[ale] Linux Story

[Robert Heaven]

This was the lead story on the internal (intranet) web site at Bank of America today. (The names have been changed to protect the innocent)



Technology & Operations readies Bank of America for Linux
June 05, 2003

Many world-class companies are discovering the reliability of the Linux operating system, and Bank of America is no exception. The seamless integration of the operating system in certain areas of the company will translate to significant cost savings for Bank of America while improving system stability and functionality. That's because in addition to being secure and cost effective, Linux provides flexibility in terms of software and hardware compatibility.
 
Technology & Operations' Network Computing Group (NCG) successfully piloted the operating system last year and concluded that they should take immediate steps to incorporate Linux into the bank's strategic technology infrastructure. Therefore, NCG launched the Linux Support Project March 1.
 
According to John Q. Smith, Linux Design & Engineering manager, the project's mission is to create a world-class support practice that provides holistic Linux services to Bank of America and is a consolidated base for successful Linux adoption and deployment. Linux is an innovative operating system that was initially created as a hobby by a University of Helsinki student, Linus Torvalds, in 1991. Linux is developed under the GNU General Public License and its source code is freely available to everyone, which allows it to be constantly improved upon.
 
"NCG will be using a carefully managed approach with respect to adopting Linux enterprise wide," Smith said. "We are encouraging Technology & Operations engineering teams to embrace Linux gradually. The initial focus should be on those application or infrastructure projects that can demonstrate a compelling financial or performance reason to move to Linux. To help us achieve this focus, the Linux Support Project will work closely with the Infrastructure Architecture Review Board."
 
In addition to the many technical and financial benefits Linux can provide Bank of America, Smith also points to what Linux will mean when recruiting talent. "College students and developers have an overwhelming preference for Linux, creating a vast talent pool to hire from," he said.
 
Smith warns, however, that Linux is not a cure-all operating system that some perceive it to be. "Linux is still an emerging standard. As such, we are going to start slowly and build momentum," he said. "If we allow the floodgates to be cast wide open without a managed, standards-based approach, Linux could simply become another legacy technology environment and many of the benefits would escape us."
 
Monitoring those floodgates is one of the many Linux Support Project tasks, helping Bank of America absorb all the Linux benefits into the flow of everyday business.