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US Postal Service Moves To GNU/Linux

Posted by kdawson on from the cobol-package-management dept.

twitter writes "The US Postal Service has moved its Cobol package tracking software to HP machines running GNU/Linux. 1,300 servers handle 40 million transactions a day and cost less than the last system, which was based on a Sun Solaris environment." The migration took a year. The USPS isn't spelling how big the savings are, except that they are "significant."

12 of 477 comments (clear)

  1. For once ... by ScrewMaster · · Score: 4, Funny

    we don't have to ask if it runs Linux.

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
    1. Re:For once ... by More_Cowbell · · Score: 4, Funny

      Has that *ever* stopped anyone before?

      --
      Experience teaches only the teachable. -AH
    2. Re:For once ... by snl2587 · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, and I'm sure there will be some people wanting to know if their mail is going to be delivered by Beowulf Cluster.

      I, for one, welcome our mail-delivering, Beowulf Cluster overlords.

    3. Re:For once ... by schon · · Score: 4, Funny

      Ruby/Apache/X.org/KDE/GNU/Linux

      Actually, I think that would be Ruby/Apache/KDE/QT/X.org/GNU/Linux or PHP/Apache/KDE/QT/X.org/GNU/Linux - but depending on whether they're using it for backend or desktop service (sorry, too lazy to RTFA) I'd think that either [Ruby|PHP]/Apache/GNU/Linux, or OO.org/[KDE|GNOME|XFCE]/[QT]/X.org/GNU/Linux would be more appropriate... but if they're using it for both desktop and server, that would make it

      [[OO.org/[KDE|GNOME|XFCE]/[QT]/X.org]|[Ruby/PHP]/Apache]/GNU]/Linux.

      And as soon as RSF starts calling it that, I'll start calling it GNU/Linux :)

    4. Re:For once ... by ScrewMaster · · Score: 4, Funny

      As long as my mail doesn't come covered in hot grits...

      Would you object if it came wrapped in Natalie Portman's panties?

      --
      The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  2. Find It Yourself by Kenshin · · Score: 5, Funny

    They moved their package tracking system to Linux? I wonder if, when you ask it where your shipment is, it will tell you to find it yourself in a condescending manner.

    --

    Does it make you happy you're so strange?

    1. Re:Find It Yourself by geekoid · · Score: 5, Funny

      When you request the location of your package, it just sneers at you and says "Google is your friend."

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  3. Score 0: Trite by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Submitted with the headline "Linux Penguin goes postal."

  4. Postfix! by Penguinshit · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now they can run a couple of Postfix servers and put themselves out of business!

    --

    I have something in common with Stephen Hawking...

  5. Get off my lawn by jmcbain · · Score: 5, Funny
    Only old people use physical mail these days.

    If you're 30-something, you rely on email.

    If you're in your 20s, you use IM

    If you're 13 like me, it's all Twitter, all the time. Bonus: I have no need to receive packages because I shoplift everything.

  6. Mail server by Abreu · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, look on the bright side...

    Now we can say, with all confidence, that the world's largest mail server runs Linux

    --
    No sig for the moment.
  7. Re:Boy, what efficiency... by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 5, Funny

    o we have about 400 times the performance with 5% of the hardware. By that margin, I could do their processing with about 25 boxes total. That would mean another 98% savings on hardware alone.

    Maybe their servers are in the union?