TooMuchGreen

To promote and advise on the suitability of modern day Linux as the refined and viable enterprise desktop client it has become MEBBI™ Solutions are working together with NTI Leeds to produce and run a regular “Desktop Linux” workshop for platform and system integrators. The day will be hosted at NTI’s superb training facility at Old Broadcasting House in Leeds and is presently introduced as follows..

Integrate to Enable
Across todays IT enterprise is a growing realisation for the alluring benefits of open source software.  Read more... (estimated reading time 1:22 mins)

Check this out, it’s a Windows XP themed Ubuntu distro from China. Microsoft are “apparently” not going to take any legal action against the producers (Ylmf), although I’ll wager that’s said through clenched teeth

So, what’s the lowdown. Well, Ylmf is built on the latest version of Ubuntu (9.10) and includes all the standard goodies + a few extra niceties to compliment the blend. Here’s a brief run through of the install and a few added shots from the end desktop..

Initial splash, already nicely themed..

 Read more... (estimated reading time 2:05 mins)

One of the easiest and most popular cost saving routes into Open Source is a simple “Open Office >  MS Office” replacement. Open Office is a free and completely compatible alternative which even across a relatively small enterprise network can contribute substantially to major reductions in T.C.O through negating one area of software licensing expenditure. Compatible as it is, though, reluctancy for change at operational level is a big one, even more so at the user end as they’re the ones who like (?) to complain about the minutiae (of document formatting?).  Read more... (estimated reading time 1:55 mins)

For any business network security at the client end is the most vulnerable area and the most difficult to “police”. Even with a rigid and up-to-date AD policy & virus checking software update system implemented you’ve still got the userbase to “manage”. Running an I.T department is certainly not just about fixing computers and making sure eMail flows smoothly, this is something I know all too well from many years of experience (or should I say “exposure”).  Read more... (estimated reading time 2:29 mins)

TooMuchGreen are not only staunch advocates of everything Linux and open source, we also firmly believe in superior solutions from our other favourite computer company – Apple. The above table illustrates one such shining example.

The Apple OSX operating system is far superior to Microsoft Windows in many ways (security, stability etc) and as this comparison chart clearly highlights, the perception that Apple products are expensive is simply not true, in fact quite the opposite. Aside from licencing costs the TCO drop resulting from reduced admin overhead* further adds to the equation, also bear in mind that here we are comparing the Mini Server to the lowest spec PC available, PC based server class hardware is substantially more expensive.  Read more... (estimated reading time 47 secs)

So, another government organisation was brought to it’s knees on New Years Day by the W32 Conficker worm virus (professional etiquette prevents me from revealing my source and the institution in question), nice timing, and a happy new year.

The result of the attack was a 100% national lockout of all computer user accounts & till systems, quite something and a nice introduction to 2010 for the poor I.T staff who had to drop their games consoles to tackle a major security breach whilst the rest of the UK were sat finishing off the Christmas chocolates and watching TV with their feet up.  Read more... (estimated reading time 2:22 mins)

The major mental hurdle for any business assessing open source options is invariably that of support -  migration support (impact on existing business), user support (familiarity training) and on going support (upgrades/roadmap etc). Such concerns can and do offset the most substantial of cost savings, but what’s the actual situation?

Microsoft obviously factors into the mindset, with a 90%+ market share support is obviously more than available with tried and tested products offering guaranteed cross platform interoperability and familiarity, so much is true however it all comes at a price. I’m not here to knock Microsoft solutions, there are a multitude of reasons they presently run the business enterprise however it would be incredibly short sighted given the present global economic climate for any savvy I.T manager to not at least cast an inquiring eye over cost effective alternatives from the perceived “other side”.  Read more... (estimated reading time 3:20 mins)

Let’s stop mulling it over, for the technically aware there can be no doubt the future of computing is cloud based (both locally and out across the www), it’s going to happen (it is happening). But what does this new virtual world present to us in terms of the good old desktop operating system?  Read more... (estimated reading time 2:51 mins)

“When business, education, and governments are cost conscious, they move toward Linux. Even in times of economic strength, they want control od their operating systems. Ubuntu Linux saves money. The open source nature of Linux allows organisations to control and customise their operating systems.

If desired, commercial support is available from Canonical. Even with that support Linux saves money, and provides a higher degree of control when compared to Microsoft Windows.  Read more... (estimated reading time 47 secs)

I attended an Ubuntu evening this week at the Met Hotel in Leeds. Organised by the West Yorkshire fraction of BCS the seminar was hosted by Ubuntu’s Matthew Barker and was a promotional awareness event held to present an overview of the company, product and current/future direction.

Matthew’s presentation was incredibly positive and I was most warmed by the parallels with TooMuchGreen‘s corresponding ideals, it was also nice to see a couple of fun new acronyms pop up – JEDI & UFO. As we all know the I.T world loves its acronyms however these two are particularly choice. JEDI stands for Just Enough Desktop Infrastructure and UFO is the complimentary solution – Ubuntu + Firefox + Open Office (OK yes, that’s UFOO, but you get the idea).  Read more... (estimated reading time 1:23 mins)