“B.F. Goodrich expands open-source OS’s role to Web server
apps and beyond
B.F. Goodrich Co. may have given up its tire division a decade
ago, but that didn’t stop managers there from reinventing the IT
wheel.
That’s what happened when the Richfield, Ohio, aerospace parts
manufacturer became an early supporter of Linux. At its Grand
Rapids, Mich., office, the open-source operating system replaced a
Banyan Systems Inc. VINES network…”
“Goodrich originally evaluated Windows NT, Solaris and NetWare
to replace VINES. The company wanted an operating system that was
both cost-effective and reliable. Then Stoddard decided to try
installing Linux 1.1 on a pair of old Pentium 166s… By running
Linux on older equipment, he told his managers, Goodrich could save
thousands of dollars in licensing fees and hardware.”