Comments on: Tuesday’s Tip: 10 Suggestions For A Successful Open Source Apps Strategy (Based On Personal Experience Blowing Up My Blog) http://blog.softwareinsider.org/2009/01/06/tuesdays-tip-10-suggestions-for-a-successful-open-source-apps-strategy-based-on-my-experience-blowing-up-my-blog/ Insider insights into effective enterprise apps strategies, vendor selection, and software contracts Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:47:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Ned Lilly http://blog.softwareinsider.org/2009/01/06/tuesdays-tip-10-suggestions-for-a-successful-open-source-apps-strategy-based-on-my-experience-blowing-up-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-159 Ned Lilly Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:30:18 +0000 http://blog.softwareinsider.org/?p=1028#comment-159 Another response for Hank: Have a look at <a href="http://www.xtuple.com" rel="nofollow">xTuple ERP</a>. You can download the full client, and either connect it to a locally installed copy of the open source PostBooks Edition, or a hosted demo of the commercially licensed Manufacturing Edition. There are also a couple dozen videos of xTuple ERP functionality at www.xtuple.com/demo/video. Ray's list is right on point. That's why, while there are thousands of people experimenting with xTuple and other open source ERPs on their own, when it comes time for implementation, production support, and managed upgrades, you really should work with the vendor or one of their partners. For example, we offer what we call XTN (xTuple Network) services, which includes offsite backups, nightly upgrades, and even buckets of hours to help smooth out the inevitable issues that come with upgrades. Another response for Hank: Have a look at xTuple ERP. You can download the full client, and either connect it to a locally installed copy of the open source PostBooks Edition, or a hosted demo of the commercially licensed Manufacturing Edition. There are also a couple dozen videos of xTuple ERP functionality at http://www.xtuple.com/demo/video.

Ray’s list is right on point. That’s why, while there are thousands of people experimenting with xTuple and other open source ERPs on their own, when it comes time for implementation, production support, and managed upgrades, you really should work with the vendor or one of their partners. For example, we offer what we call XTN (xTuple Network) services, which includes offsite backups, nightly upgrades, and even buckets of hours to help smooth out the inevitable issues that come with upgrades.

]]> By: R "Ray" Wang http://blog.softwareinsider.org/2009/01/06/tuesdays-tip-10-suggestions-for-a-successful-open-source-apps-strategy-based-on-my-experience-blowing-up-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-145 R "Ray" Wang Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:05:24 +0000 http://blog.softwareinsider.org/?p=1028#comment-145 Erica, Good point! I'd imagine a security update is a significant requirement so Point 4 is valid if you feel security is key =) This brings up a good point. How do you know what security features are provided that are mandatory in open source? is there any kind of registry service? Ray Erica,

Good point! I’d imagine a security update is a significant requirement so Point 4 is valid if you feel security is key =) This brings up a good point. How do you know what security features are provided that are mandatory in open source? is there any kind of registry service?

Ray

]]> By: Erica George http://blog.softwareinsider.org/2009/01/06/tuesdays-tip-10-suggestions-for-a-successful-open-source-apps-strategy-based-on-my-experience-blowing-up-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-144 Erica George Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:54:52 +0000 http://blog.softwareinsider.org/?p=1028#comment-144 Great advice! I have to disagree with point 4, on updating only when needed. In the security world, we advise people to update software ASAP as soon as it is available and feasible without endangering core functionality. Why? Because malware and exploit authors use new updates to reverse engineer security holes that the updates patched, and immediately (often within hours) start targeting websites running the outdated versions. In 2008, for example, there were several waves of massive hackings of non-updated WordPress sites. The repercussions from a hacked website can be dire - not only can your or your visitors' computers become infected with trojans, password sniffers, etc., but you can lose trust and good will among visitors and can receive search engine penalties. For example, Google is well-known for placing warnings in its search results for sites it's discovered to be distributing malware (even inadvertently), which can lead to huge drops in traffic and any traffic-dependent income. It can help to be sure your site doesn't reveal its exact version, because malicious hackers search for sites that, essentially, advertise themselves as hackable by declaring what version of software they're running somewhere in their templates. That won't guarantee safety, but it can help some. Great advice! I have to disagree with point 4, on updating only when needed. In the security world, we advise people to update software ASAP as soon as it is available and feasible without endangering core functionality. Why? Because malware and exploit authors use new updates to reverse engineer security holes that the updates patched, and immediately (often within hours) start targeting websites running the outdated versions.

In 2008, for example, there were several waves of massive hackings of non-updated WordPress sites. The repercussions from a hacked website can be dire - not only can your or your visitors’ computers become infected with trojans, password sniffers, etc., but you can lose trust and good will among visitors and can receive search engine penalties. For example, Google is well-known for placing warnings in its search results for sites it’s discovered to be distributing malware (even inadvertently), which can lead to huge drops in traffic and any traffic-dependent income.

It can help to be sure your site doesn’t reveal its exact version, because malicious hackers search for sites that, essentially, advertise themselves as hackable by declaring what version of software they’re running somewhere in their templates. That won’t guarantee safety, but it can help some.

]]> By: Peopleunit http://blog.softwareinsider.org/2009/01/06/tuesdays-tip-10-suggestions-for-a-successful-open-source-apps-strategy-based-on-my-experience-blowing-up-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-143 Peopleunit Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:16:43 +0000 http://blog.softwareinsider.org/?p=1028#comment-143 In response to Hank Jefferson's inquiry, please have him take a look at an open source project called Open Bravo, its a mature ERP system, the best one that I've seen and I am presently in the midst of giving it a go. Pass along my contact info if they can use some help with it. In response to Hank Jefferson’s inquiry, please have him take a look at an open source project called Open Bravo, its a mature ERP system, the best one that I’ve seen and I am presently in the midst of giving it a go.

Pass along my contact info if they can use some help with it.

]]> By: How to be less stupid in 2009 | Irregular Enterprise | ZDNet.com http://blog.softwareinsider.org/2009/01/06/tuesdays-tip-10-suggestions-for-a-successful-open-source-apps-strategy-based-on-my-experience-blowing-up-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-141 How to be less stupid in 2009 | Irregular Enterprise | ZDNet.com Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:45:34 +0000 http://blog.softwareinsider.org/?p=1028#comment-141 [...] upgraded his Wordpress site and learned a lot along the way. He’s cleverly parsed this to lessons for anyone with an open source apps strategy. Such as: Test, test, test. This goes without saying.  You can never test enough.  Key approach [...] [...] upgraded his Wordpress site and learned a lot along the way. He’s cleverly parsed this to lessons for anyone with an open source apps strategy. Such as: Test, test, test. This goes without saying.  You can never test enough.  Key approach [...]

]]> By: Posts about Wordpress 2.7 as of 01/06/2009 | The Lessnau Lounge http://blog.softwareinsider.org/2009/01/06/tuesdays-tip-10-suggestions-for-a-successful-open-source-apps-strategy-based-on-my-experience-blowing-up-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-140 Posts about Wordpress 2.7 as of 01/06/2009 | The Lessnau Lounge Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:18:40 +0000 http://blog.softwareinsider.org/?p=1028#comment-140 [...] Modules: QuickPress &amp; Recent Drafts 2.7. Quick Edit Option in Admin area 2.8. Auto Tuesday’s Tip: 10 Suggestions For A Successful Open Source Apps Strategy (Based On My Experience B... - blog.softwareinsider.org 01/06/2009 Blogging Platforms Provide A Good Showcase For The Power And [...] [...] Modules: QuickPress &amp; Recent Drafts 2.7. Quick Edit Option in Admin area 2.8. Auto Tuesday’s Tip: 10 Suggestions For A Successful Open Source Apps Strategy (Based On My Experience B… - blog.softwareinsider.org 01/06/2009 Blogging Platforms Provide A Good Showcase For The Power And [...]

]]> By: Hank Jefferson http://blog.softwareinsider.org/2009/01/06/tuesdays-tip-10-suggestions-for-a-successful-open-source-apps-strategy-based-on-my-experience-blowing-up-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Hank Jefferson Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:19:02 +0000 http://blog.softwareinsider.org/?p=1028#comment-139 We're trying to figure out if it makes sense to use an open source ERP. We run a very old AS/400 RPG ERP. Don't even know the name. We don't have the money for SAP or Oracle. What options besides open source should i consider. What's a good way to evaluate. I'll send my contact info by email. Hank IS Manager We’re trying to figure out if it makes sense to use an open source ERP. We run a very old AS/400 RPG ERP. Don’t even know the name. We don’t have the money for SAP or Oracle. What options besides open source should i consider. What’s a good way to evaluate. I’ll send my contact info by email.

Hank
IS Manager

]]> By: Frank Scavo http://blog.softwareinsider.org/2009/01/06/tuesdays-tip-10-suggestions-for-a-successful-open-source-apps-strategy-based-on-my-experience-blowing-up-my-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-138 Frank Scavo Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:04:50 +0000 http://blog.softwareinsider.org/?p=1028#comment-138 Good post, Ray. It's interesting how those of us involved in enterprise IT for so many years can easily forget some basics when it comes to our own personal computing. Thanks for itemizing these lessons learned. --Frank Good post, Ray. It’s interesting how those of us involved in enterprise IT for so many years can easily forget some basics when it comes to our own personal computing. Thanks for itemizing these lessons learned.

–Frank

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