at a fraction of the cost. While the hardware decision might come easy, which operating system to run is an even more important decision for corporate leaders. A platform is much more than just an operating system. It also includes an application server, security services, transaction processing, and a resource directory. When integrated together, these features deliver operational efficiencies, simplified administration, and significant business benefit.
The decision of which platform to use is critical, because the platform will determine whether a business can run the latest applications, manage IT resources securely and efficiently, and deploy advancing business applications to gain a competitive edge. This decision can impact a corporation’s agility – its ability to compete and to respond quickly to the new challenges of a digital economy.
There are several factors that can make choosing a platform difficult. During the present economic downturn, many corporations have tightened their IT spending. Some corporations have large investments in mainframe and UNIX-based computers. This investment is in the form of computer equipment, modified and/or custom applications, and support personnel. The service contract that may be required by the hardware/software vendor can often be a large expense. Given all of this, it is understandable why decision-makers are tempted to look to options to lower there operational and support costs.
With fewer dollars to spend on technology, some corporations have been considering Linux, a UNIX-based operating system, as a migration path from more expensive proprietary UNIX systems. Many versions of Linux are available for free, or for the cost of a CD. It is popular among certain developers and has growing support among hardware manufacturers.
The irony is that choosing Linux may be much more expensive to the company in the long run. Emerging data from industry experts such as Gartner, IDC, Foresters, Aberdeen, etc. as well as documented customer experiences, indicate corporations spend more for additional software, labor, and consultant costs when they choose Linux. More importantly, companies take on significant additional risk when using Linux for critical applications due to the lack of vendor accountability, incompatibilities between different distributions of Linux, and the long-term viability of the Linux business model.
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