Challenges remain for mission-critical apps
Though it is gaining steam, acceptance of Linux for mission-critical apps is still in its infancy. Experts say that there are some basic steps CIOs should take to accelerate this process and optimise the success of Linux in the enterprise. First, understand that Linux is still the underdog. "No CIO ever got fired for buying IBM or Windows," said Bill Claybrook, research director for open-source software for the Aberdeen Group. "You have to prepare people for it and be very careful." IT executives hoping to integrate Linux into mission-critical apps are counselled to introduce it first in non-mission-critical scenarios. This accomplishes a couple of key goals. It gets the organisation comfortable with the new operating system, and it enables the enterprise to develop the in-house Linux expertise that will be vital once mission-critical applications are introduced. Another shrewd step is to carefully select the mission-critical applications for which Linux will initially be used. It is no mystery why Linux has found many of its initial successes in financial institutions: these companies run computation-intensive applications that require great speed. This, experts say, plays to the operating system's strength. "Start with an application that is contained and (completely) controlled," said Evan Bauer, consultant and principal research fellow with the Robert Frances Group. Walk before you run
Claybrook suggests a trial before any large-scale switchover. However, any move should be significant. "The danger is if you do something trivial people will say, 'So what?'" Bauer said. "You have to do something meaningful." Experts also suggest that the Linux enthusiast keep in mind that the biggest issue today is the economy. If Linux is to make the move into mission-critical applications, it is a good idea to feature it in an application where a cost saving is clearly identifiable. "The enterprise customers we are talking to say it really is about cost right now," said Michael Katz, president of Rae Internet, a maker of Linux-based security software. "That's the number-one criterion." A related suggestion is that applications chosen encourage creation of an infrastructure that can be built on an ongoing basis. "Have a reason for doing it (implementing Linux) that looks at both the benefits for the first application and the benefits of adding the platforms" for future applications, Bauer said. Linux still has a way to go before it matches its progenitor, Unix. "I think at this point, for mission-critical apps, Linux is still at the cutting edge," Binstock said. "If it is truly mission-critical, people will be justifiably cautious."