Linux Migration
Reader Rating 
Executive Summary
Yesterday's IT solutions are not enough for today's government needs. Government organizations are being confronted with high expectations from citizens; they are being asked to do more with less; they need to be able to interact more often and more productively with other agencies; and they need to do all this using more secure, reliable and scalable IT systems. Compounding the problem are proprietary systems that put government organizations at the mercy of vendors—having to rely on their schedules for upgrades and lock in to their requirements for hardware, software and work flows. Additionally, today's popular proprietary systems are often the targets of malicious viruses and have proven to be less secure than once thought.
The solution, according to many, is to move to open source—and Linux* in particular. With Linux, you can immediately slash licensing costs, repurpose existing hardware and capitalize on a global community of expert programmers who are continually improving and refining the Linux platform and open source applications. And with Linux, government organizations no longer need to rely on a single IT vendor.
Novell Linux migration services are part of a broad range of Novell government solutions, which include government portals, data and application integration, secure infrastructure capabilities and core foundation offerings. Novell and its partners have been providing specialized solutions to the public sector for more than 20 years, and this expertise and commitment is reflected in successful solution deployments at all levels. With Novell as your partner, you can deploy the right government solutions with confidence.
Solution Overview
No matter where your organization is on the path toward Linux adoption, Novell® offers structured, end-to-end solutions and support that take all the guesswork and worry out of deploying Linux—from the desktop to the data center. Novell Linux migration solutions deliver an integrated set of consulting methodologies, services and tools to help you plan and implement a Linux migration that meets the full range of your government needs.
Moving to Linux on the Desktop
The benefits of moving to Linux on the desktop are substantial—cost, reliability, flexibility, security—and Novell can help you succeed. Novell Linux desktop migration offerings let you make the transition intelligently and in stages. For example, you can start with OpenOffice.org—a rich, easy-to-learn open source alternative to proprietary office suites—and then move to a complete Linux desktop environment, including applications, tools and management services.
Moving to Linux in the Data Center
Government organizations rely on the integrity of back office information systems, which is why migrating data center services and applications to more reliable, secure and lower-cost Linux platforms is so compelling. But any such migration must be carefully planned and flawlessly executed.
Success comes by following well-coordinated stages that minimize the operational risks and unnecessary disruptions to your government organization, and the Novell data center services migration offerings do just that. They help you move generally stable and well-defined corporate IT services—such as stand-alone database, file, print and Web services—to Linux. Moving these core services to Linux is the first step to a broader data center Linux migration.
Benefits
Novell is the first and only $1+ billion Linux distribution company to offer structured, end-to-end solutions and support for Linux—from the desktop to the data center. Novell adds its commitment to secure, cost-effective open source solutions to its long history of serving government clients with robust business platforms. Backed by Novell experience and best practices, government organizations considering a migration to Linux can rest easier knowing that Novell itself has already gone down the path of Linux migration and has overcome the obstacles. By analyzing opportunities, adhering to best practices and executing a well-developed migration plan, you can begin today to leverage Linux in the areas that make the most strategic sense for your organization.
Solution Components
Technologies:
"Government organizations considering open source solutions need to partner with a provider that has an excellent understanding of the strategic issues involved in the adoption and integration process. Novell/Cambridge Technology Partners has become a key partner in helping the Federal Court to plan, deploy and support our open source initiatives."
- Marc von Weissenfluh,
CIO,
Swiss Federal Court
Novell and Partner Services
- Linux Discovery workshop (1 week): Engage key government stakeholders with solutions experts in a comprehensive discovery process designed to clarify issues, uncover options and possibilities, and arrive at a shared understanding of Linux critical success factors.
- Linux strategy development (2-7 weeks): Involve all stakeholders in developing a clear vision and roadmap for a successful Linux implementation, including business, organizational, and technical dimensions.
- Linux migration assessment (variable): Apply tools and methodologies for planning and implementing specific Linux migrations, including Red Hat, Sun Solaris, MS Windows, and new deployments of Linux desktops.
- Linux migration ROI analysis tool: as part of a Discovery or Strategy engagement, helps customers estimate the various costs associated with a migration to Linux.
