With Linux expanding exponentially and the market becoming much more mainstream, the Conference will showcase solutions. The Conference will provide a venue for management level personnel to see Linux solutions that have been installed and talk to the actual customers who have made the transition to Linux. You'll find out why they converted to Linux, how they converted and the results.

Here is a summary of the Conference presenters that have signed up. These companies will provide a series of Conference presentations totaling two to three hours each:

• Gold Sponsor: IBM

  IBM Conference Sessions: 1:30 to 5:00 PM.

  • 1:30 PM to 2:20 PM

    Employease, Inc. is the leader in delivering eHR and benefits administration solutions as a service to small and medium sized companies. Over 1000 organizations use Employease to reduce administrative costs, improve employee service and increase HR value without the costs and limitations of traditional HR benefits software. Employease has made a major commitment to Linux. Come listen to John Alberg, co-founder and CTO Employease, Inc. discuss how they use Linux to process hundreds of thousands of transactions per day. John will talk about why they selected Linux and how their migration from NT to Linux went (very well!), the reliability of their applications running on Linux and IBM Intel xSeries, and the ease of management of their Linux environment.

  • 2:30 PM to 3:20 PM

    BBDO Interactive provides web hosting, e-commerce and e-business services running on Linux. Lenzing needed to make their database solutions highly available. Both companies needed to make their Linux systems highly available, and thus have made a major commitment to Linux. SteelEye Technology, Inc. will discuss the benefits these two companies, and others, are receiving from Linux, and from using xSeries with Linux and SteelEye's LifeKeeper to provide high availability solutions for their mission critical applications.

  • 3:30 PM to 4:20 PM

    Trifecta Technologies specializes in building applications on Linux using IBM Websphere, Websphere Commerce Suite, Websphere Portal Server, Visual Age for Java, MQSeries and DB2. Doug Pelletier, President Trifecta Technologies, Inc. will talk about a Linux-based solutions they created for Nextwine.com, a global, web-centric organization focused on the high-end wine collector. A new project underway at Trifecta is developing Websphere applications for Boscov's Department Stores using an xSeries Linux Intel system, and deploying those applications when completed on Boscov's IBM Mainframe zSeries in a Linux Virtual Machine. Future plans for Trifecta also include iSeries for possible Linux migrations. There will be a raffle for NextWine.com speciality wines at the end of the presentation.

• Gold Sponsor: HP

  HP Conference Sessions: 9:00 AM to 12:15 PM.

  HP understands the business value of Linux and is driving the most comprehensive Linux strategy in the industry. HP delivers the solutions you need for success--including helping you build and manage a flexible, open, stable, and cost-effective foundation for the future that speeds your time to revenue today.

  Their presentation will include:

  • HP -- putting Linux to work for you. Come hear why customers like DreamWorks and Amazon chose HP's Linux Solutions.
  • Technology Session: The optimal Linux performance -- Linux & Itanium
  • Linux: Lowering your total cost of ownership

  HP Cocktail Reception, 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM

  All Conference attendees are invited.

• Silver Sponsor: Open Source Group

  The Open Source Group, Conference Session: 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM.

  The Open Source Group is a Linux and Open Source technology-consulting company that specializes in custom development and implementation of Linux and Open Source solutions for business. They have developed, along with their partner SAS Data Systems, a highly sophisticated financial services solution for credit unions and small banks. The Open Source Group has also partnered with CommNav to implement a feature rich portal for various industries. Finally, The Open Source Group and its partner, e-business Interface, Inc. are implementing Linux based solutions in the legal market.

  Their presentation will include:

  • Why is it the right time for Linux and Open Source Solutions in the mainstream business market?

  • How businesses might use Linux and Open Source Solutions in their day-to-day operations.

  • How companies can justify the move from proprietary operating systems to Linux and Open Source.

• Bronze Sponsor: WTA Consulting

  Conference Session: 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM

  WTA Consulting, a Division of Warnock, Tanner & Associates will provide a session on Oracle on Linux. WTA is The Oracle Partner in North West Ohio who installs Oracle on the Linux platform.

• Sine Nomine Associates

  Sine Nomine Conference Session: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

  Consulting firm that specializes in custom development of Mainframe Linux solutions. They developed the successful and unsurpassed test of 41,400 Linux images running on a single System/390 CPU. In addition to providing services for both of our Gold Sponsors, they have conducted services for Global One (who runs over 30% of the Internets traffic), and the entire University of Wisconsin system consisting of 23 different campuses, and 50 State agencies.

  Their presentation will include:

  • Server consolidation using Linux on IBM S/390, z900, and z800 mainframes
  • Use of Linux on zSeries mainframes as an integrating tool to link legacy mainframe data resources to distributed computing environments
  • Linux as a sophisticated and extremely cost-effective firewall for small to medium sized companies

• Open Source Conference 1

  Conference Sessions: 9:00 AM to 11:45 AM.

  This is a series of one hour presentations:

  • 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM

    Unique Systems, ThinSoft, ThinStation

    Since 1990 Unique Systems has provided cost effective flexible, scalable mission critical accounting software. This suite, ThinSoft, runs on the UNIX operating system and the Informix database. The suite is still "unique" today, as it has the ability to be customized and upgraded as the standard modules are improved.

    Unique Systems also has hardware products like ThinStations and ThinNIC's AND provides Open Source services and support, besides being the main organizers of the Think-Linux event.

    Glenn Jacobson, President of Unique Systems, will cover:

    Why Linux is the ideal server concentric environment for thin clients using the LTSP, and how this can lead to a very stable centralized Linux desktop, that can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in both initial and on-going costs.

    The session will include several case studies of successful Linux desktop installs:

    1. at a manufacturing company, and
    2. at the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA).
       Patrick Cummings who is the MIS Director for the MMRMA will be available for questions.

  • 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM

    DisklessWorkstations.com

    Ron Colcernian, President of DisklessWorkstations.com will present:

    Alternative Computing! Is Linux the Answer?

    Have you been thinking?

    "Microsoft Enough is Enough!"

    Wondered how to deal with it?

    This talk will cover the reasons why Linux is the Answer today. A one hour presentation covering compelling reasons why it's time for your organization to start using Linux.

    The presentation will arm you with the arguments to convince your executive management and yourself as to the importance and impact of the choices you are making for your organization.

    Have you been looking for the rationale to use Linux or wondering if your computing platform choice matters?

    Don't miss this talk, important issues such as economics, legal responsibilities, IT budgets, competitive advantages, human resources and more will be discussed.

    Ron Colcernian is the President of Diskless Workstations and co-founder of the LTSP project.

• Open Source Conference 2

  Conference Sessions: 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM.

  This is a series of one hour presentations:

  • 1:30 PM to 2:20 PM

    LTSP

    Erick Tyack, one of the engineers on the LTSP, The Linux Terminal Server Project will provide a presentation on their Open Source product which is one of the most popular software products on the Linux platform.

  • 2:30 PM to 3:50 PM

    Koha Library Project

    Koha is the world's first free Open Source Library System. Made in New Zealand by the Horowhenua Library Trust and Katipo Communications Ltd, the Koha system is a full catalogue, opac, circulation, member management and acquisitions package.

    Koha is used by public libraries, private collectors, university faculties, not for profit organisations, churches, schools and corporates.

    Chris Cormack, Version 1.2 Release Manager of the Koha Open Source Library project, comes all the way from New Zealand to make a presentation. The Koha project will be installed at the Nelsonville, OH Public Library system.

  • 4:00 PM to 4:55 PM

    Debian GNU/Linux Distribution

    Colin Walters one of the principal engineers on the Debian Project will be giving an overview including highlights such as what makes Debian the most portable operating system, how Debian is used as a base for other operating systems, and an introduction to some Debian subprojects such as SE Debian, Debian-MED, and Debian-JR."

Attendees for the Conference are able to register and pay via credit card from the web site. The Conference fee of $125 covers the admission to the Conference on October 30th and to the Exhibits on October 31st.

See the Travel and Lodging section of this web site for special offers available at area restaurants when you show your Conference and Expo pass.