thinks different, they choose to run Aptus “Fit Client” architecture in its 24×7 mission critical production
factory workstations, because of its highest performance and reliability, lowest upfront cost and a very low TCO.
Aptus requires the lowest investment of migration to Linux providing a robust with both centralized management on
the server and zero-administration on the desktops.
Running a small scale network in a high production volume 24×7 factory environment is no easier than running over
thousands users office network. Why? Non-stopping production is making money in every second, it is a not mission
critical but it is extremely money critical. The long day operation makes administration and support so challenge.
While no one has been thinking of a highly reliable desktop computing platform, TC Lawson Optical Technology did.
ShaoLin Microsystems developed Aptus Linux “Fit Client” architecture which totally satisfies all their needs.
“I choose Aptus because I cannot afford down time, even a single reboot every day. I need something to run
24×7 with no down time. While no down time is impossible, I need a system that can recover in seconds during a
hardware failure. I cannot afford reinstalling the whole OS or even restoring from a hard disk backup image, it
simply takes too long”, says Carson Law, Chief Engineering Officer of TC Lawson.
TC Lawson is running a 24×7 CD stamper production line, while the production process is not simple and requires
absolutely 100% quality control, a custom make workflow control and management software is designed to handle this
task. “We need to monitor each process and collect result data from every task performed at each process station,
maximizing the yield rate by having analysis to all production data. Forever improvement is required, CD stamper
production is a high cost production process, if anything goes wrong, the complete work piece is gone and are not
recoverable.”, says Carson.
“The main attraction of Aptus is the reliability but low cost. The protection of investment is high because it
extends both the life cycles of desktop hardware and server hardware. I don’t need extra servers to serve those
workstations because it simply don’t draw any processing power from the server. I simply install Aptus and mix
with my database application on the same server. Also, even when a workstation’s hardware failed, I can replace
it with a spare one in minutes, its simply an unplug, replace and plug-in exercise which can be done by anyone!”,
says Carson.
The security of information is also important, while Linux have much better security model than other OSes,
Aptus even enhance it more, “We make software CD’s and all sorts of copyrighted materials. We are committed
to ensure protection of customer intellectual properties, Aptus increase my physical security by having no hard
drives in the workstations, even it is stolen, I ensure nothing is there. Linux also have very good data security
control that I can control who to see what.”, says Carson.
TC Lawson has been a major beta tester for Aptus, they’ve ran Aptus more than a year with zero administration
on the desktop, “I can remote control of my whole network, so that I don’t have to rush to the factory in
casesomething happens suddenly at night, this frees me up to hire a full time administrator.”, says Carson.
Remote centralized administration works great in a 24×7 environment where access to the network is flexible in
everywhere.
Scalability and flexibility are also an investment protection, no migration work is needed both on desktop
and servers. Also no need to replace your existing servers when running Aptus. “Our business expanded in around
30% from the last 2 years, with computerization in production, we’ve almost increased our productivity in 100%.
We’ve planned to move to Linux and Aptus in the office desktops as well, simply because we have encountered
serious virus problems and frequent downtime on the Windows machines. We already have Samba running in our
office networks replacing the NT servers, I just have to install Aptus on our Samba file server and boot up our
clients using the Aptus boot floppy, Linux is up and running on the desktops in minutes! No need extra servers
and fork lift upgrade!”, says Carson. “Our dual Pentium III file server can probably stands for more than 100
clients, with Samba and sendmail running concurrently on the same machine, we may need extra servers for sendmail
plus imap but not Aptus of course.”
Linux also provide flexible integration with their industrial equipment and complicated network environment,
“We have FDDI network, gigabit ethernet, 100Mb ethernet and 10Mb ethernet in our site running Linux, Windows
2000, Windows NT, WinME, Win98, Win95 and OS/2. Only Linux is capable in dealing with such complicated network
environment, we have no problem so far to integrate all types of network together. We have trouble with NTs since
their TCP/IP routing didn’t perform what they should!” says Carson.
Carson enjoyed with Aptus and Linux. Simply because this gives him remote centralized management and easy
administration with very high reliability. He is totally satisfy with Aptus because it proved absolutely minimum
downtime during the past years, he is confident to switch more and more desktops to Linux using Aptus.
June, 2002 by ShaoLin Microsystems Ltd.
