Business Track

While Linux has emerged as a technical success for the developer community, there are still a variety of hurdles in convincing management of the benefits of using Linux. How can you make an effective business case for this operating environment? This track has the case studies from the field to help you understand the working models that have delivered the cost-effective competitive edge to those businesses that have adopted this emerging alternative. If you need to understand the advantages of deploying Linux, this track delivers those insights.

When to Use Linux

Aficionados see few limits to the applicability of Linux, Apache and other open source technologies. But unlike hobbyists and advocates who pursue a labor of love, IT managers have jobs to do. As a result, IT has a very different set of responsibilities and requirements, and often a different outlook. Hear some practical advice and guidelines for when Linux and other open source alternatives makes sense for enterprise computing -- and when, on the other hand, IT departments should leave it the heck alone.

Linux versus Windows Solutions. Can you make or save REAL money?

Does Linux really save money over traditionally licensed, proprietary software? Or are there hidden costs that neutralize any price advantage of the open solution? And if software costs are less than 25 percent of IT budgets, and hardware costs are less than 25 percent of IT budgets, the cost of people is the most important component. What does the adoption of Linux imply for the cost of IT staff? Compare the costs of specific configurations of Linux and Open Source software versus Windows and UNIX. Come to this session so you can decide how and where the Open Source approach fits with your company's plans.

Working Commercial Models for the Linux World

The recent evolution of successful new business models based on Linux and Open Source software provides new opportunities for a range of products. As these models develop, Linux represents an increasingly attractive alternative for Fortune 500-class organizations as they thread their way through software buying decisions. Because these business models are evolving as fast or faster than the software itself, they will determine the success of this effort. In this session, learn which models are being tried now, which new models will emerge in the future, and how the market is likely to develop in coming years.

Making a Business Case for Linux

Walk away from this session with a mini-blueprint for making a business case to your organization on how Linux and Open Source Software can be adopted in your organization. Learn the underpinnings of a solid business case, and how to implement a joint Open Source and commercial development model whereby internal and external programmers may combine efforts on a project. Whether your company can gain a competitive edge by adopting Open Source Software or Open Source methodologies depends to a large extend on how well your organization understands Open Source principles. This discussion will provide the necessary foundation for an internal discussion on Open Source based on concrete examples.

Case Studies of Linux Implementations

Over the past few years, Linux has moved from a techie operating system to a real problem solver for enterprise computing. In this panel you will have an opportunity to hear businesspeople talk about their selection of Linux as a problem-solver and the results they have received

How to Support Linux in the Enterprise

A top concern for IT managers about using Linux in their enterprises is how well it will be supported. Early adopters provided their own support and bug fixes, freely sharing them with others. Today major vendors, such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Dell Computer, Oracle and Computer Associates, are supporting Linux. In addition, fee-based third-party service alternatives are beginning to emerge. Come to this session to learn about a range of support alternatives for Linux in the enterprise.

Technical Track

Linux has successfully emerged as a viable alternative to some of the more established operating environments available today. This Technical Track examines the key elements needed to evaluate for the effective implementation of this new operating system, from the desktop with the GNOME project to the differences between Windows and Linux as a server OS. This track will help you understand the key issues your organization will face in deploying a Linux-based solution.

Link Update

This session will present a technical overview of the latest major Linux distributions. Find out how each is different and where each stands in relation to the effort to create a Linux Standard Base (LSB). Learn about the technical development strengths of each distributor in the Linux community.

Linux -- Tools and Technologies

Come to this session to hear from a selection of Open Source software developers and supporters about what their software achieves, how open software is evolving, how it compares to commercial alternatives in functionality and price, and the direction of open source software development in the future. The moderator will lead a discussion directed to the I/T audience on how open source software can fit into the software portfolio of a large enterprise.

Leveraging Linux in the Enterprise

So you’re going to leverage Linux as your enterprise operating system of choice. Now what? You’re going to need to understand the architecture, trade-offs and application development strategies before you’ll be successful. In this presentation we’ll discuss server Linux, desktop Linux, and applications and application development tools available for this platform, talking about what works, and what does not. This presentation is a "must-attend" for IT professionals looking to leverage the value of Linux system within their = enterprises.

Linux on the Desktop -- GNOME

Interest in using Linux on the desktop is high. The GNU Network Object Model Environment (Gnome) project aims to build a complete, user-friendly desktop and large applications with consistent look and feel, based entirely on free software. GNOME is part of the GNU project, and it is free software compliant with the Open Source definition. Come hear the coordinator of the Gnome project explain the project’s scope, where his project is in time, who is supporting it and where it is going in the future.

How Linux Integrates with Middleware: CORBA and DCOM

Linux is not just a new operating system, it is the flagship of 'open source', a whole new way to develop, distribute and support systems software. This presentation will show how the open source model could change the whole middleware and component industry. How soon will we be seeing open source Java, open source CORBA, and open source components for finance, insurance, healthcare, and telecommunications? Find out how this revolution may change forever how your organization uses software, and even how it does business

Evaluating the Performance of Linux

Linux has evolved into a full-fledged Unix implementation worthy of production deployment for low-end server applications. However, a technical analysis has found that for enterprise computing, the leading Unix operating systems and Windows NT hold an overall advantage. Linux is especially stable and performs well for modest workloads on low-end or midrange Web serving, E-mail routing, networking printing and file serving. The leading Linux distributions have achieved impressive technical performance, especially for scientific applications. They have fallen short in areas of SMP scalability, high-availability clustering and logical volume managers. Come to this session to hear a technical presentation on the strengths and weaknesses of the Linux operating system.

Using Linux with Windows: the WINE Project

The WINE project aims to provide a portability solution for moving Win32 applications to Linux. The Gnome project aims to provide a graphic user interface for Linux desktops that is intuitive and easy to use. Thus directions in Linux on the desktop point to real alternative of WINE enabling Windows applications to run, while Gnome enables a UI experience similar to Windows. Come hear the project leaders describe where their efforts stand today and what they see in the future for desktop PCs running Linux.

Experiences with Linux Versus Windows NT Servers

Recent research done by InformationWeek shows that the number one operating system being replaced by Linux is Windows NT. Hear from organizations who have done so, the reasons they decided on Linux over Windows NT and what has been the result. For example, the U.S. Postal Service bases its optical character recognition system for reading the mail nationwide on 6,000 computers running Linux. The University of Nebraska Press has switched Windows NT out of three systems and successfully replaced with Linux. Amerada Hess Corp., a $6.6 billion oil company, replaced an IBM SP2 supercomputer system with a Beowolf supercomputer, a 32-node Linux cluster. The company decided against Windows NT because it would have required them to rewrite an application consisting of 3 million lines of code, an effort judged to be impractical. Come find out why these organizations decided on Linux.

Panel Discussion

Is Linux for Real?

Learn from leading industry analysts from firms why Linux has so much energy in the market. Also hear about the potential hidden costs and risks, whether Linux really belongs in the enterprise. Does Linux have the potential to compete or replace other operating systems in the enterprise? Or will it fade to oblivion once Microsoft releases Windows 2000? Find out what the analysts think.