Open Information Source: Pakistan

Today i have read an article on LFU, regarding Open Source productivity usage in our neighbourhood. They understand the value of each paisa and know using it with some sense , but our government is still thinking to get some aid despite of lessening their expenditures. An IT field is also a major area of budget consumption.
I hope that our leaders and key persons should understand the usability of FOSS in our Government sector.

I am presenting the same article for your attention. You may not understand some of the technical details , but i hope you will understand the purpose of this , and what i want to share ...
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Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) switched to open source solutions only a few years back, and now, not only manages the accounting and billing information of users across Kerala, but has made impressive savings, year-on-year, using FOSS.
The KSEB was introduced to open source with the billing software Oruma in 2006, and it has not looked back ever since. Its implementation was soon followed by Saras, an accounting software used in expenditure accounting. As a result, KSEB has managed to save Rs 7-8 crore.

Open source in KSEB

KSEB is the statutory body engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across the state. It deals with high tension (HT), extra high tension (EHT) and low tension (LT) current transmission to consumers. There are around eleven million LT consumers linked to KSEB, and they are billed through 697 electrical sections across the state, using Oruma. The solution provides for new connections, billing, cash collection and accounting of LT consumers. “The software works in real-time, operates within a client-server architecture, and the database is distributed,” explains Sathyaraj J, joint director, IT at KSEB. “Data of 11 million consumers is stored in around 700 locations, and the data size in each location varies from a few hundred megabytes to 2 GB. The development strategy we follow here is to keep the database independent, as far as possible, so that the option of database portability is open. This way, database features are utilised at a minimum level,” he adds. Each section has a server, and five to six client computers. PostgreSQL is used as a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS), Debian Linux as the server OS, Ubuntu Linux as the client OS, and PHP as the server-side scripting language for the Web-based front-end. Right from the beginning, we have been using community-supported open source products in the Oruma project. Oruma caters to new connections, billing, cash collection and accounting of LT consumers. The entire Oruma solution, including requirement gathering, systems analysis, design, coding, testing, piloting and end user training, was developed by an in-house team. This required training 15 employees (mainly, developers), on open source products. The only additional costs incurred were Rs 35,000 for staff training.
The accounting software Saras is also a real-time software deployed in a distributed architecture. It caters to expenditure accounting through the 140 account rendering units of KSEB. The client-server architecture used here is similar to that of Oruma, with the combination of PostgreSQL-Debian and Ubuntu-PHP. “We have invariably used the Apache Web servers in almost all applications, as they are deployed in a client-server architecture,” Sathyaraj claims. Other open solutions developed in a centralised architecture are a Human Resource Management System (a centralised provident fund and payroll software developed in-house); HT and EHT billing software for new connections, billing, collection and accounting; software providing Web-enabled services like e-payment that was developed by TCS, and the Supply Chain Management System, which handles planning, procurement and store management, which was developed by Deloitte. “The outsourced applications employ Java as the front end. CentOS, RHEL and JBoss are also used in the centralised applications. A new website launched by KSEB last year (www.kseb.in) is also on an open source platform, using Joomla,” reveals Sathyaraj.

PostgreSQL—an essential element

For the last four years, KSEB has created over 840 databases across the state. Almost all its applications in major functional areas, operating either in a centralised or local architecture, use PostgreSQL. About 700 PostgreSQL databases have been used in the Oruma project, and over 4,000 employees of KSEB access these databases on a daily basis. Saras has about 140 databases, which are used by about 1,000 users for daily transactions. Three projects under implementation (the Human Resource Information System or HRIS, the Supply Chain Management or SCM, and HT/EHT billing software) also use PostgreSQL databases. The HRIS will have a single database, and over 500 users are expected to use it on a daily basis. The SCM system uses PostgreSQL, and about 1,000 users are expected to access this centralised database for daily transactions. And about 30 people will use the HT/EHT billing software, every day.
Earlier, KSEB used Microsoft’s SQL Server 2000 for its database. As per the recommendations of the Committee for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) constituted by the KSEB, the board decided to select an RDBMS package based on Free Software packages, to computerise the major functional areas in KSEB. Sathyaraj reveals, “The committee also evaluated MySQL and Oracle databases in comparison with PostgreSQL. We chose PostgreSQL because of its capacity to handle huge volumes of data, and its ability to read and write data at almost equal speed. All the projects we have used PostgreSQL for are mission-critical—and so far, we have been satisfied with the results.”

The challenges faced

In the beginning, KSEB faced challenges at every point, from the availability of trained manpower to the dearth of experts who have hands-on experience in handling critical data on PostgreSQL. “However, we managed well, because of the whole-hearted support of the local, as well as global, open source community, and were victorious at the end,” Sathyaraj admits.
One of the main problem areas was porting data from MS SQL Server 2000 to PostgreSQL. “We were new to PostgreSQL. Correcting, updating and porting the data of around 10 million consumers, back then, necessitated developing a new data-entry software on PostgreSQL, and a migration software to port data from SQL Server 2000, before final migration to the Oruma database. Now, the details of new consumers can be added to the Oruma database in real time, using the software,” says Sathyaraj.

Advantages over proprietary solutions

The economic and technical superiority of FOSS over proprietary software paved the way for its selection in KSEB. The board has saved about Rs 7-8 crore by implementing open source tools for deployment of various applications. Sathyaraj reveals, “The use of proprietary software tools invites recurring expenditure in terms of licence renewals and version updation, which calls for huge additional expenditure. The government has become aware about this recurring expenditure, and supports open source solutions to the maximum extent possible to keep IT expenses down to the minimum. The use of open source solutions also relieves government agencies from vendor dependability to a great extent.”
Another important advantage of open source is that the code is with you. “If there is a problem in the code, and you are capable of understanding and modifying it, you can do it without any legal complications. Moreover, let’s not forget the online community, which helps you to any extent. In terms of scalability, PostgreSQL stands at par with industry-known proprietary databases like SQL Server, Oracle and MySQL,” Sathyaraj asserts.

Additional investments

KSEB uses community-supported versions of PostgreSQL in all in-house applications, and so there is no cost component involved. For outsourced applications, there is a cost involved in the form of service support, which can run into a few lakhs, and varies according to the project. Additional investment is required in the form of training. Currently, around 100 employees working at various levels, from developers to systems administrators and systems supervisors, are given periodic training to upgrade their skills in open source.
KSEB uses high-end PCs and servers with an Intel Core i3-560, 3.3 GHz processor or AMD Phenom II X4 955, 3.2 GHz processor, 4 GB DDR3 RAM, 320 GB SATA 3GBps HDDs for Saras and Oruma. The utility company purchased new computers, as earlier, operations and systems were entirely manual. There are around 840 such servers now, operating at various locations. Each high-end PC costs around Rs 40,000. Similar machines are used as servers, for the centralised HRIS project too. Meanwhile, for the HT/EHT billing system, and for the SCM system, rack-mounted high-end servers with Intel Xeon E5540 Quad core processors, 12 GB DDR3 RAM, 2 x146 GB, and 15K SAS hot plug hard disks are being used to host the database and applications.

Open source in the government sector

When asked whether he would recommend open source to others in the government sector, Sathyaraj’s response is: “Why not?” In fact, the National IT Policy and the draft Kerala State IT Policy released recently promote the use of open source as solutions with less investment. “The electrical industry is capital-intensive and requires a huge investment, and utilities are looking for financially viable alternatives for IT implementation. By harmonising the existing human potential of organisations with the available resources, the investment for IT implementation can be brought down. The success of project Oruma and other open source solution implementations in KSEB proves this beyond doubt,” Sathyaraj concludes.
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Courtesy: http://www.linuxforu.com

Yesterday i have read a blog article at EFY times that Indian government is moving its e-govt projects to Open Source.

"NEW DELHI: Computer hardware and peripherals used by all new e-governance projects must work with Linux and other opensource operating systems, says a draft policy."

Its really a great achievement of Open Source contributors, Promoters and Ambassadors in India. They have realised their government institutes the benefits and less cost of procurement of the Open Source Projects. It is not a one day effort, but it takes them a long time to make this revolution. They build motivation in their society, spread the word FOSS(Free Open source Software) in the public. They teach it from the gross root level and now they took it to the highest level.

Unfortunately, It will dump a huge penetration of Apple and RIM in Indian e-govt, but it will let them save billions of dollars , which they spent on the maintenance and up-gradation of these existing system.

My point of discussion is, Pakistan. But first i introduce you about the Open Source.

What is open Source?

The concept of Open Source and the free sharing of technological information existed long before computers. For example, cooking recipes have been shared since the beginning of human culture. Open source can pertain to businesses and to computers, software and technology.

Open Source is a development method for software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process. The promise of open source is better quality, higher reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in.

One of my fellow have a blog and he perfectly describes it in the case of Free software.

Free Software is a matter of freedom, not price. Free Software respects four essential freedoms:

1. to run the program for any purpose you wish
2. to study the source code and change it to do what you wish
3. to copy the program and distribute the copies when you wish
4. to publish or distribute a modified version when you wish.

In the case of pure It language, most software that you buy or download only comes in the compiled ready-to-run version. Compiled means that the actual program code that the developer created, known as the source code, has run through a special program called a compiler that translates the source code into a form that the computer can understand. It is extremely difficult to modify the compiled version of most applications and nearly impossible to see exactly how the developer created different parts of the program. Most commercial software manufacturers see this as an advantage that keeps other companies from copying their code and using it in a competing product. It also gives them control over the quality and features found in a particular product.

Open Source software is at the opposite end of the spectrum. The source code is included with the compiled version and modification or customization is actually encouraged. The software developers who support the open source concept believe that by allowing anyone who's interested to modify the source code, the application will be more useful and error-free over the long term.

Point to be Noted

I hope now you have better idea, what Open Source is ? Now what the Open Source Contributors doing here in Pakistan. In fact Open Source awareness is not even 20-25% of the IT field. WE mostly talk about Google and Facebook and now the hot issue is Google+. I hardly heard about any FOSScon in Pakistan. Last Open Source major event, i have attended was Ubuntu Release Party, arranged by some individuals.

Pakistan Software Export Board have launched Open Source Resource Center.

I haven't heard any event organised by any public forum. Even the key representative authorities have to promote the individual volunteers and contributors to spread the FOSS in the public. They have to organize meetings, workshops and let the public know , what Open Source is , and what are its benefits.

Lot of people working in Pakistan to promote and flourish Open Source in Pakistan, But they are doing individual efforts. There should be a specific platform , from where they access the community and this should be a better idea.

Think Pakistan! Its time to change .....:)

Some useful links of Pakistan Open Source Community :

Pakistan open Source Organisation

Open Source Resource Center

Pakistan Software Export Board

Urdu Linux

Linux Urdu CBTs by Baber Zahoor

Courtesy: Ch Qasim Raza(Fedora Ambassador)