Simple Case Study - Bradley Architects, Inc.

The purpose of this case study is to demonstrate how dramatic the cost savings can be when linux is used in place of windows servers to service a collection of windows desktop PCs.

Bradley Architects, Inc. is a small group of architects who use Autocad on windows PCs as the core tool to get their work done. The availability, organization, and storage of their AutoCAD drawing files and the ability to plot their drawings are key to their business.

When LinuxMA visited their office, we noticed they had no network and they shared files by passing around Zip disks. Clearly they needed a LAN and for those not familiar with the term, the style of network they were using is called SneakerNET.

SneakerNET: Networking by physically walking around with floppies or other removable media to share and print files

We also noticed a web of parallel printer cables with mechanical A/B boxes so their two plotters and one printer could "sort of" be directed to whoever needed to plot or print.

Lastly we noticed they use a single PC with a Tape drive connected to it to backup critical projects to tape and to form longer term archives of completed projects.

We assessed quickly that Bradley Architects had some critical problems that needed to be solved:

  • Multiple versions of the same file were lying around on multiple computers. After a while, they weren't sure who had the correct version of a file and changes were inevitably lost.
  • Only a subset of the computers in the office could plot or print and those systems needed exclusive access to the plotters/printer via mechanical switches.
  • The computers not connected to plotters/printer needed an extra round of sneakernet just to print.
  • Backups were cumbersome due to more sneakernet to get all the files on the system with the tape drive.

It was surprising to see they didn't already have a network in place but the up front cost to move to a central server was the issue.

Cost Breakdown by OS

Item Windows Linux
Server Computer Hardware $1500.00 $0.00 (Recycled)
Windows Server 2003 w/ 10 Client Licenses $1200.00 $0.00
VPN / Firwall hardware and licenses (sonicwall) $600.00 $0.00
Used Ethernet Cards $90.00 $90.00
New Cabling and connectors $150.00 $150.00
Used 16 port Switch (recycled) $0.00 $0.00
Additional Hard Drive Storage $0.00 $150.00
Dual parallel port board $35.00 $35.00
Total: $3575.00 $390.00

The cost for the server computer for the linux solution is $0.00 because an older system that didn't meet the requirements to run Windows NT or 2000 server was recycled to run linux. Linux doesn't need the vast amounts of resources a typical Windows computer needs to accomplish the same tasks.

The tasks the server computer is responsible for:

  • DNS Server - speed improvement over ISP's server
  • DHCP Server
  • Common Drawing Storage Share on RAID storage
  • Deskjet printer server
  • Black and white plotter server
  • Color plotter server
  • Firewall / NAT server via IP Tables to secure their connection
  • E-mail server with Postfix / Spamassassin
  • Web server with Apache including SSL (secure https access)
  • Web Based e-mail via https
  • VPN server for secure remote access
  • Samba domain controller for single sign on (windows logins)
  • Remote Support via SSH by LinuxMA

After the storage of their files was centralized and shared, and plotting could be done at will from any autocad station, their workflow became streamlined. The daily backup and periodic archive of files became simple since all active drawings are now kept in one place. All of their files are automatically backed up over the internet securely to LinuxMA provided off site storage. When a file is accidentally deleted, the file can be restored in minutes remotely without the need for a site visit or fumbling with tapes.

Office folks can now VPN to the office network to allow work to be done on the road and e-mail to be read securely. This setup has been in place now for over 3 years and they enjoy essentially continuous uptime. The only service call has been to change out a power supply.

The above may seem like a very simple setup and indeed it is, but it's very effective and it accomplishes their current and future needs at a cost that at the time was feasible. The windows solution at the time couldn't even be considered.