Reliability really means decreasing downtime, which can be a huge cost for any network operation in the form of extra expenses for repairs and lost revenue. Linux is based on the Unix operating system, which is known for stability and reliability. In fact, most Linux servers experience up-time measured in months and sometimes years. Imagine having a mail server on your corporate network that provided email to employees for a whole year without any service outages!

To some extent, support is a function of stability and reliability. The better the day-to-day performance, the lower the costs to fix support issues. As far as maintenance, Linux can require upgrades to patch security holes or enhance performance like any other operating system. These patches or upgrades are freely available and should be applied by your local Linux specialist.

In short, Linux provides a stable platform for network operations that is flexible and reliable. Maintenance and support can be taken care of by your local Linux specialist. Even with all these benefits, Linux has the lowest initial cost and the best total cost of ownership over the long-term.

The deployment of OpenSource Software means:

Can you, as a small business, afford not to use it?

SOPAC(WA) is a member of SLPWA, the Society of Linux Professionals of Western Australia