By Brian
Proffitt
Managing Editor, Linux Today
In just a few weeks, Linux Today will be packing its bags and
heading for Boston to host the very first Enterprise Linux Forum,
an event for advancing knowledge about how Linux can be used in
running an enterprise.
And the first question we will be happy to answer is: why? There
is, of course, LinuxWorld Expo, with all of its hooplah and
splendor. So why another trade show? The answer is simple: this is
not going to be just another trade show.
There will be exhibitors, of course: big names like Red Hat,
IBM, Oracle, Sun, SuSE, and Ximian. But the biggest focus of our
Forum will be that participants should actually come away having
learned something practical about using Linux in their organization
that they can begin to use right away.
To that end, we have lined up an impressive array of speakers to
deliver useful and powerful information about Linux in the
Enterprise, including:
- Matthew Szulik, Chairman, CEO, and President of Red Hat
- Jonathan Eunice, President and Principal Analyst,
Illuminata - Nat Friedman, Co-founder and VP of Product Development,
Ximian - Steve Solazzo, General Manager, Linux, IBM
- Rene Bonvanie, VP of Oracle 9i Marketing, Oracle
- Ian Murdock, Co-founder, Chairman, and CTO, Progeny
- Evan Leibovitch, President and Co-founder, Linux Professional
Institute - Jon “maddog” Hall, Executive Director, Linux International
These are just some of the experts we have scheduled to speak at
this first event, which we expect will be the first of many hosted
by our site. As you can see by this brief list of speakers, we’re
not kidding around.
Linux Today approached this concept of a seminar after hearing a
lot of feedback from attendees of other shows where attendees were
disappointed. They were looking for more than just a lot of hype
and exhibitors and speakers were seeking to connect to a more
business-oriented audience.
You don’t become one of the most well-trafficked Linux sites in
the world by not paying attention to what people are saying. So,
coordinating our efforts with our parent company’s exhibition
staff, we have put together an event where you will actually learn
something that you can apply to your own business.
More and more, we hear of governments, businesses, and other
organizations calling out for software with less restrictive
licensing. For more access to the source code. And these
organizations are wondering how they can use Linux to enhance their
technology base and improve the return on their current investment.
Attendees of this two-day Forum will no longer be left
wondering.
Myths will be dispelled, and real solutions will be offered.
Linux is not hard to support, Linux is not expensive to maintain,
and Linux can be a viable and very affordable system for any
business. At this Forum we hope you’ll find answers to the problems
you face and you’ll make some new connections that will help you in
the months to come.
That is what this Forum is all about.
The Enterprise Linux Forum will take place on December 3-4 at
the Boston Mariott Copley Place in Boston, MA. Registration,
accomodation, and agenda information can be found at the event’s
Web site (http://www.jupiterevents.com/elf/fall02/index.html).
I look forward to seeing you there.