By Vernadette T. Joven
December 1, 2007

Despite gaining popularity, Linux and other free and open source software (FOSS) remains confined in the backseat of mainstream technologies, thus the potential of open source is largely untapped by those who can benefit from it the most. At a recent Executive Briefing organized by Computerworld Philippines, open source vendors explained the concept behind free and open source software (FOSS) and talked about how businesses can leverage on the benefits of the technology.

Patrick Reidenbach, general manager of UR Solutions, says FOSS is a source code or a recipe that is open or made public and can be used, modified or redistributed legally. It gives users the freedom to copy, modify, obtain software that conform to one’s needs, and leave one’s software provider for a better one.

“The reason for you to go into this means you don’t want to be tied down with a particular brand,” Reidenbach says. He says that while FOSS is technically free for all, there is still a minimal investment required to cover the public licenses and maintenance support for on-demand service. “There is no such thing as free beer but it doesn’t need to be expensive either.”

There are 300 open source products in the market today but the most popular is Linux, a robust and stable operating system based on Unix. Other open source software includes Red Hat, Suse, Ubuntu, Apache, MySQL, Mozilla Firefox, Bind DNS, and OpenOffice.org, among others.

These products, according to Reidenbach, were designed to be secure, portable, scalable, reliable, and can be provisioned for multi-user and multi-tasking. These features, he adds, address the concerns regarding lack of data, functionality, and expensive software licenses.

“Migration doesn’t have to be radical; existing software and hardware don’t have to be junked and can still be used,” Reidenbach explains. He added that the lack of awareness and FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) usually hinders companies from trying out open source.

While he acknowledges that convincing existing users of Window-based applications to move to open source will be difficult, he still shares a checklist for those who may want to consider moving: Audit your IT system; determine your vital applications; goals and budget (for example do you want to lower down recurring costs or upgrade existing systems); and look for a project manager who can oversee the job.

“You can even use an open source equivalent, a Windows emulator like VM Ware, Wine or Crossover Office or install a hybrid. In other words, run it in the background,” Reidenbach cites. For instance for data server, he said companies can use Samba; Untanggler as firewall; Asterisk for productivity software; Zimbra for MS Exchange; and Open Office for MS Office.

Open Source Community

For Nilo Poso, chief executive officer and chief software architect of Digital Infostructure, business applications using open source technologies are closely linked with the open source community. This makes open source a viable option for those who need to deploy an industrial-class enterprise system at the lowest probable cost.

Windows, he says, is a practical system for departmental application but is expensive for the enterprise because it is not developer-centric. “With Windows there’s no developer community so you are on your own.”

Ideal for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and non-government organizations (NGOs), open source can cover end-to-end business requirements while having the capability to merge application with new technology. Poso calls it “an all-in-one business system fusion” that practically provides everything in terms of fully automating the workflow.

He cites the .NJ Open City, an enterprise platform for company business solutions that is open to the community. “It is open to those who want to contribute time to test or donate knowledge.”

The important thing to remember is that your open source must be robust, administrator-centric, configurable, extensible and community development-oriented.

“Look for the technology that is capable of providing support and don’t develop the system all by yourself or else you’ll end up spending more. Open source is not yet a mainstream technology but a continuously evolving one, so by joining a developer community you get to spread your risk and cost,” says Poso.

An example of a full-feature open source application is the Open Bravo presented by Johan Tagle, president of Sagada Solutions. Open Bravo is a Web-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that can be publicly accessed and can provide the same functionality like data, sales management, finance, and customer resource management.

Since Open Bravo is Web-based, it can be integrated in the internal network and can be hosted remotely. There is also no need to do separate installations per user workstation. Tagle stresses that the mobility and power to modify the functionality of the application are important considerations when choosing to go to open source or not.

Overall, open source offers service as a main commodity and therefore works in a community-driven environment where users pay for the customization and support provided on-site and on-demand. More than the savings from licenses and upgrades, the constant development of the community is also equally important role in making free and open source software a continuous success.

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