Variety of Software and Its Compatibility with IT Infrastructure - Assignment Example

Introduction: It would be prudent to any organization to rely on IT to make the things happen faster with reliability but it is a herculean task to choose the right IT Solution for an enterprise. At the outset, we should identify the right requirements and thereafter we should weigh the various aspects, advantages and disadvantages of a variety of available software and its compatibility with our IT infrastructure. While considering each option, following important points are to be taken into account:- Availability of training to handle the software applications, Support system, Whether the software’s performance adequately meets the requirement, Reliability and Cost effectiveness. One can opt for proprietary software or can build own custom software. However, development of custom software is normally uneconomical, cumbersome and time-consuming. This not only takes enormous amount of expenditure as well as valuable human resources. Therefore, most companies opt for outsourcing and take benefit of readymade software packages. Linux based open source software packages as well as proprietary software are available to choose to suit the requirement. Each of them has their own merits and demerits, which should be analytically weighed before making a decision. Free software are either free of cost or their source codes are available in public domain. As far as an enterprise is concerned it has to train their employees as well as to get constant support from the software vendor. A good IT infrastructure always ensures high return over investments made in it. So the large companies do not care much about the cost involved rather consider its flexibility, reliability and a reliable support system. In this project we will be discussing about desktop and server edition of three LINUX based implementations, Red Hat, Ubuntu & Novell and the standard Windows based systems. Conclusively, we will attempt to recommend a certain package on the basis of the outcome of such discussion. Discussions: Training While purchasing software for an enterprise operation, the preliminary aim is to assist its employees to automate and enhance the operations of the organisation with least chance for errors. In order to achieve the said goal, imparting adequate training to its employees or to hire trained professionals to apply the system for the optimum benefit of the organisation becomes inevitable. With a view to select appropriate software to suit the requirements, Red Hat, Ubuntu and Novell’s SUSE based OS are being taken into consideration. Indeed the training motivates the employees as well as raises their confidence in using the software to meet the requirements. RedHat: In terms of trained professionals and certified training program, Red hat tops other Linux distributions. RedHat training centers are spread across the globe and training programs on various specializations are available. They are also providing ‘on-site team training’. “Red Hat recommends on-site training when your organization has between 6 and 20 employees who fit the prerequisites and audience profile for a particular course” (Red Hat Inc., 2014). Novell: Novell Inc began distribution of Linux in 2003.Their distribution based on SUSE is named as OpenSUSE. Later Microsoft and Novell Inc came into some agreements on development of this distribution but marred by controversy. However, Novell is best known for their customization of the software according to enterprise need. Training is available on site including team training. Novell also provides certification courses which are obviously calculated to motivate the employees to participate in such courses. Ubuntu: Ubuntu is the comparatively a new comer in this industry, but it revolutionized the desktop operating system. It is probably more user friendly and capable OS. Even though certified training programs are only under way. Its distributor, Canonical is providing Long term support and online training to all LTS versions released. Support: Red Hat: With RHEL Enterprise workstation 24X7 Business Support Contract is provided by red hat. With a standard edition 9X5 Business Support Contract is included. We could hire Red Hat certified support engineers on a contract basis outside the support from the vendor. Novell: SUSE enterprise desktop provides 24x7 supports with its standard edition. They also provide support for Enterprise server edition. Paid support is also available. Master License Agreement (MLA) Customers are privileged to get direct maintenance & support from Novell. Ubuntu: Ubuntu support is available in long term with each LTS releases which happens in 18 months intervals. Community based support such as Internet relay chat etc..are provided. Canonical ensures each LTS release is supported till next update. Performance: Red Hat: Red hat is offering moderately high performance in its enterprise version Linux distribution. Their desktop version CentOS and Fedora offers performance on par with other leading OS. In a comparison done by Indiana University with help of HPC benchmarks, Red Hat enterprise out performed the Windows based system. Results were obtained from Novell: Novell’s Open SUSE also provides best in class performance when compared to other community driven software. Ubuntu: Ubuntu is the lead competitor to Microsoft Windows. Ubuntu 14.x is far better in Boot time, Installation time and Disk transaction rate and Require lowest clicks on the installation than Windows 7. Reliability: Red Hat: Red Hat’s technology has proven its credibility in large enterprise usage than windows based system since its introduction in 1993. Novell: Novell’s SUSE Enterprise version also shares nearly the same credibility with Red Hat in reliability. Ubuntu: Since it is introduced much later than above two distributions, its reliability is less discussed in comparison with Red Hat and Novell. Recently many web based business are opting Ubuntu server implementation than RHEL. Application Availability: Red Hat: Application software availability of red hat is very high and it is preloaded with large number of application software. Fedora and RHEL uses RPM (RedHat Package Manager) as its application manager. Applications are available in ‘.rpm’ extensions. Novell: Novell’s SUSE Enterprise also supports rpm which is used by RedHat. Hence it is assumed that application availability is same as that of Red Hat. Ubuntu: Unlike Red Hat and SUSE, Ubuntu use Debian packages with extension .rpm. “The developers of the Debian distribution also developed a packaging system, called APT (“Advanced Packaging Tool”) that would not only install an application but would also install all of the support libraries and smaller programs that the application replies on in order to run” (Kenlon, n.d., p.13). Total Cost of Ownership: Total cost of the software is measured on basis of per seat, per processor, or number of installations which will be varied according to requirements of each organisation. Red Hat: RHEL Desktop cost $49 a year and it includes a support contract. The support system is in place as RHEL Servers are available specific to our machine hardware and pricing done at the rate per socket/ per guest. RHEL Server standard edition with x64 and 1 guest cost $799 an year. Novell: SUSE Linux Enterprise Server Standard edition also cost $799 an year per socket. Novell’s SUSE Enterprise Desktop basic version cost $50 for basic and $150. Ubuntu: Ubuntu is a free of cost Desktop / Server OS available from Canonical. VENDOR CONTRAST COMPARISON MATRIX RED HAT NOVELL SUSE UBUNTU OPEN SOURCE Yes Yes Yes FREE OF COST No No Yes SUPPORT 24 X 7 VENDOR SUPPORT 24 X 7 VENDOR SUPPORT 24X7 COMMUNITY BASED SUPPORT/BY CANONICAL AVAILABILITY OF ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS YES YES LESS AVAILABILITY OF ON SITE TRAINING YES YES NO ENTERPRISE SERVER YES YES YES USER FRIENDLINESS GOOD GOOD BEST AVAILABILITY OF TRAINED PROFESSIONAL YES MODERATELY LESS Conclusion: It is very essential that our existing workforce is appreciative of the technology and trained to use new software. Training is an important ingredient which contributes largely to develop the confidence to use the software .While considering the training merits; Red Hat is the world leader having millions of trained professional all over the globe and has an outstanding track record. Red Hat also incorporates an onsite training program. Novell also share the same credibility, but considered next only to the Red Hat. Since Ubuntu was primarily focused on desktops, the training and support is par below to Novell’s, but great for the fact that it is free of cost. Both Red Hat and Novell create software based on Linux and sell it for a cost and support its clients as a business policy. Even though Ubuntu is free of cost a community based support as well as Canonical’s support is available for its releases. Canonical ensures extended support for all it LTS versions. “Red Hat was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Raleigh, NC. Today, with more than 70 Offices around the world, Red Hat are the largest publicly traded technology company fully committed to open source” (Whitepaper, 2012, p. 10). Employees with higher level of expertise can cope up with Ubuntu without much training efforts. If not, it is better to choose RedHat. Red Hat’s both server and desktop operating systems are manufactured with high standards with expertise to suit the entrepreneurs and perform very well as a result of which it has a potential market share. Once Ubuntu entered the desktop market, due to its great publicity, RedHat and Novell began to concentrate on their Business solutions and excelled. Red hat’s technology is widely trusted in enterprise domains because of the stability of the company with its proven record of reliability. They have been concentrating on business solutions for a very long time. On certain agreements between Microsoft and Novell, the image of SUSE Enterprise server and desktop also went up. Ubuntu was relatively new in enterprise solution. However, they have maintained a good aesthetic sense in their designs. “CESG, the security arm of the UK government that assesses operating systems and software, has published its findings for all End User Device operating systems (05s). Based at GCHQ, they included 05s for laptops and mobile devices in their assessment, and for uses designated at "OFFICIAL" level in accordance with UK Government Security Classification Policy. Any enterprise would be interested in implementing these to make sure that information is not leaked from their organization” (Weaver, n.d., p. 1). Debian and RPM are very promising packages. RPM is used by RedHat as well as Open SUSE. Various applications are incorporated in both types of package managers. Most of the earliest enterprise applications are developed as rpm packages. Both package managers have their own merits and de-merit, but as far as enterprise applications are considered it is better to chose RedHat. Cost of ownership depends on the number of sockets or cores or per installation. Both Red hat’s and Novell SUSE Enterprise’s cost are relatively same while Ubuntu is free of cost. Critical systems always need more support and trained professionals regardless of the cost involved therein. The supplementary systems could be implemented with less effort considering the cost. Recommendations: We have discussed and reached conclusions regarding various aspects of the three Linux implementations. After careful consideration of the pros and cons of each one, we are now able to short list the options. As a normal course of action, an enterprise would rather look for reliability, performance and support than price in implementing systems for critical operation. Therefore, it is imperative that we consider the stability and track record of the company we choose. It is also pertinent to consider the availability of trained professionals. As Red Hat has very high performance record and reliability and considered to be superior to Microsoft windows based systems I would recommend Red Hat for implementation of major critical systems. As client systems I would recommend using Ubuntu as it is free of cost, more secure besides the availability of long-term support. FIGURES Figure 1:Red Hat training (Redhat.com) Figure 2: Training path for Novell Enterprise Server Figure 3: Training path for Novell SUSE Desktop Figure 4. RedHat production level support: Server Edition Figure 5. Support Life cycle of Red Hat Enterprise Desktop Figure 6 : Ubuntu server LTS Release cycle (Ubuntu.com) Figure 7: Comparison of Ubuntu desktop Vs Windows 7 References Red Hat Inc. (2014). On –Site Team Training. Red Hat Inc., pp.1. Retrieved February 3, 2014, from < http://www.redhat.com/training/ways/onsite.html> Kenlon, S. (n.d.). RPM v/s DEB. Packaging System, pp.13-16. Retrieved Feburary 3, 2014, from < http://seth.kenlon.com/pflocal/TBOL_2011_1_RPM_DEM_US.pdf> Whitepaper. (2012). Red Hat Enterprise Linux: Application Compatibility Specification. U.S.: Red Hat Enterprise Linux, pp. 1-10. Retrieved February 3, 2014, from Weaver, D. (n.d.). UK Gov Security Assessment puts Ubuntu in First Place. U.K.: UK Gov Security Assessment puts Ubuntu in First Place, pp.1-7. Retrieved February 3, 2014, from< http://insights.ubuntu.com/wp-content/uploads/UK-Gov-Report-Summary.pdf> Figure 2.Training path for Novell Enterprise Server. Adapted from “ Novell Open Enterprise Server for Netware CNA”, (n.d.).Retrieved February 3, 2014, from Figure 3. Training path for Novell SUSE Desktop. Adapted from “Certified Linux Desktop Administrator Learning Path” Copyright 2014 by Novell Retrieved Feburary 3, 2014, from Read More