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GNU/Linux Clears Gov't Procurement Hurdles

Posted by timothy on from the benefit-the-commonwealth dept.

Sam Hiser writes "Tom Adelstein makes some sound if subtle points about where GNU/Linux really is in the government space -- not far enough. With OpenOffice.org and Mozilla (Firefox) now popular harbingers of file format freedom and browser security on Windows, he says, there is hope that public mindshare is catching up with reality; and that the 'Microsoft Two-Step: Shrug & Reboot' will soon be a thing of the past. Adelstein, in his column today in Linux Journal, discusses the significant advances made by GNU/Linux and its achievement of Common Criteria certification for government and enterprise use in a world where Microsoft still dominates in mindshare and governmental purchase orders."

2 of 296 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Trying to make stability swipes at MS.... by VvScythevV · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have to agree, it totally isn't Windows' fault that it decided my soundcard should share ISA resources with some USB interfaces, causing spectacular blue screens and frustration!

    Wake me when there is something like a Windows live disc that detects everything on startup and works fine. There's something funky when a one time boot up OS like Knoppix does a better job than Windows XP...

    --
    -- Reality is for people who lack imagination.
  2. I work for the Feds... by budhaboy · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I am on a group that is exploring the use of open source alternatives at a large statistical agency in the Federal government.

    We were formed about two months ago, and our charter was to figure out the rollout of the following :

    1) Samba, to better manage file and print servers... We currently use Windows products, and really dissatisfied.

    2) Apache. We currently use windows, and are REALLY dissatisfied

    3) Linux Cluster for doing distributed computations (there is no windows alternative, and many of us learned these techniques in graduate school and are appalled they aren't available to us)

    The institutional constipation on changing these things is utterly appalling... Here is an example:

    Prior to this groups formation I tried to get permission to use R to replace S, as most of the people who use it, do so infrequently, and dont' really justify the cost... I was told, by boilerplate, "freeware is written by 'hackers' and is riddled with security holes..." when I CCd a letter to the then director of R, asking for advice, I was read the riot act by the people who make such decisions...