IBM Entices Windows NT Users to Linux

IDG News Service - IBM is readying a program to push its enterprise software running on Linux as an alternative to Microsoft Corp. software running on the soon-to-be-discontinued Windows NT operating system.
The program, announced last week, offers free migration classes and some discounts on software and services for users moving to IBM software running on Linux.
Microsoft will discontinue support and security patches for Windows NT at the end of this year, requiring nearly 2 million customers to develop a migration strategy, IBM said.
IBM's classes will be offered worldwide and will cover migration to the company's hardware and software for needs such as database management, collaboration, security, systems and network management, Web and application serving, and file and print serving.
IBM is also offering discounts on Lotus Domino running on Linux for any IBM eServer, including its zSeries mainframe, to customers moving from Windows applications like Microsoft Exchange.
Special programs are also being offered for migration from Microsoft SQL Server to DB2 Universal Database on Linux and for security and network management migrations.
IBM's timing is good, said James Governor, principal analyst at Bath, Maine-based RedMonk LLC. "Users are definitely looking at Linux to reduce their total cost of ownership around Windows, and at the same time IBM is savvy to the fact that it can make extra money on pieces of software and services," he said.
Microsoft officials weren't available for comment.
Pruitt writes for the IDG News Service.