I think it's time that IBM Lotus reconsider supporting Ubuntu
Category Linux
I think it's time that IBM Lotus reconsider supporting Ubuntu. Many of us have successfully installed the Domino server and Notes client on Ubuntu (albeit, with some technical shoehorning to make a good fit). There are many reasons that I prefer Ubuntu to RHEL or SLED, but I suspect the core reason is better community support. This is not exactly a secret, anymore, is it?
Dell is putting Ubuntu on consumer hardware which might even end up in WalMarts. And now, PC World has listed Ubuntu as #16 in its list of the Top 100 products of the year. With all the momentum behind Ubuntu, why doesn't IBM support the platform? It is because it's open source? Or is it that Ubuntu is perceived as a consumer Linux distribution?
I'm confused by IBM's dismisal for a Lotus-Ubuntu match up because (1) IBM does support free open-source Linux for their commercial products, and (2) IBM even supports Ubuntu for commercial offerings--just not for Lotus. Let me take an example for each point.
If DB2 can be positioned for distribution on Ubuntu, then what's the delay with Lotus Domino and Notes? C'mon IBM, it's time to redress your positioning of Lotus and mix in Ubuntu.
It might even make a dent in the SMB market.
I think it's time that IBM Lotus reconsider supporting Ubuntu. Many of us have successfully installed the Domino server and Notes client on Ubuntu (albeit, with some technical shoehorning to make a good fit). There are many reasons that I prefer Ubuntu to RHEL or SLED, but I suspect the core reason is better community support. This is not exactly a secret, anymore, is it?
Dell is putting Ubuntu on consumer hardware which might even end up in WalMarts. And now, PC World has listed Ubuntu as #16 in its list of the Top 100 products of the year. With all the momentum behind Ubuntu, why doesn't IBM support the platform? It is because it's open source? Or is it that Ubuntu is perceived as a consumer Linux distribution?
I'm confused by IBM's dismisal for a Lotus-Ubuntu match up because (1) IBM does support free open-source Linux for their commercial products, and (2) IBM even supports Ubuntu for commercial offerings--just not for Lotus. Let me take an example for each point.
- IBM does, in fact, support free open-source Linux as an operating system. You can actually preload Oracle Enterprise Linux (OEL) on IBM hardware. This is really interesting, because OEL is a free download from Oracle and is loosely based on RedHat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Yes, it is a complete “RHEL” derivative, but Oracle's Linux is more a 3rd generation product than 2nd . Turns out that OEL probably owes more to Cent-OS than to RedHat.
Cent-OS is a complete recompilation from RHEL source files that removes any copyrighted mentions of RedHat. This is legal, but of course, unsupported by RedHat. If you would like to learn about RHEL and don't want to pay for a licensed copy, then Cent-OS is a terrific option. Oracle has apparently found it easier to massage the Cent-OS files into OEL, than to work first hand with the RHEL files. IBM isn't supporting the Cent-OS distribution, but it doesn't make much difference because Oracle charges the same price for the download: free. - Ubuntu is also supported as a Linux platform, but only for DB2. I suspect there are two factors for supporting Ubuntu.
- Ubuntu is a creation of a commercial company, Canonical Ltd., which does offer commercial, enterprise-grade support contracts.
- Ubuntu also has strategically identified its enterprise releases, which will have much longer support for security and drivers. The “6.06 LTS”release is not slated for end-of-service until June 2009.
If DB2 can be positioned for distribution on Ubuntu, then what's the delay with Lotus Domino and Notes? C'mon IBM, it's time to redress your positioning of Lotus and mix in Ubuntu.
It might even make a dent in the SMB market.
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Comments
Posted by landwirtschafts simulator 2012 test At 11:32:13 PM On 04/09/2012 | - Website - |
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Posted by smdelfin At 11:22:19 AM On 06/13/2007 | - Website - |
I haven't spent any time looking at it, but it's certainly on my list. I guess I just naturally assumed it would be supported.
If there are already people getting it to work, then shouldn't there be some sort of official IBM documentation on how to do it? What's the definition of "supported?"
Posted by Gavin Bollard At 05:12:18 AM On 05/30/2007 | - Website - |
I completely agree with you. IBM should support all its product offerings on Ubuntu. My question is when they did some research on DB2 on Ubuntu by this time they should have some idea how to support Lotus and other products.
Thanks,
Rajesh
Posted by Rajesh At 12:46:22 AM On 05/30/2007 | - Website - |
Posted by smdelfin At 10:11:20 AM On 05/29/2007 | - Website - |
Posted by Jack Dausman At 10:21:29 PM On 05/28/2007 | - Website - |
May not add up to much, but the % of google searches I'm getting on my blog due to a couple of posts on installing Notes 8 on ubuntu is surprisingly high.
Posted by Simon Scullion At 07:34:34 PM On 05/28/2007 | - Website - |