Open Source in Small Business Infrastructure by Serge van Ginderachter Ginsys Open Source in Small Business Infrastructure by Serge van Ginderachter 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

$ whoami @vanginderachter.be @ginsys.be system engineer & ict infrastructure consultant for small business /kmo /pme originally in pure microsoft shops as mcse gradually started differentiating with open source self-employed since 2007 @geekdinner.be as in tonight: Thanks Clo! 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

What business wants standard stuff office email files business specific stuff custom applications 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

Available business apps Open Source: business apps DO exist big and fast increase over the last years classic Closed Source: yet many more install base existing investments 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

Standard stuff Microsoft stack is king MS Office ODF plugin OpenXML in OOo3? Outlook is emperor combo with Exchange Active Directory File serving 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

What choice do we have? needs? specific software? running investments? customer supplier formats, protocols? user? desktop? management? 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

Developers? Applications! It's all about the $luser give what the user wants give what the user needs get the job done applications are the platform 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

Open Source? or stick to windows? yin or yang? Darth Vader or Luke? Helping Bill or Free Beer? 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

Which strategy? mixed environments 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

What's coming? opening up on the protocol/API side? no dependency on specific application ODF/OpenXML SAMBA 4 Outlook connectors :-( more apps and.. windows is here to stay 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

Small Business Environment *small* environments forget everything you know from “enterprise” KISS! one server? needed windows app? two servers? maybe linux on the second specific app & windows only? 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

Working good basic infrastructure on open source simple file/workgroup server backup, firewall easy remote management the unix way web apps, obviously integration, authentication 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

Needs work centralized management easy setup and easy management SBS server sucks but setup rulez domain model and client integration Samba 4 sounds promising client integration! 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

Forget it for now “Linux Desktop” maybe “mac alternative” mac in business? business specific apps unless web based saas but no citrix web remains slower not every app can live in the cloud 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

What do we need? More momentum More management open source! More apps last but not least: the support problem does exists Supporting mixed environments no windows bashers no linux disbelievers 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

Cases VZW/ASBL/non-profit market, obviously pure commercial environments = difficult install base possibly starting with base infrastructure one man / no server shop: going in the cloud bigger SMB: exceptional @velleman.be all about perception and willingness and people supporting mixed environments! 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra

Thanks! http://ginsys.be/barcampgent2008 Questions? Thanks! http://ginsys.be/barcampgent2008 29/3/2008 OSS in SBS Infra