The Linux learning curve can be quite steep, too, presenting a good opportunity for solution providers to get in on the growing market. But Kusnetzky says that any company already running Unix, such as Cendant, would be familiar with the commands and the architecture that Linux is based on, and therefore the switch would not be such a drastic change that would require additional personnel costs.
Another issue that plagues almost any customer making the plunge to Linux these days is the lawsuit by SCO against IBM, Novell and several large customers, claiming they are infringing on its patents. Wiseman says that was certainly taken into consideration, but didn't stop Cendant from moving forward. Still, the system is architected so that in a worst-case scenario, it could be moved back to Unix.
Cendant also has Linux plans beyond Galileo. Next, the company is switching over its Neat Group subsidiary, which runs a real-time booking engine for Galileo, to the Linux clusters. Next, Wiseman says he plans to move Cheaptickets.com to Linux during the next 12 months.
"[Cendant is] opportunistically evaluating the others--starting with those that are not Microsoft-based," Wiseman says.
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