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All of Vietnam's Government Computers To Use Linux, By Fiat
christian.einfeldt writes "The Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications has issued an administrative ruling increasing the use of Free Open Source Software products at state agencies, increasing the software's use both in the back office and on the desktop. According to the new rule, 100% of government servers must run Linux by June 30, 2009, and 70% of agencies must use OpenOffice.org, Mozilla Firefox, and Mozilla Thunderbird by the end of 2009. The regulation also sets benchmarks for training and proficiency in the software. Vietnam has a population of 86 million, 4 million larger than that of Germany, and is one of the world's fastest-growing economies."
Fiat also means: decree: a legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a court or judge);
Yikes, I hope no one was using SQL Server. 6 months to move every system to a new operating system? Moving one single system is a huge effort that most companies wouldn't even think about doing in such a short time.
Whale
EDGI is a customer-focused program that is for circumstances (like the one you reference) where an education and/or government customer is going to purchase naked PC'S or PC'S w/Linux ..
.. "
under NO circumstances lose against Linux
davecb5620@gmail.com
The Communications Ministry of Vietnam is running ASP.net on Windows Server 2003! oh the ironing!
THL phish sticks
I don't know about the submitter's sources, but the article referenced in the summary doesn't mention Linux, at all.
And Fiat is made in Italy, not Vietnam. /I personally like Fiat, especially the Spyders and such.
"Using the Linux card is a great way to get a better deal from Microsoft"
...
Among the reasons cited were:
to reduce commercial software license fees,
freedom from foreign-owned technology,
greater security,
curbing the number of infections from Windows-based viruses and
to gain technological leadership on platforms relatively free of dominance by large multinational corporations
davecb5620@gmail.com
The instruction also requests that computer traders not sell PCs installed with cracked software, but open source ones.
Nobody buys software in Vietnam. Seems they got some heat from software vendors for not going after "piracy", and now they're trying to enforce the only alternative to cracked software, i.e. free software.
"I think open standards are much more important than open source software"
Straight out of the MS FUD manual. Like, let then use 'free' software as long as they us our Intellectual Property and Patent dues. When does your shift on slashdot finish ?
davecb5620@gmail.com
Microsoft isn't competing against free.
They are competing against the price it will take to do a full switch to Linux vs the cost to stay and get new windows licenses.
As Linux gets better that cost gets smaller. Their may be a point where it isn't profitable for Microsoft. But it is a case where the product is already made, and covered their cost in the US and other areas. Then they can go really low on the price for a while.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
China currently uses Red Flag linux.
Do you even lift?
These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.
>Well, the Macintosh has been playing music since 1984.
My first published computer music was made with an Orchestra-80, in 1980. Before that, I was stuck with abusing the cassette relay and FM radio interference :-)
-fb Everything not expressly forbidden is now mandatory.
Perhaps, but I think an iron curtain will protect us.
I know no one reads TFA but it doesn't actually mention anything about requiring Linux. That was your wonderful submitter that seems to have gotten that part wrong. TFA isn't even very clear if the requirement is even to change the server OS or just what apps are installed on it.
Wrong. The government of any country has the right to determine what products (e.g. software) it wants to use. OSS ideals and philosophy do not extend inside organizations; I've never heard OSS champions running around screaming that different departments inside a corporation should have any freedom in choosing software. Governments and companies are led from the top; if the people at the top make a blanket decision, that's their right. OSS people are worried about the rights of users. "Users" means either individuals with their own private equipment, or for governments and companies, those organizations as singular beings. If you don't like the software your employer requires you to use, then you should find a new job.
There is a large upfront cost of switching.
In 3rd world people are saving by switching, since Linux can be customized to run on less resources. E.g. Linux Terminal Server is much much resource savvy compared to Windows Terminal Server.
And a lot of people will not be happy that they can't do X like they did before.
I'm pretty sure that Vietnam has its own ISVs. And the move - is the huge investment into ISV sector. For government it's a huge win too: more taxes.
And if they need support on some feature you can't intimate a US Open Source Developer by saying you are from the government.
Do not be silly. US != World. Local ISVs can do it and there are lots of Linux consultancies around of world. Asia is not that backward as many CNN/FoxNews watchers might think.
This is huge chance for local business to cash in - in long term. If gov't is serious, I'm sure they wouldn't let the chance to slip.
At least with Microsoft and you are a big customer they will bend over backwards to help you.
That's big lie. They will "bend over backward" if you have enough money to pay them for that. Otherwise you are on your own.
M$ can and does something on their own - but they rarely listen to feedback. Generally, in M$ ecosystem, burden of backward compatibility is on integrators and ISVs. My friend worked for such company in past implementing features (normally using ActiveX) from new M$ products for older M$ products (and vise versa) as well as smoothing integration with 3rd party software. Imagine: huge business built around solving problems created entirely by M$ development strategy.
All hope abandon ye who enter here.
Ford fanbois claim: First On Race Day.
Disclaimer: I am not a Ford fanboi.
Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
Linux cannot be a monopoly, by definition. A monopoly is when a single entity has overwhelming power in a market. But Linux isn't an entity, it's a bit of software. (For the same reason, it doesn't make sense to talk about a Windows monopoly, only a Microsoft monopoly.)
Next, the reason monopolies are bad is that they guarantee income to certain people without any need to deliver good value, and prevent other people from competing in that market segment. But mandating Linux wouldn't do that. Anyone who wants to sell Linux can do so. Even Microsoft would be free to compete in a Linux-only market.
Treating Linux as a one-size-fits-all solution is almost as bad as doing the same with Windows.
I disagree. While I think OpenSolaris and the BSDs are great operating systems and arguably work better than Linux in some contexts, if you want to pick just one OS there isn't ANYTHING that fits as many contexts as Linux. From embedded systems to big iron and everything in between, Linux works, and works well.
Of course, there's more to the OS than just a kernel, and arguably the Linux kernel used in an embedded system *isn't* the same kernel used in big iron, even if it's build from the same source tree. And that argument also assumes there's value in picking just one kernel for everything. But if you do want to pick one kernel for everything, Linux isn't just a good choice, it's the ONLY choice.
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