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On Friday 02 May 2003 10:08 am, Andrew Rogers wrote:
> The Computing Services don't support Linux, I don't need their support
> but they wouldn't even tell me the SMTP relay name! I found it by
> reading headers of emails.
>
> What can we do to inform universities such as Plymouth that Linux
> really does exist?
>
As a (non-ICT) technician working at the College of St Mark and St John,
in my experience there are two (or three) big obsticles.
It helps to have a Unix tradition, many of the larger universities have
used Unix for many years especially in the physical sciences. This
experience and expertise should help to lower the "fear factor" of
putting something not made by MS on a desktop or server.
You need ICT support staff who have Linux skills and I have a feeling that
this is not as common as it is sometimes made out to be. The myth is
that most ICT support staff working in a windows environment will be
found playing with their network of Linux machines at home. I suspect in
reality this is not so common. Some people who have considerable skills
with windows networked environments find that Linux is a frighteningly
different place and do not relish the idea of feeling like a novice
again.
You need senior management who have a clue ('nuff said)
The Microsoft Campus License Agreement is another huge brake. It means
that experimenting with a few Linux desktops or the odd server will not
provide any reduction in licensing costs.
So, to finally answer your question - where all or most of the above
barriers are in place the best bet would be to lobby central governent -
or your MP about the advantages of Linux and open source solutions. HEIs
pay close attention to signs and portents from central gov. and usually
attempt to manouvre themselves into a suitable position. If the signs
were more strongly positive towards open source, or (more likely) less
tolerant of spending large amounts on software licensing... things might
change.
Enough rambling
Tony
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