Hi, A client of mine in Pune needs someone to install Linux on a server at their factory for email and internet proxy.
(Background) They are a part of a large indian manufacturing group. They have factories 10km ourside pune city and head office Pune Camp and a major marketing office in South Mumbai. The company has been in the UNIX camp for a long time, and all their accounts and operations software were unix based. They have moved accounts software now to windows, but the database is still in unix and most of the other enterprise level software are still unix based. (They were considering moving to more windows).
During my visits there, I encouraged them to evaluate Linux since a migration from unix to linux is (I assumed) very easy. I had also told them of how helpful you guys (ILUG) are in solving problems.
Well, they called me today and told me that they are planning to move their email and proxy server (for internet) to Linux. Currently, they have a major problem in getting emails from their email server and distributing it to users. The users are complaining, specially since emails reach after a very long time. They asked me to help them, first identify which version (actually Distro) they should use. Also, they need help in setting it up. I know someone in pune (a hardware support company, claiming to be RedHat Partner) had set it up for them a year ago and did a very bad job of it.
(What they need) 1. Is there any one of us in Pune who can do it for them ? or 2. Is anyone in Mumbai willing to make a trip to Pune to help them out ? or 3. Suggest someone good they can ask help for.
They would not mind paying a reasonable cost (for time spent) and transport costs. As I keep going over to Pune by car for work with them, He can get a confortable ride to and fro with me.
It is important for the IT Manager there to ensure that the move succeeds. Else, they will not be able to consider linux for other purposes. And I would rather have them move to Linux platform than windows for server and enterprise software.