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| 48 | PERSONAL VIEW | ||||||
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It is worth mentioning that HBZ runs only one Banking Enterprise Application, hPLUS written purely in Java. Nowadays, it is common knowledge that if you use Java for development, then it doesn't matter what Operating System you use. Now, let us consider other real-life scenarios. Not everybody is running Java applications so they cannot switch to another Operating System overnight. One can still consider a complete switch if the applications are browser based. If that is not the case, try WINE, a software application that enables one to run Windows applications in a Linux environment. If you are still not lucky, you should look at the option of running a mixed environment where those |
who are unlucky can still stick to their proprietary environment.
Another option is to look for Linux applications that can replace your applications running in the proprietary environment. Here, one needs to research and evaluate what is available, some additional work is required but it can however be a rewarding exercise. Certain programs can work in the Linux environment just by recompiling it with minor modifications (for instance, programs developed using Delphi or Qt libraries). Also, one should consider the mixed environment options here. For example, if your organisation uses AutoCAD; only a handful of users may be modifying the drawing files and others are only viewing the drawings. In this scenario, one can use Linux clients for viewing purposes since Linux has free software to view AutoCAD files, thus saving on the number of AutoCAD licenses. (If you are looking for an alternative to AutoCAD, look at LinuxCAD www.linuxcad.com or QCad www.ribbonsoft.com/qcad.html) So far, we have been talking about the desktops. I chose to talk about it first because a lot of people (including some Linux enthusiasts) think that Linux is not ready for the Desktop. I highly recommend you have a look at SuSE Linux 9.3 to reconsider this view. Now consider back-end options available in Linux. |
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| LinuxWorld MEA November - December | |||||||
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Whether you want a DNS server, Web server, a Mail server or DHCP server, Linux comes
with the best programs - your proprietary ones cannot even compete with most of them.
Here, if you have any proprietary applications, then one needs to consider certain
options. For example, if you have a proprietary database application, then consider
the following: if the application just uses the back-end as a database server, then
see if this database is available on Linux or not. (Most commercial databases like
Oracle, Sybase, Interbase etc. are available on Linux). Please note here that the
client application as not going to be affected by this switching. If the clients
are connecting to the database using any standard based mechanisms such as JDBC or
ODBC, then one even think about changing the database to an open source database like
PostgreSQL or MySQL (In this case, some work may be involved to convert the database
logic such as Stored Procedures and Triggers if used).
If the front-end applications need a Windows File Server back-end, then Linux can very well be used there too. Samba (part of Linux distribution) comes to our help here. |
At Habib Bank AG Zurich, the most important and unique use of Linux at the back-end is
the Linux Virtual Server (LVS) technology. HBZ has modified it to suite its specific
secure banking environment, however, this is a great technology for anyone who wants
to have a highly scalable and fault-tolerant back-end for all sort of TCP and UDP
based applications. Internally, HBZ calls this technology MIMs (Multiple Inexpensive
Machines) because one can set up a highly scalable and fault-tolerant environment
using off-the-shelf inexpensive machines (PCs). Proprietary technologies equivalent
to MIMs may cost hundreds of thousands (or even millions) of dollars. LVS combined
with other open source projects such as Mon, Heartbeat, etc. can be used to create
various clustered environments. More details on LVS and related projects can be
obtained from www.linuxvirtualserver.org.
One thing to note here is that LVS is not for HPC (High Performance Computing). If your requirements are such that you need to utilise Linux for HPC, have a look at various HPC clustering solutions available under Linux. Here is the list of other areas where HBZ usesLinux: WAP |
Server, ATM Controller, UAE Central Bank ATM Switch, hPLUS
Schedulers (more than 100 different processes including Black List Monitoring,
Compliance Monitoring, Processing of Web and Mobile Transactions etc.).
So many people ask me personally to suggest the best development environment. I repeat here what I generally tell them, "Use Linux, Java, XML technologies with an open source database such as PostgreSQL and you don't need anything else." If you specifically ask what Application Server I like, I say Tomcat (Tomcat is not a full-fledged J2EE environment, but I don't need all those features to run what I develop). And finally, here is a dirty trick: A Dubai based firm wanted to license all their pirated software from Microsoft. Microsoft said thay have to pay about $ 50,000/- to get the licenses. A Linux firm told them that they can switch to Linux and they will charge them only $ 10,000/- for that. When Microsoft came to know about this, they offered them the license for $ 10,000/- as a SPECIAL case. The lesson here is that you always "use" Linux to reduce your software license fees! |
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| November - December LinuxWorld MEA | ||||