Linux system rises to the challenge

By RICHARD WOOD

A "six-figure" IT upgrade at Farmlands shows the Linux operating system is as much of a threat to Unix as it is to Microsoft Windows.

The rural retail co-operative, owned by 15,000 farmers, has selected Linux over incumbent SCO Unix to eliminate server software licensing costs at its 27 branches.

Farmlands has bought a total of 28 Compaq/HP servers, which will run Red Hat Linux, and serve Microsoft Windows-based PCs through a "thin client" system.

Commercial manager Craig Waterhouse said Farmlands could not stomach the cost of licensing an updated Unix for each site.

The decision would also end regular Unix upgrade costs.

A centralised Unix system was another option, but Farmlands wanted to retain a distributed branch system to counter the risk of mass downtime and keep telecommunications costs down.

Farmlands is considering the free Open Office competitor as an alternative to Microsoft Office for its branches.

So far the firm has managed on the lower-functionality Microsoft Works, but Waterhouse said open source software was a "real challenge to Microsoft".

The idea of using Linux came out of discussions with Napier Computer Systems.

After a nine-month evaluation of the options, Farmlands brought in consultancy Deloittes to establish independently whether a Linux decentralised approach was the answer.

NCS sales engineer Duncan Barr said it was easy to port the point of sale and ordering system from Unix to Linux.

It was also much cheaper than it would have cost to port it to a Microsoft environment.

He said Farmlands proved the concept, and NCS would port all its software to Linux over the next two years.

Queried about support levels for Linux, Barr said the NCS had a couple of "gurus" and could get more from the web community.

Planning of Farmlands' IT upgrade began in October 2001. Waterhouse said there would have been hardware costs anyway because the systems needed replacing.

The upgrade also sets up Farmlands for development of e-commerce between branches, head office and suppliers. Development of its intranet is a priority to reduce paper forms.

However, Waterhouse said retailing to farmers across the internet was not a priority.

Farmlands continues to use a Microsoft server and thin client system at its head office.