Australian Government Agency Moves Towards Linux

An anonymous reader writes "ZDNet Australia is reporting that Centrelink, the Australian government agency responsible for distributing social security payments, is investigating Novell's Open Enterprise Server as a method of consolidating huge chunks of its network. Centrelink's national manager is quoted as saying: "We have to look at remote access, virus protection, security. Linux has those capabilities but we have to assure our more senior executives that these boxes have the same level of security and protection as the commercial products""

Comments

Hello, Microsoft?

[lpontiac]

I'd like a discount on my Windows licenses please!

probably another "get M$ to lower it's price" ploy

[arfonrg]

I'm sure in the end, M$ will give them big price breaks ad they'll go with windoz.

Am I being to suspicious?

same level of security?

[Anonymous Coward]

... the same level of security and protection as the commercial products
Commercial products = Windows? No, we don't want Linux to have the same level of security and protection, do we?

Hope its for real

[gibbo2]

As an aussie, I'd love to see this happen, but lets hope its serious and not another "pretend" move to Linux to negotiate better prices with their existing vendors.

Normally "existing vendors" is Microsoft, but from the article it seems they're currently using a good non-MS mix of Novell, Lotus, SAP and Oracle on Solaris.

Pipe dream?

[cuteseal]

One of the reasons large corporations and enterprises are reluctant to go down the open source route is defintely vendor support... most are willing to fork out the cash to have the peace of mind that they can sue your ass if something goes wrong.

Anyone Remember?

[JohnnyKlunk]

Remember when Telstra (Australias largest telecoms provider) went to Linux. Then it turned out they were doing it just to get a discount from MS?
Hilarious. Wonder if this is the same. I can't imagine an australian government agency would use any software that doesn't contribute to the American Corporate machine. I'm sure that's illegal under John Howard.

I think M$ has proven...

[arfonrg]

I think M$ has proven that software companies are pretty much invunerable to any lawsuits due to defective products.

I mean, they have consistanly released defective products AND figured out how to force you to upgrade to the next defective product without fixing the first.

They are better than drug dealers!

Glad they see the obvious

[xiando]

But keep in mind that the gain from switching to Linux comes first after a few year. Initially, teaching everyone involved Linux will be a cost equal to the cost of commercial software licenses. These costs will soon go away, and the Linux software will keep on working for years - free.

Re:But

[passthecrackpipe]

well, no.. Novell Open Enterprise Server != Linux. It's primarily Netware, with bits of Linux thrown in. Extra, Extra, Read All About It!

Some choice quotes:
1. What is Novell Open Enterprise Server?
[...]Open Enterprise Server delivers some of the best technologies and services developed by the open source community, as well as fully developed proprietary services that routinely solve business problems for enterprise customers. (because only proprietary services can solve business problems for enterprise customers?)

5. What is happening to NetWare (and NetWare 7)?
NetWare is a critical component of IT infrastructures around the world serving millions of users. It will continue to be the platform of choice for many customers. The NetWare roadmap is converging with the best the Linux community has to offer, SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server, and together they will make up Novell Open Enterprise Server. NetWare is not gone, but continues on as an important part of this new product offering. As Ed Anderson, vice president of Platform Services at Novell said in the Future of NetWare article, "Let me state this as clearly as I can: Novell is making investments in both NetWare and Linux. Novell Open Enterprise Server is proof we are supporting both, and they will be combined into one package. This will continue until customers' needs change."

8. How will Novell Open Enterprise Server be licensed?
Novell Open Enterprise Server will be licensed on a per-user basis. (the last company to try and license linux on a per-user basis was Caldera, just before they became SCO)

Let me repeat - Novell OES is a *Netware* product, with bits of SLES9 thrown in. This is a *Netware* play. Linux is being used for marketing purposes, as well to ensure that real applications will actually work, since people stopped supporting Netware ages ago - in particular, look at FAQ number 22.