Report Offensive Message
Linux for Fun and Profit
@O & G IT Guy
Linux via ClearOS or The Zerver (or any other flavor for that matter) will get you very "near" Windows functionality; it's the little things that will get noticed. But, for good reason...
Linux is built with Security as primary design goal; in Windows it's a design goal but it's further down the list and therefore not primary. Microsoft's primary design goals include ease of use.
While important, usability is to security what oil is to water. The most secure systems are more difficult to use, imagine having to enter a 256-character password. Conversely, the easiest systems to use are generally less secure: no passwords, all users have equal access to everything, therefore you won't hear any complaints. But then, for all the obvious reasons, you open the door to a slew of other problems. So, security is necessary.
After deploying the first ClearOS and The Zerver at a client site the phone went dead; at least for that client. It's been almost 18 months now and all I have to talk about with that client is adding new desktop computers, printers, phones, etc. Fixing their servers is not part of ANY invoice in the last 18 months. The way it's laid out in the maintenance contracts is that patching is covered. So, while their IS maintenance - it can be schedule at my leisure and it doesn't cost anything.
To answer your question though. Here's the break-down in what gets lost in the Windows to Linux translation: Read Receipts. Zimbra has added this functionality so it's not such a big deal but it was a deal-breaker during Zimbra 5, when read receipts were not included. Zimbra included them in version 6 and they are now on version 7. It's not an issue any more.
You won't need BES any more. Zimbra works with BB just fine. You just setup your email connection to the BB phones using IMAP. Zimbra would like you to buy a pay-for version but I can assure you this works as you would hope with the free version of Zimbra. I would suggest making the move to Androids anyway though. They are a snap to setup and they have 1,000s of features that BB will never have due to Androids community-driven application development.
http://read.bi/q6o38r
Afterwards, you can picture a TCO graph that looks something like this:
Linux solution will trend about even with a 3-4% incline.
Your windows server will trend, on the same graph with a 20-30% incline.
Meaning, with Windows, you will pay less up front but you'll be shoveling money into upgrades for (at least) backup/AV software for the rest of your life. If you use other packages in addition to that you'll be shoveling money into those as well. Also, there are a million reasons to fix your Windows box, even catching a bad patch is enough to bring you in on a Saturday afternoon - it's just silly and avoidable. This will keep you in reactive mode, which only serves to dig into your proactive time and reduce your bosses over-all confidence in the system.
On Linux however, you pay a little more up front but you won't be sweating over them when they break down - because they won't break down. Then, you'll be spending your IT days being proactive; things will run smoother, your boss will have greater confidence in your work. I've spent a few days here and there mulling over a network design on the golf course
After that I would put my AV & Backup solution against anything Symantec has to offer: rsync is more flexible than backup exec, easier to use and customize and it's free. The AV solution includes Virus Scanning on the ClearOS box (used as a gateway) before emails even hit The Zerver (Zimbra mail server), then once they hit The Zerver, each email has to run the gauntlet: 1) Greylisting, 2) SpamAssassin, 3) ClamAV. Greylisiting is only available on Linux; no Windows box could beat The Zerver with both hands on it's best day.
I can simplify the whole process for you from start to happy, and help with selling the idea to your managers. Drop a line and we can discuss it.
Linux via ClearOS or The Zerver (or any other flavor for that matter) will get you very "near" Windows functionality; it's the little things that will get noticed. But, for good reason...
Linux is built with Security as primary design goal; in Windows it's a design goal but it's further down the list and therefore not primary. Microsoft's primary design goals include ease of use.
While important, usability is to security what oil is to water. The most secure systems are more difficult to use, imagine having to enter a 256-character password. Conversely, the easiest systems to use are generally less secure: no passwords, all users have equal access to everything, therefore you won't hear any complaints. But then, for all the obvious reasons, you open the door to a slew of other problems. So, security is necessary.
After deploying the first ClearOS and The Zerver at a client site the phone went dead; at least for that client. It's been almost 18 months now and all I have to talk about with that client is adding new desktop computers, printers, phones, etc. Fixing their servers is not part of ANY invoice in the last 18 months. The way it's laid out in the maintenance contracts is that patching is covered. So, while their IS maintenance - it can be schedule at my leisure and it doesn't cost anything.
To answer your question though. Here's the break-down in what gets lost in the Windows to Linux translation: Read Receipts. Zimbra has added this functionality so it's not such a big deal but it was a deal-breaker during Zimbra 5, when read receipts were not included. Zimbra included them in version 6 and they are now on version 7. It's not an issue any more.
You won't need BES any more. Zimbra works with BB just fine. You just setup your email connection to the BB phones using IMAP. Zimbra would like you to buy a pay-for version but I can assure you this works as you would hope with the free version of Zimbra. I would suggest making the move to Androids anyway though. They are a snap to setup and they have 1,000s of features that BB will never have due to Androids community-driven application development.
http://read.bi/q6o38r
Afterwards, you can picture a TCO graph that looks something like this:
Linux solution will trend about even with a 3-4% incline.
Your windows server will trend, on the same graph with a 20-30% incline.
Meaning, with Windows, you will pay less up front but you'll be shoveling money into upgrades for (at least) backup/AV software for the rest of your life. If you use other packages in addition to that you'll be shoveling money into those as well. Also, there are a million reasons to fix your Windows box, even catching a bad patch is enough to bring you in on a Saturday afternoon - it's just silly and avoidable. This will keep you in reactive mode, which only serves to dig into your proactive time and reduce your bosses over-all confidence in the system.
On Linux however, you pay a little more up front but you won't be sweating over them when they break down - because they won't break down. Then, you'll be spending your IT days being proactive; things will run smoother, your boss will have greater confidence in your work. I've spent a few days here and there mulling over a network design on the golf course
After that I would put my AV & Backup solution against anything Symantec has to offer: rsync is more flexible than backup exec, easier to use and customize and it's free. The AV solution includes Virus Scanning on the ClearOS box (used as a gateway) before emails even hit The Zerver (Zimbra mail server), then once they hit The Zerver, each email has to run the gauntlet: 1) Greylisting, 2) SpamAssassin, 3) ClamAV. Greylisiting is only available on Linux; no Windows box could beat The Zerver with both hands on it's best day.
I can simplify the whole process for you from start to happy, and help with selling the idea to your managers. Drop a line and we can discuss it.
Posted by todd_dsm
Updated - 12th Jul 2011
