How are others succeeding with Linux? Steve Raymond, System Administrator of the Austin Chronicle, another Pervasive customer, discusses his Linux implementation in a recent interview with Pervasive Software.
The Austin Chronicle is an independent, locally owned and operated alternative news weekly that reflects the heart and soul of Austin, Texas. Boasting a readership of 243,500, the Chronicle addresses the community's political and environmental concerns, expresses Austin's rich cultural scene, and provides in-depth coverage of the Capital City's live music and entertainment venues, performing arts centers, restaurants, recreational activites, and outdoor excursions. On May 6, 2003 I talked to Steve Raymond, Austin Chronicle System Administrator, to better understand the Chronicle's use of Linux.
- P: How are you using Linux today?
- Mr. Raymond: We use Linux to support our web services like our Internet, e-mail, etc.
- P: What are your plans for Linux? How important is Linux in your 18 to 24 month roadmap?
- Mr. Raymond: We plan on using as much open source software as possible. We're a small business, we just can't afford to pay exorbitant license fees to maintain commercial software. Today we are a mix of Mac OS and Windows, but we are now looking to convert our desktop computers to Linux. We feel open source, and Linux in particular, gives us access to the features we need at an extremely low price.
- P: Why did you consider Linux?
- Mr. Raymond: We used it from day one for our website. Other uses have expanded from there. Austin Chronicle is a small business with a small IT budget. The price, both the license cost, and the long-term costs were a great fit with our needs. We chose the Debian distribution for it's package scheme and conservative application mix.
- P: What are the benefits of Linux?
- Mr. Raymond: The primary benefit is the low price or low TCO. Beyond that, there are just fewer headaches - less license management, stability. Linux is also easier to update and keep stable.
- P: What are the key technical drivers?
- Mr. Raymond: Like I said, Linux is easier to update and keep stable. No reboot is required to install a new service or module. Plus, it's flexible - I get a choice of packages and configuration options. Debian also fits our needs very well. Debian is not on the bleeding edge. Debian, and Linux in general, has a great community support structure built up around it.
- P: What is or will be the biggest hurdle to Linux adoption in your organization?
- Mr. Raymond: Application availability. We'd like to see more applications available on Linux.
