Total cost of ownership (TCO) for medium-sized companies is up to a third lower for Linux than for Windows based systems.

That's according to Australian IT services firm Cybersource which reckons a Linux-based system is between 34 per cent and 25 percent less expensive to run than a Windows network, with users deploying open source on existing hardware saving the most.

The study (which looked at purchasing and operating costs) aimed to benchmark TCO for an organisation with 250 users, over three years. The costing models included staff costs, application licences, maintaining servers and workstations and networking, as well as miscellaneous systems costs.

Cybersource is careful to say its study is by no means definitive, describing it as a "a reasonable first pass quantitative estimate".

Cybersource provides customers with both Linux and Microsoft platforms solutions (though its Web site is slanted towards open source-related services), carried out the study in response to requests for a cost comparison between the two platforms.

Customers have "been vocal" in such requests following recent projected alterations to Microsoft's licencing regime, according to Cybersource chief executive Con Zymaris. ®

External Links

Cybersouce's study (http://www.cyber.com.au/cyber/about/linux_vs_windows_tco_comparison.pdf)

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