[18:50] Hello [18:50] anybody here? [18:51] I have some questions for this community [18:51] yessssss? [18:51] Hi [18:51] 'allo [18:51] aneptok [18:51] Well, I work with a small organization in Albuquerque [18:51] looking to upgrade its technological infrastructure [18:52] OK ... [18:52] I'm wondering if there are consultants/companies in the Albuquerque area that do that sort of thing, with a full understanding of FOSS principles [18:52] So that the idea of free software is built into the company's philosophy and infrastructure [18:52] why do you feel you need a consultancy? [18:52] I is an upper management decision [18:53] They have decided they'd like to go with a one-stop-shop kind of deal [18:53] you need someone to convince upper management? [18:53] oh. [18:53] No... [18:53] I need a company that can help us deploy IT infrastructure [18:53] how big is this organization? [18:53] but one that has an FOSS focus [18:53] 14 people [18:53] approximately [18:54] between 14 and 18 [18:54] you don;t need a consultant. you need a good vendor. [18:54] Could you explain more what you mean? [18:54] if you were deploying 500+ desktops you would need a dedicated team to perform that roll-out. [18:54] ok [18:55] with 14 people, you just need a hardware vendor that is reposnive to you. [18:55] *responsive [18:56] IOW, there is nothing Albuquerque FLOSS Partners is going to do for a company of 14 people that Dell cannot do. [18:56] well, we also have some custom software development needs [18:56] for that, unless working on-site is requisite, i'd shop globally for a developer(s) [18:56] ok [18:56] look at System76 [18:57] small Ubuntu-only vendor 7h north in Denver [18:57] system76 [18:57] we already have all the computers [18:57] most of them [18:57] but we need a crm solution [18:57] perhaps a vpn [18:57] a postfix based mail server [18:59] management needs to understand that the things you are talking about are not installed like a new refrigerator. they will need ongoing maintenance. [18:59] management understand that [18:59] paying a consultant every time you need the mail server tweaked is not cost effective. [18:59] won't be necessary [19:00] i can tweak away [19:00] and I'm an payroll [19:00] so pardon, but why can;t you set this up? [19:00] Is there an open source software vendor in albuquerque? [19:00] this is my question [19:02] i have no idea if there's one in the sense of an integrator. i work for a very prominent FLOSS project, and am based in ABQ. but we only care about your databases. ;) [19:02] i have enough experience with SugarCRM to know that i'd rather hand over responsibilty for such assets to Salesforce. ;) [19:03] and after fighting the spam wars, using Google Mail in small organizations gets more appealing. [19:06] ok [19:06] thanks [19:08] if you need a VPN, a business-grade Internet router should have such functionality built-in [19:09] good ones will offer both IPSec and PPPTP [19:21] ok, thanks [19:21] talk later [19:21] bye [19:54] Good afternoon. [20:15] heya