Comments on: we’ve done it! our migration to open source has finally been completed! http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/2009/01/15/weve-done-it-our-migration-to-open-source-has-finally-been-completed/ We blog about We blog on label printing, security labelling, variable barcode labelling and open source software in small business. Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:45:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Uncle B http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/2009/01/15/weve-done-it-our-migration-to-open-source-has-finally-been-completed/comment-page-1/#comment-15585 Uncle B Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:33:17 +0000 http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/?p=141#comment-15585 Please donate your old boxes to a church-group or some needy student in these hard times! To comply with the law, and with Microsoft's leasing policy, you can now replace Microsoft OS with the free (download from the net) Ubuntu OS, which can be set to erase the hard drive of all traces of the “illegal to give away ” Microsoft system and your private information, before donation! Now, explain to your lucky recipient that all the manuals they will ever need are available for free on the internet! Just ask for them in Google! OpenOffice, which is installed already is plenty adequate for homework assignments and with a little exploring, everything else can work well too! Happy computing! Please donate your old boxes to a church-group or some needy student in these hard times! To comply with the law, and with Microsoft’s leasing policy, you can now replace Microsoft OS with the free (download from the net) Ubuntu OS, which can be set to erase the hard drive of all traces of the “illegal to give away ” Microsoft system and your private information, before donation! Now, explain to your lucky recipient that all the manuals they will ever need are available for free on the internet! Just ask for them in Google! OpenOffice, which is installed already is plenty adequate for homework assignments and with a little exploring, everything else can work well too! Happy computing!

]]> By: Nathaniel Eliot http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/2009/01/15/weve-done-it-our-migration-to-open-source-has-finally-been-completed/comment-page-1/#comment-15205 Nathaniel Eliot Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:48:49 +0000 http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/?p=141#comment-15205 Awesome! I look forward to reading it (and passing it on). Awesome! I look forward to reading it (and passing it on).

]]> By: Adrian http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/2009/01/15/weve-done-it-our-migration-to-open-source-has-finally-been-completed/comment-page-1/#comment-15188 Adrian Tue, 10 Feb 2009 08:25:42 +0000 http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/?p=141#comment-15188 Hi Nathaniel I plan to do a detailed cost analysis and post it on this blog in due course, just not got around to it yet! understood, I appreciate that it will be of interest to many. regs adrian Hi Nathaniel

I plan to do a detailed cost analysis and post it on this blog in due course, just not got around to it yet!

understood, I appreciate that it will be of interest to many.

regs

adrian

]]> By: Nathaniel Eliot http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/2009/01/15/weve-done-it-our-migration-to-open-source-has-finally-been-completed/comment-page-1/#comment-15186 Nathaniel Eliot Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:46:20 +0000 http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/?p=141#comment-15186 Can you give (or point towards) a run-down of your system's starting state, and roughly what you spent (including people costs) on the overall migration? Those added bits would make this blog an even more valuable case study for companies unsure about migrating to OS. Can you give (or point towards) a run-down of your system’s starting state, and roughly what you spent (including people costs) on the overall migration? Those added bits would make this blog an even more valuable case study for companies unsure about migrating to OS.

]]> By: Adrian http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/2009/01/15/weve-done-it-our-migration-to-open-source-has-finally-been-completed/comment-page-1/#comment-15167 Adrian Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:00:40 +0000 http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/?p=141#comment-15167 Hi Tom Thanks for the comments. WE havent really explored VM yet, as the legacy applciations refered to are basically boxes to run custom numbering kit with vendor specific custom software. Its just not worth changing, as "it just works", usually off ther network, and a semi skilled opertor can just punch the number in and rnu the machine. Thats a basic description. I havent yet tried to buy replacement kit on linux, that will be an interesting discussion as its VERY niche! adrian Hi Tom

Thanks for the comments. WE havent really explored VM yet, as the legacy applciations refered to are basically boxes to run custom numbering kit with vendor specific custom software. Its just not worth changing, as “it just works”, usually off ther network, and a semi skilled opertor can just punch the number in and rnu the machine. Thats a basic description. I havent yet tried to buy replacement kit on linux, that will be an interesting discussion as its VERY niche!

adrian

]]> By: tom http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/2009/01/15/weve-done-it-our-migration-to-open-source-has-finally-been-completed/comment-page-1/#comment-15161 tom Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:46:19 +0000 http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/?p=141#comment-15161 I was wondering what is the configuration of the Legacy "embedded" XP machines. Are they running XP on boards installed in the printers, or are they white box PC's connected by a USB or a ethernet to the printers, running custom software. If they are not embedded boards, chance are good that you can run the images under the Linux Kernel KVM as virtual machines. Getting rid of more boxes. The Vista desktops are also candidates for VM machines, depending on your overall setup. The pool machine machine running the SAGE software could be migrated to a VM, depending on system loading, etc. The Graphics design machine sounds like probably the last to migrate to a VM as hardware dies, and new machines get purchased There are various capabilitywko of virtual machines such as live migrations, backups, etc, that are hard to come by on a stock PC. Of course all of this requires a business case (you might not have one at the moment) and a plan (which of course you already know). Tom I was wondering what is the configuration of the Legacy “embedded” XP machines. Are they running XP on boards installed in the printers, or are they white box PC’s connected by a USB or a ethernet to the printers, running custom software.

If they are not embedded boards, chance are good that you can run the images under the Linux Kernel KVM as virtual machines. Getting rid of more boxes.

The Vista desktops are also candidates for VM machines, depending on your overall setup. The pool machine machine running the SAGE software could be migrated to a VM, depending on system loading, etc.

The Graphics design machine sounds like probably the last to migrate to a VM as hardware dies, and new machines get purchased

There are various capabilitywko of virtual machines such as live migrations, backups, etc, that are hard to come by on a stock PC.

Of course all of this requires a business case (you might not have one at the moment) and a plan (which of course you already know).

Tom

]]> By: Martyn http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/2009/01/15/weve-done-it-our-migration-to-open-source-has-finally-been-completed/comment-page-1/#comment-14866 Martyn Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:57:50 +0000 http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/?p=141#comment-14866 Adrian WELL DONE - we're not far behind you. Martyn PS - if you want a (Linux) web-based, UK focused (and compliant), open source accounting system let me know. I have one you can try :-D Martyn Adrian

WELL DONE – we’re not far behind you.

Martyn

PS – if you want a (Linux) web-based, UK focused (and compliant), open source accounting system let me know. I have one you can try :-D

Martyn

]]> By: Thomas http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/2009/01/15/weve-done-it-our-migration-to-open-source-has-finally-been-completed/comment-page-1/#comment-14770 Thomas Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:20:31 +0000 http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/?p=141#comment-14770 Adrian, Congratulations, from a public sector employee that weeps at the huge sums your taxes that we waste/spend on proprietary licences and the huge sums we pay vendors for a poor service but have no choice due to lock in. I sincerely hope your company reaps the rewards in the years ahead. Thomas Adrian,

Congratulations, from a public sector employee that weeps at the huge sums your taxes that we waste/spend on proprietary licences and the huge sums we pay vendors for a poor service but have no choice due to lock in.

I sincerely hope your company reaps the rewards in the years ahead.

Thomas

]]> By: Adrian http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/2009/01/15/weve-done-it-our-migration-to-open-source-has-finally-been-completed/comment-page-1/#comment-14769 Adrian Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:20:28 +0000 http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/?p=141#comment-14769 Some nice write ups of our migration from http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10146824-16.html , http://townx.org/blog/elliot/west-midlands-sme-completes-its-migration-open-source and http://www.hitechsquad.com/2009/01/21/mercian-labels-has-completed-their-migration-to-open-source/ amongst others . I hope these are of use to some readers. adrian Some nice write ups of our migration from http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10146824-16.html , http://townx.org/blog/elliot/west-midlands-sme-completes-its-migration-open-source and http://www.hitechsquad.com/2009/01/21/mercian-labels-has-completed-their-migration-to-open-source/ amongst others .

I hope these are of use to some readers.

adrian

]]> By: The Open Sourcerer http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/2009/01/15/weve-done-it-our-migration-to-open-source-has-finally-been-completed/comment-page-1/#comment-14738 The Open Sourcerer Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:18:19 +0000 http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/?p=141#comment-14738 Hi Adrian, That's a great post and many congratulations. I agree with Paul Cooper, that there are few good examples of the migration process and especially those that are not wearing rose tinted spectacles. We all know FOSS isn't perfect and we all know that moving from a very familiar and comfortable place to a new residence is not that easy. But the benefits are there for those who persevere. Please keep up the occasional post so we can get some idea on reliability, maintenance, and ongoing cost factors. Thank you. Hi Adrian,

That’s a great post and many congratulations. I agree with Paul Cooper, that there are few good examples of the migration process and especially those that are not wearing rose tinted spectacles.

We all know FOSS isn’t perfect and we all know that moving from a very familiar and comfortable place to a new residence is not that easy. But the benefits are there for those who persevere.

Please keep up the occasional post so we can get some idea on reliability, maintenance, and ongoing cost factors.

Thank you.

]]> By: Paul Cooper http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/2009/01/15/weve-done-it-our-migration-to-open-source-has-finally-been-completed/comment-page-1/#comment-14712 Paul Cooper Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:06:12 +0000 http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/?p=141#comment-14712 Adrian, congrats on completing the transition, and I'm glad I was able to help in some small way. Please keep blogging about your experiences - while there are a some good case studies about SME migration (although none as in depth as your posts put together) there aren't any I can think of that cover the migration at 3, 6, 12, 24+ months, with the unexpected benefits and pitfalls, etc. Adrian, congrats on completing the transition, and I’m glad I was able to help in some small way. Please keep blogging about your experiences – while there are a some good case studies about SME migration (although none as in depth as your posts put together) there aren’t any I can think of that cover the migration at 3, 6, 12, 24+ months, with the unexpected benefits and pitfalls, etc.

]]> By: Elliot Smith http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/2009/01/15/weve-done-it-our-migration-to-open-source-has-finally-been-completed/comment-page-1/#comment-14711 Elliot Smith Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:39:49 +0000 http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/?p=141#comment-14711 Congratulations, Adrian. I've written a blog entry in celebration: http://townx.org/blog/elliot/west-midlands-sme-completes-its-migration-open-source Congratulations, Adrian. I’ve written a blog entry in celebration:

http://townx.org/blog/elliot/west-midlands-sme-completes-its-migration-open-source

]]> By: Adrian http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/2009/01/15/weve-done-it-our-migration-to-open-source-has-finally-been-completed/comment-page-1/#comment-14709 Adrian Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:42:04 +0000 http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/?p=141#comment-14709 Hi Julian sure, send the url around your LUG, I'd love to have their comments and views on our migration and final software list. Hi Julian

sure, send the url around your LUG, I’d love to have their comments and views on our migration and final software list.

]]> By: Julian http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/2009/01/15/weve-done-it-our-migration-to-open-source-has-finally-been-completed/comment-page-1/#comment-14707 Julian Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:33:19 +0000 http://www.selfadhesivelabels.com/blog/?p=141#comment-14707 Hi I've been following your blog since you started planning to migrate to Open Source - well done !! Our company has been going down the same road, but we started earlier but will probably finish much later , and we dont intend on replacing our windows desktops (yet). The experiences with replacing an MS Access DB with a web based system, mirror ours being a more expensive exercise than first thought. Lastly, as I'm the Herefordshire Linux User Group LUGMaster, do you mind if I mention your blog, and thsi entry to our list ? I'm sure many in our group would be interested ! Hi

I’ve been following your blog since you started planning to migrate to Open Source – well done !!

Our company has been going down the same road, but we started earlier but will probably finish much later , and we dont intend on replacing our windows desktops (yet).

The experiences with replacing an MS Access DB with a web based system, mirror ours being a more expensive exercise than first thought.

Lastly, as I’m the Herefordshire Linux User Group LUGMaster, do you mind if I mention your blog, and thsi entry to our list ? I’m sure many in our group would be interested !

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