Linux vs Windows - Conquering a Windows Based World

Linux is making inroads into the future of US military with programs such as the Future Combat System (FSC) and organizations such as DISA and DIA.

The adoption of open source software is increasing however there is not an overriding direction of how it should be accomplished. It is best summed up by Bernard Golden, chief executive officer of Navica, a system integrator.

“The adoption of open source technology is widespread but uneven in the Defense Department.There has clearly been an expanded awareness and penetration of open source. Some groups don’t do it at all, some use it and don’t even know it, and some actually advocate its use“

Some of the reasons that Linux and open source are being adopted within programs inlcude:

• Reduced cost
• Reduced time in which innovations in software can be incorporated into systems
• Security

I have also seen this first hand, where there is not a clear direction on the policy for use of open source software, but more programs and more organizations are adopting it. Open source is now becoming a relied upon and accepted option.

The U.S. Department of Energy has selected Voltaire Grid Backbone solutions to install 8 Linux Super Computing clusters in the national weapons laboratories: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.

Their job function will be to  ensure the safety, security and reliability of the nations nuclear deterrent without nuclear testing

The installation will include 12,096 processors with up to 96.8 TeraByte of memory. What a great testament to the viability of Linux computing power for the enterprise.

The Department of Energy has awarded a $45 million dollar contract to DLT Solutions from Herndon VA to provide the agency with Linux information systems.

” The Energy Department’s first order is for products and services from Red Hat, a Raleigh, N.C.-based company.“

DLT was found in 1991 and employees 150 people with a revenue of $340 million in 2006. DLT is a great example of where jobs and businesses can grow and benefit with Linux in their lineup.

Concurrent a leading provider of time critical Linux Operating systems has announced that the Naval Warfare Center has selected it RedHawk reak-time Linux for it missle simulation application.

“The missile simulator for use by NSWC Crane based on a Concurrent iHawk is another example of the U.S. Navy’s selection of RedHawk Linux for its real-time needs,” said Gary Beerman, Marketing Director, Concurrent. “Already deployed in the Aegis Weapons Systems program, RedHawk is rapidly becoming a de facto real-time Linux operating system for Navy programs.  

IT Manager Paul Wheeler has successfully replaced the city’s Cisco gear with 2 Vyatta Inc Routers that run Debian Linux.

In a more dramatic money-saving move, the city did a complete network upgrade to implement a voice-over-IP system based on Asterisk, an open-source PBX system from Digium Inc. in Huntsville, Ala. The Asterisk VoIP system cost about $120,000, whereas a Cisco system would have run about $400,000, he said.

A good switch over story, anyone in the Government should spend a few minutes reading the entire story.

Redhat Enterprise Linux has just been granted EAL4 Augmented with ALC_FLR.3 on IBM’s mainframe, System x, System p5 and eServer systems This is on par with Sun Microsystems’ Trusted Solaris.

“According to Frye, the certification is “big news for the Linux industry” because it shows that open-source software can be used for sensitive computing tasks. “If anyone had any doubts that you could do this with an open-source operating system, we’ve proved them wrong.”"

The Chief Information Officer at the Navy is now endorsing Open Source Software. Should not be a surprise since it has been used for years in govt. Just being officially recognized now.

Navy sets course for open source software by ZDNet’s Larry Dignan — The Chief Information Officer of the Department of Navy’s IT portfolio has endorsed the use of open source software. In a memo via the Open Source Software Institute, Navy CIO Robert Carey gave guidance on open source software (OSS). Carey wrote that open source software is a key part of the Navy’s technology plans. Linux.com [...]

Open source software is becoming more accepted in the US government because of the backing from well respected vendors, such as IBM, Novell, Sun, and Unisys as reported at www.fcw.com

“When we see big-name vendors and large systems integrators offering and supporting open systems when historically they made their money from proprietary systems, we have to take notice,” said Charles Riechers, principal deputy assistant secretary for acquisition at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a moratorium in place on upgrades to Windows Vista, Internet Explorer 7, and Microsoft Office 2007. The reasons for not upgrading.

1. Compatibility concerns
2. Potential cost of upgrading
3. No documented business value.

Alternatives?

1. Google Office
2. Linux

This is reported at www.informationweek.com

“Because of Google Apps’ sudden entry into the desktop productivity market, what once would have been a routine decision at the FAA to eventually upgrade to Microsoft’s latest software is now firmly up in the air. With similar debates doubtless playing out at other government agencies — and in the private sector — Microsoft is going to have to work a lot harder than in past years convincing customers to follow its well worn path of new releases and follow-on patches. “

This story should sound really familiar, and probably won’t be the last.

The United States Department of Transportation has prohibited tens of thousands of federal workers from upgrading to Microsoft’s newest flagship product line. The reason as to why there is an “an indefinite moratorium” on the upgrades.

1. There appears to be no compelling technical or business case for upgrading.
2. Furthermore, there appears to be specific reasons not to upgrade.
3. Compatibility with software applications currently in use.
4. Cost of an upgrade.

Sound familiar?

And the alternatives are…

1. Novell’s Suse Linux
2. Apple’s Macintosh hardware and software

This is all covered in InformationWeek

“Citing concerns over cost and compatibility, the top technology official at the federal Department of Transportation has placed a moratorium on all in-house computer upgrades to Microsoft’s new Windows Vista operating system, as well as Internet Explorer 7 and Office 2007, according to a memo obtained Friday by InformationWeek. “

Anyone think Microsoft spends more on marketing and lobbyists than on developing software? Have a feeling we’ll see more lobbyists at D.O.T. headquarters in Washington D.C. next week.