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Henry Bremridge wrote: >On Fri, Dec 02, 2005 at 06:35:27PM +0000, Rob Beard wrote: > > >>Henry Bremridge wrote: >> >> >> >>>I don't know about USP's but I am involved in a small factory in India where >>>we have just cancelled our anti-virus, anti-firewall licenses, and >>>instead just used a debian server with antivirus, firewall and a strict >>>whitelist for contacting outside sites. >>> >>>The cost of paying someone to come in and install the server was less >>>than one year's license fees for the software and we are now trying to >>>get the consultant to implement new (debian) software to help the office >>>workload >>> >>>So I would have thought that there would be many small businesses >>>(solicitors, architects, accountants etc etc) with a local network that >>>could also use with switching to a linux server to: >>>- Back up local data >>>- Provide security system (firewall, antivirus) >>>- Save money on Microsoft Server >>>Then when the next worm hits, they will not see anything..... >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>Thats what I was thinking of. I've mentioned before about SME Server. >>I originally started using this as I was looking for a free alternative >>to Windows/Exchange. I found that I could do exactly the same on an SME >>Server with lower hardware specs than I could do with a Windows 2000 >>Small Business Server & Exchange 2000. >> >>For little cost (had most of the hardware already), I managed to get a >>server which provided IMAP e-mail, Webmail, file storage, e-mail & file >>anti-virus using Clam Antivirus (along with hourly updates - I don't >>even think McAfee EPO Server does that) and also web proxying/content >>filtering with Squid/Dans Guardian. >> >> > >Spamassasin? > > Haven't actually tried that on my server yet. I rarely get SPAM anyway, most of it is blocked at the ISP. I guess I could unblock it though and try setting up Spamassasin. >I would have thought that the biggest problem would be to get >small-businesses to trust OpenSource. I mean "after all isn't it >complicated, difficult, open to crackers, weird etc etc etc" > >I am involved in the factory and even then the only way I could get >Debian in was at the server end. Now that it is in, and the users are >happy, there is talk of expanding it. The main selling point on >expanding it is: >- Security (antivirus, spyware, firewall) >- System upgrades >- Invisible to customers > >ie more time worrying about customers, production etc etc and no need to >worry about the bloody computer. > >The problem is getting that initial entry point. And that will probably >involve getting to see the decision maker and selling the services on a >return on investment basis. If you start with a cheap server that is >invisable to everyone, then you will probably be able to cross-sell >other services / systems in future > > > Well I was thinking if I could send out a general mail-shot to try and get a bit more custom, then once I have my foot in the door so to speak, then start suggesting ways that they could improve things. I could use my SME Server as an example, I've never had any major problems with it. The only problem I think I've ever had was a hard drive crash, but that was no fault of the software itself. Windows on the other hand, well, hmm, I lost about 40GB of data when I was using Windows 2000, hence going over to Debian 3.1 on one of my servers. Since upgrading that server to Debian, I haven't looked back, it just works! >You will certainly need a fully costed solution, and that needs to be >less than what the customer currently uses. I think the following items >also need to be included in the cost calculation. >- Will it work (yes) >- Will the company NEED you services or if there is a falling out, can > they use anyone. (yes, as long as you produce a manual showing what > has been done) >- Will the staff need training how to use it (no) >- Will the customers know anything (no) >- Does it need upgrading (all automatic) >- Does it break (no) > >ie will it be invisable? You could even put together a package in which >the companies pay you at the end of the year if there are no problems > >What finally triggered the factory's move was: >- No new machines were needed. The accounting database was run off a > windows machine that frequently crashed, upsetting everybody. This > was migrated to the linux server, and surprise surprise has not > crashed since >- It removed all the headaches with incoming virus's, which meant that > staff in the office complained less about junk email >- We could set up an internal email system. > > I was thinking, once I've done a couple of jobs for the company, then discuss their servers. If they don't have any servers but would like to make life easier (like central backups, central data storage, e-mail on the server rather than on each PC), or if they have an old Novell or Windows NT server, then I would suggest Linux. I was thinking about the giving back to the community, and maybe charging a small charge for the media (say £10) and donate this back to the distro. I feel like I've been enjoying all this free software, I'd like to give something back for it. I would then say offer a basic support package in the price of installation/setup where I would make say monthly visits to the company and regular e-mails to make sure everything is working fine. If they needed any further support (say 24x7 support) then I'd charge a call out fee. The other option I was thinking was offering service contracts, I've got to do a bit more thinking about that though. With it just being me working on the business at the moment, I think offering 4 or 8 hour responce times may stretch me a bit, but thats not to say if business picks up enough I could take on some staff. Rob -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG Mail majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe list" in the message body to unsubscribe. FAQ: www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html