Nature of Organization
We provide our members (congregation, clergy and organization) with various services: evangelization, social services, recrectional training courses, theological and ministerial work, and shcool management for educational institutions.
Motivations to use ThizLinux and Services
A couple of years ago during our reorganization of the committee, our scopes of services have extended to cater various groups of members. Our computer users are no longer only worshippers but also students, teachers, social users and different school organizations. In order to support them and our internal staffs, we have anticipated the necessary growth of number of servers over time.
In addition, we wanted to adopt web-based applications for better software maintenance supports for our school administrative users and ThizLinux had the options available.
Therefore, given our needs, we were determined to choose Linux as our major backend infrastructure and appointed ThizLinux for the web-based applications development on accounting and human resource systems.
Deployment Scale and Scope
Our whole backend IT infrastructure is a Linux wonderland. We have a Linux implementation vs. other platform on a scale of 9 to 1. The odd one is running on Novell which hosts internal staff files and internal applications.
There are about 30 Windows workstations at the center for our internal staffs. And our Linux wonderland accommodate more than tens of thousands of students, parents and outsiders.
Playing a role of ISP (Internet Services Provider), we have a total of 3 web servers to provide web-hosting services for our 33 related churches, 13 schools. Currently, 1 primary, 1 secondary, 4 child care center, 5 evening colleges and 2 kindergarten schools are utilizing this service.
Each school create their own web page for students and parents in respect to stay informed with school news and the intranet provides students with on-line learning / training programs as well. Outsiders can visit the school websites for general information.
In addition, we are also an ASP (Application Services Provider). There is 1 Linux application server hosting the accounting system and human resources system that serves our 13 related schools included kindergarten, primary and evening college. We operate and manage all of them.
Implementation Strategy
We add servers at a different time frame in according to our needs and requirements. Generally speaking, with file, we, email and firewall servers. There were not much of difficulties because the back-end operation is usually transparent to end-users. Therefore, often time they won't even aware of change of the back-end systems.
However, with the two new web-based applications, there was some training on the operation of the applications involved. Nevertheless, thanks to a splendid job done by ThizLinux instructor, user acceptance was very positive.
The learning curve for our users was minimal as well because we kept the interface of the new accounting applications similar to the previous one.
Implementation Process
For the application server:
1. ThizLinux server installed with Apache + PHP/JSP support + MySQL
2. Extract data package to Apache document root
3. Configure MySQL, initialize tables
4. Configure end user machines point to the correct database connection
5. Configure Apache
6. Remote backup support testing
Upgrade:
* Program prepared to check differences between old installed and new to-be-installed
Technology employed:
* Operating System : ThizServer
* Programming Language : PHP/JSP
* Database Server: MySQL
* Web Server: Apache
* Email Server: sendmail
Innovation
As Internet has come to its popularity, we have taken the full advantage of it to better serve our members and improve IT efficient and easy application to education. We act as a role of ISP (Internet Services Provider) and ASP (Application Services Provider).
The advantages for web-based applications are the software maintenance convenience and easy database management.
In the past, schools would have to print their own accounting reports locally then fax them to the center office.
However, now the web-based accounting systems allow reports printings from one centralized location since our related schools are accessing the application through the internet and all their data are stored on the server in the head office center.
The delivered results greatly streamline the work processes and saves time.
Moreover, ever since we deployed ThizLinux web-based applications for school administration, we have greatly improved our software maintenance supports for remote users because issues or problems can be troubleshot at one location that is the application server in the office now.
It also allows fast applications deployment time for schools because now the applications and systems are web accessible. There is no need to physically travel to each school location for the software installation. This in return also lessens the workload from our school operation and administration.
Most importantly with this network & system infrastructure, it is scalable and easy in terms of expansions because of the application systems management work can be done at a central location now.
Cost Benefit
We have adopted the usage of Linux server for more than 2 years and the number of our servers has increased to 9 units.
If we were to invest on Unix server, the cost would have been about HK20,000 per server included hardware and OS. However, but with Intel P3 graded server and Linux OS only cost about HK8,000. For each server, we have save HK$12,000, that is 40%. A total estimated saving of HK$100,000.
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