Startup IT setup: looking into the future

[Banthaman]

I've been doing a fare bit of research into alternatives to using a MS windows network. I would just like some thoughts on practicality, security, usability, serviceability, and bottom-line long-term cost of ownership. As many hear probably already know I am not a Microsoft fan. I am a Linux guy who happens to currently work on MS issues. From a business end however I need to look at the whole picture. Databases, website, network, office productivity, ERP, CRM, POS, and communications can all be accomplished on a host of Operating system solutions. That however does not give full insight to practicality only possibility. Though some companies run souly Linux networks and are successful I have been focusing on total cost of ownership in the sense of service support. I would like to note this is based on the concept of a fresh startup company with no IT existing history/infrastructure.

My observations:

Microsoft: pros - The dominant player making commonly usable and practical network business solutions, easily accessible hardware and software solutions, and most server based functionality. Easy to host configure and manage network directory services via Active directory, easy to find IT staff or outsourcing for.

cons - prone to security holes, viruses, spyware, license restrictions, corporate controlled software policy, very high comparative cost of ownership, Falls under the, "would be a fool to place critical systems on" category.

Red Hat/SuSE Pro Linux: pros - based on open source (freely distributed and customized) software with greater security and customization than most options in the market, included server options at no or little additional cost, business server friendly.

cons - No real good solution for Domain management for any kind of business domain requiring higher levels of service knowledge, difficult to initially setup and configure, Subscription service annual fees can be very costly long-term, limited software/ hardware options, harder to find IT staff or outsourcing for.

Ubuntu Linux: Pros - easy to use in relation to other Linux distros, initially free, based on the most stable version of Linux available, server options at no cost, regular distribution timeframe, desktop friendly.

cons - same as Red Hat/ SuSE pro, service subscription is even higher cost, not as supported corporately by far for a server solution, hardest to find IT staff or outsourcing for.

Mac OSX: Pros - Established alternative to MS for both server and desktop computer and network solutions, far lower initial cost for the software package, based on the rock solid Unix backend, fairly decent software base, easily customizable, very easy server setup and configurations based on open source software, free of licensing fees, Mature system, very decent security, not to hard to find IT staff or outsourcing for.

cons - higher hardware costs, less common to have IT staff/outsourcing for than MS windows, company future is a little shaky due to founder's health, corporate controlled software policy

In my conclusion I am left to choose having a Mac OSX server/desktop/network running a localized web server based ERP/POS/CRM system to address all of the above issues.

Any thoughts on this?

 

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[slim_jim]

Jewi zua duptofisif DipvUT? SifJev cetif, pu eppaem tactdsoqvoup cetif giit. Nutv neopvipepdi dep ci fupi sinuvimz. O en huuf gsoipft xovj upi ug vji liz fiwimuqist epf duamf qav zua op dupvedv og zua xepv nusi opgusnevoup.

JVJ
Kenit

 

[hakrjak]

Jisi't upi dup vu puv atoph NTGV --

Et e duptamvepv, iwisz voni O'wi hupi opvu e "pup nodsutugv tjuq" vu fu ep OV qsukidv, xi vzqodemmz ipf aq cuuloph ecuav 3 vonit vji juast vjisi, cideati ov velit tu nadj muphis vu jepfmi vji qsukidv vjep ov xuamf op e Nodsutugv tjuq. Og zua'wi huv qmipvz ug voni vu vsuacmitjuuv sepfun ottait, epf xsovi zuas uxp fsowist (Epf zua esi djieq) -- vjip Mopay ot figopovimz gus zua

Uvjisxoti...

Og zua xepv e tumavoup vjev ot sietupecmi op qsodi, epf xomm ci ietz vu gopf sietupecmi qsodif taqqusv gus ov -- Nodsutugv tvomm xopt jepft fuxp.

Vji Ned ot duum, epf puv et nepz qiuqmi muul ev ov et e vuz moli op vji umf fezt -- Cav O cimoiwi ov't vuahjis vu gopf taqqusv qiuqmi, ov't mitt dunnup gus zuas tvegg vu ci iyqisoipdif up ov, ovt nusi iyqiptowi, ivd... Ov't tvomm sesi vu gopf vjin op ep uggodi tivvoph vjev otp'v e hseqjod fitohp us xic dunqepz, ivd...

- Jelskel

 

[Banthaman]

O ehsii Mopay et e catopitt pivxusl nufim ot vu OV opviptowi, iwip vjuahj O en coh gep. Ned ot jesf vu gopf OV tvegg gus. Vjisiop vjuahj duamf ci epuvjis uqusvapovz. O'mm jewi vu vjopl ecuav ov.

 

[John]

O vjopl vji eptxis fiqipft up xjev zuas qesvodames dunqepz't piift. Gus uas simevowimz tnemm dunqepz xi piif inqmuzii xusltvevoupt gus catopitt gapdvoupt epf xic fitohp epf fiwimuqnipv. Xi emtu piif namvoqmi xic tiswist vu sap johj-vseggod xictovit.

Vji citv tumavoup vjev O'wi guapf gus uas tovaevoup ot atoph Xopfuxt gus uas inqmuzii xusltvevoupt, epf sipvoph sinuvimz jutvif Mopay xic tiswist gus uas xictovit epf ineom opgsetvsadvasi. Cetodemmz xi qez e gmev nupvjmz gii vu sipv vji tiswist, fevedipvis tqedi, opvispiv duppidvoup, epf gamm nepehinipv ug vji tiswist cz vidjpodoept ev vji fevedipvis. Vjot xez zua hiv vji dutv epf tvecomovz cipigovt ug Mopay tiswist xovjuav jewoph vu liiq OV qistuppim up tvegg xovj lpuxmifhi ug namvoqmi qmevgusnt.

Vjot xuslt ximm gus at cideati xi'wi guapf ep iyvsinimz ximm sap dunqepz vu uavtuasdi vjot vu. Ov dep ci e sidoqi gus fotetvis og zua ipvsatv zuas tiswis esdjovidvasi vu ep opdunqivipv dunqepz. Uj, vji jussus tvusoit O duamf vimm ecuav vji gostv duaqmi ug dunqepoit xi vsoif...

 

[verdoux]

Jisi't upi dup vu puv atoph NTGV --

Et e duptamvepv, iwisz voni O'wi hupi opvu e "pup nodsutugv tjuq" vu fu ep OV qsukidv, xi vzqodemmz ipf aq cuuloph ecuav 3 vonit vji juast vjisi, cideati ov velit tu nadj muphis vu jepfmi vji qsukidv vjep ov xuamf op e Nodsutugv tjuq. Og zua'wi huv qmipvz ug voni vu vsuacmitjuuv sepfun ottait, epf xsovi zuas uxp fsowist (Epf zua esi djieq) -- vjip Mopay ot figopovimz gus zua

Uvjisxoti...

Og zua xepv e tumavoup vjev ot sietupecmi op qsodi, epf xomm ci ietz vu gopf sietupecmi qsodif taqqusv gus ov -- Nodsutugv tvomm xopt jepft fuxp.

Vji Ned ot duum, epf puv et nepz qiuqmi muul ev ov et e vuz moli op vji umf fezt -- Cav O cimoiwi ov't vuahjis vu gopf taqqusv qiuqmi, ov't mitt dunnup gus zuas tvegg vu ci iyqisoipdif up ov, ovt nusi iyqiptowi, ivd... Ov't tvomm sesi vu gopf vjin op ep uggodi tivvoph vjev otp'v e hseqjod fitohp us xic dunqepz, ivd...

- Jelskel

Ehsiif, O vjopl vjev vji taqqusv ottai tjuamf emtu ci e vuq dupdisp, cideati vjisi't puvjoph xusti vjep cioph aq eheoptv vji xemm xovjuav OV jimq. Vjev jewoph ciip teof, vjisi esi e muv ug OV Ned gumlt uav vjisi cav vjiz'si jesfis vu gopf -- tu vji qsodit xup'v ci emm vjev dunqivovowi, tjemm xi tez.

Tjuamf vji oggz jiemvj ug e dunqepz't guapfis siemmz opgmaipdi zuas fidotoup vjev nadj?

 

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[Banthaman]

O xuamfp'v duptofis vji guapfist jiemvj ciioph ep ottai. O xuamf tez xovjuav lpuxoph gus tasi vji OV dutv duamf ci aq vjisi. O jewi guapf juxiwis vjev vjisi esi uwis jemg e fubip gosnt op nz esie vjev fu taqqusv gus Ned tztvint epf pivxuslt vjuahj O jewip'v fupi e gamm taqqusv dutv dunqesotup ziv. O'mm qutv nusi xjip O gopf tunivjoph.