1ust open source - fudan university€¦ · about open source software (cont.) • many years ago...

Collaborative Open Source Collaborative Open Source

Software Software –– Reality or Dream ?Reality or Dream ?

Lawrence LawLawrence Law

The Hong Kong University of Science The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology& Technology

[email protected]@ust.hk

AgendaAgenda

•• About Open Source SoftwareAbout Open Source Software

•• Alternative to Build and Buy ?Alternative to Build and Buy ?

•• HKUSTHKUST’’s Experiences Experience

•• Applications in HKUSTApplications in HKUST

•• ConclusionConclusion

About Open Source SoftwareAbout Open Source Software

•• What is Open Source Software ?What is Open Source Software ?

•• Basic characteristicsBasic characteristics

•• Free, no license feeFree, no license fee

•• Source code availableSource code available

•• Community contributionCommunity contribution

•• ExamplesExamples

•• Linux, Apache, Perl, Linux, Apache, Perl, ……

About Open Source Software (cont.)About Open Source Software (cont.)

•• Many years ago Many years ago

•• Before the term Before the term ““open sourceopen source”” appearedappeared

•• Examples : BSD Unix, Decus programsExamples : BSD Unix, Decus programs

•• 1010--15 years ago15 years ago

•• Mostly system and infrastructure softwareMostly system and infrastructure software

•• Examples : Linux, SambaExamples : Linux, Samba


•• 55--10 years ago10 years ago

•• More database and WWW related softwareMore database and WWW related software

•• Examples : Apache, PHP, OpenLDAP, Examples : Apache, PHP, OpenLDAP,

MySQLMySQL


•• RecentlyRecently

•• Academic application software Academic application software emergeemerge

•• Portal software Portal software –– uPortaluPortal

•• Digital Portfolio Digital Portfolio -- DSpaceDSpace

•• Learning Environment Learning Environment -- SAKAISAKAI

•• Better organized project teamBetter organized project team

•• Supported by fund bodiesSupported by fund bodies


•• Possible new model Possible new model -- commercial commercial

support for Open Sourcesupport for Open Source

•• Examples Examples –– Linux, ApacheLinux, Apache

•• License License -- freefree

•• Support Support -- chargedcharged

•• Competitions drive cost downCompetitions drive cost down

Alternative to Build and Buy ?Alternative to Build and Buy ?

•• Always arguments between Always arguments between •• Build Build -- develop in housedevelop in house

•• Buy Buy –– software packagessoftware packages

•• Problems with build (self development)Problems with build (self development)•• High development costHigh development cost

•• High maintenance costHigh maintenance cost

•• Long development timeLong development time

Alternative to Build and Buy ? Alternative to Build and Buy ? (cont.)(cont.)

•• Problems with buyProblems with buy•• High priceHigh price

•• High customization cost if the package High customization cost if the package does not suit the universitydoes not suit the university

•• Support issue when vendor out of businessSupport issue when vendor out of business


•• Is Is ““collaborative open source softwarecollaborative open source software””an alternative to an alternative to ““buildbuild”” and and ““buybuy”” ??? ???

•• The The ““borrowborrow”” optionoption

•• Very different opinionsVery different opinions


•• SupportSupport•• People against People against -- Difficult without support Difficult without support

from commercial companies from commercial companies

•• People for People for -- Easier with source codes and Easier with source codes and community participationcommunity participation

•• CostCost

•• People against People against –– High; need very High; need very skilful programmersskilful programmers

•• People for People for –– no license feeno license fee


•• HKUSTHKUST’’s Lesson/Experiences Lesson/Experience•• All these observations (for or against) are All these observations (for or against) are

correct !correct !

HKUSTHKUST’’s Experiences Experience

•• About HKUSTAbout HKUST

•• Research university, specialized & focusedResearch university, specialized & focused

•• A very young university, 14 years oldA very young university, 14 years old

•• All 3 schools win world recognitionAll 3 schools win world recognition

•• Business and Management Business and Management •• EMBA ranked 6EMBA ranked 6thth in the world (Financial Times)in the world (Financial Times)

•• B&M research ranked 25B&M research ranked 25thth in the world (U of in the world (U of Texas)Texas)

HKUST HKUST ‘‘s Experience (cont.)s Experience (cont.)

•• Engineering SchoolEngineering School

•• Ranked 20Ranked 20thth in the world (THES)in the world (THES)

•• Science SchoolScience School

•• Ranked 50Ranked 50thth in the world (THES)in the world (THES)

•• Science professor named Women in Science professor named Women in

Science by UNESCO in 2004 for her Science by UNESCO in 2004 for her

research in Biotechnologyresearch in Biotechnology

HKUSTHKUST’’s Experience (cont.)s Experience (cont.)

•• Save administrative budget to focus on Save administrative budget to focus on

research and teachingresearch and teaching

•• Seriously look into open source Seriously look into open source

software in 1998software in 1998

•• Lesson/ExperienceLesson/Experience

•• Treat Open Source as commercial Treat Open Source as commercial

softwaresoftware

•• Ask same questionsAsk same questions

HKUST HKUST ‘‘s Experience (cont.)s Experience (cont.)

•• How big is the user population (market How big is the user population (market share)share)

•• Is the project management structural ? Is the project management structural ? Is it well documented ? (good product) Is it well documented ? (good product)

•• Do not jump into breeding edge unless Do not jump into breeding edge unless you really prepare toyou really prepare to

•• Prepare to switch and run unsupported Prepare to switch and run unsupported for a while (end of a product)for a while (end of a product)


•• Borrow and Customize onlyBorrow and Customize only

•• No further major self developmentNo further major self development

•• Customize if possible instead of modifyCustomize if possible instead of modify

•• Modify Modify ““APIAPI”” not the main code if possiblenot the main code if possible

•• Need to be Need to be

•• Maintainable by an average programmer Maintainable by an average programmer

with one to three years experiencewith one to three years experience

•• Reliable and sustainableReliable and sustainable


•• Under proper management, the DOWN Under proper management, the DOWN

side could be controlledside could be controlled

•• Can then benefit from the UP side of Can then benefit from the UP side of

Open Source softwareOpen Source software

•• Less costLess cost

•• Easier to support with source codeEasier to support with source code

•• Adhere to open standardAdhere to open standard

•• Modular (developed by different parties); Modular (developed by different parties);

more ready for more ready for ““grid computinggrid computing””

Applications in HKUST Applications in HKUST

•• As production systemAs production system

•• To introduce new idea and concept To introduce new idea and concept

when commercial software are not when commercial software are not

readyready

•• As a backdoor when commercial As a backdoor when commercial

software raise their pricesoftware raise their price

Applications in HKUSTApplications in HKUST

•• Email (supporting > 10,000 users) all Email (supporting > 10,000 users) all

based on open source softwarebased on open source software

•• Imap Imap –– CourierCourier

•• Webmail Webmail –– SquirrelMailSquirrelMail

•• Imap proxyImap proxy

•• AntiAnti--virus virus –– ClamClam--AVAV

•• Spam control Spam control –– SpamassassinSpamassassin

•• Directory Directory –– OpenLdapOpenLdap

Monitor Abnormal Network TrafficMonitor Abnormal Network Traffic

Limit Infected PCs to Restricted Limit Infected PCs to Restricted

VLANVLAN

Digital Repository Using Digital Repository Using DSpaceDSpace

uPoraluPoral & SAKAI& SAKAI

•• Portal Portal –– uPortaluPortal

•• J2EE J2EE –– TomcatTomcat

•• Database Database –– PostgredSQLPostgredSQL

•• Single Single SignonSignon –– CASCAS

•• eLearningeLearning -- SAKAISAKAI

uPortaluPortal & SAKAI (cont.)& SAKAI (cont.)

Applications in HKUST (cont.)Applications in HKUST (cont.)

•• OthersOthers

•• VoIPVoIP PBX ?PBX ?

•• University financial system ?University financial system ?

•• Too early and risky to adopt at this stageToo early and risky to adopt at this stage

ConclusionConclusion

•• Open source software is a viable Open source software is a viable

solution if properly managedsolution if properly managed

•• The decisive factorsThe decisive factors

•• EffectivenessEffectiveness

•• Cost of ownershipCost of ownership

•• Another choice to build and buyAnother choice to build and buy

1ust open source - fudan university€¦ · about open source software (cont.) • many years ago...

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