Making money with Linux part time.

ltam · #1 7th May 2006, 12:05 AM

This is a great forum for Linux enthusiasts and I want to get some guidance from those who have been able to make a living using the Linux platform. We all know that it is a solid platform because some of us run it 24X7. There must be a business model that would allow part timers (who have full time jobs) to sell their services to the general business public. I've read articles on fault tolerant clusters that can host Samba servers or internet servers. Failover servers can keep things going until the admin can find time to fix the problem. Has anyone been successful deploying Linux servers and networks on a part time basis? Can you share your experience with how you manage to service the customers?

Thanks.

ccrvic · #2 7th May 2006, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltam

Has anyone been successful deploying Linux servers and networks on a part time basis?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltam

Can you share your experience with how you manage to service the customers?

They buy me beer, I build them servers.

Anyone that expects SLAs gets pointed at someone who charges real money...

Seriously - it's almost certainly more hussle than it's worth. People expect you to implement exactly what they were thinking of - even when they said they wanted something completely different. And they want it yesterday, and for free.

Vic.

ltam · #3 7th May 2006, 02:42 AM

I'm thinking about small offices of 10 to 15 people replacing windows servers. I've been playing with the idea of fault tolerant cluster of network servers. I know it's difficult as crap always happens and support is always going to be an issue. What is the near perfect or at least doable scenario where someone has worked out? There are outsourced IT services for small offices. What's the going rate for those things? Perhaps the cost of a fault tolerant network will be more cost effective then a service contract.

ccrvic · #4 7th May 2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltam

I'm thinking about small offices of 10 to 15 people replacing windows servers.

If this is business-critical, then the business is going to need some sort of SLA - if his system goes down, it's no good to him that you're a nice guy, he needs someone who isn't out of the country for 3 weeks. He needs support *now*. You might get him to wait 4 hours if you're lucky...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltam

I've been playing with the idea of fault tolerant cluster of network servers.

What are you actually trying to protect against?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltam

There are outsourced IT services for small offices.

They survive because they have *many* customers.

Each customer can pay a retainer, but if that is even close to being money worht earning, it's going to be very expensive for the company in question. Retainers only pay when you are getting many of them, and they are a small sum of money.

On top of that, you can charge for any work you do over a nominal "free" amount per month. If you're doing any significant amount for a customer, you have to wonder whether you're giving him the system he actually wants (because he'll wonder that).

In summary - if you're trying to do this with one or two customers, you'll end up doing a fair amount of work for no significant income. It's what a mate of mine calls a "Love Job". If you get many customers, it can be made to pay - but then it's no longer a part-time affair.

Vic.

ltam · #5 7th May 2006, 12:08 PM

CCRVIC, points well made. The considerations you indicated are the exact reasons why part time network administration is not a booming business. I'm not disagreeing with your points. I'm perhaps wishfull thinking to imagine that there is a sweet spot where mission critical is not so critical. Perhaps small accounting offices or virtual offices setup for business partners who work in their home office and both connect to a virtual office network via vpn. Perhaps a two server cluster to host samba file shares. There are millions of small offices running windows workgroup that don't share files from a central server. They do it by email or some other mechanism. Perhaps that's a small niche. Again, I'm refering to part time so small money is expected. However, enough pieces of small money put together can become ok money. Heck, even some money to fund my addiction to my network of home servers is good money. I'm still trying to fund my next purchase of servers and I don't see that happening anytime soon.

I like your term "Love Job". I love this stuff. Some admins complain and moan all day long. I've done this stuff for free simply because I love it. Although it doesn't put food on the table if it is free. Most if not all the members on this forum are in love with this stuff. Otherwise we wouldn't be typing in the wee hours of the night when our families are asleep so we can help someone on the other side of the world. Perhaps I'm being dillusional but something inside me keeps telling me that there is potential to exploit the robustness of the Linux platform. The small business owner can use this and there is a way to get it to them. Even on a part time basis. If I can piece together enough small success scenarios, I would have a menu of choice services. Am I wishful thinking?

Flounder · #6 7th May 2006, 07:48 PM

What you could try is justing hosting some servers from home. Web, ftp, backup, gaming (if you have the bandwidth), irc, etc. I'm sure there's tons of things you can do from home that are linux related. As far as bandwidth ratios go for some of this stuff I don't know.

ltam · #7 8th May 2006, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flounder

What you could try is justing hosting some servers from home. Web, ftp, backup, gaming (if you have the bandwidth), irc, etc. I'm sure there's tons of things you can do from home that are linux related. As far as bandwidth ratios go for some of this stuff I don't know.

Interesting, you mean as a server resource for others.

Omega Blue · #8 8th May 2006, 04:09 AM

There are all sorts of things you can do. For example,

a) install and customise Drupal (or some other FOSS CMS)
b) networking
c) GNU/Linux and FOSS migration
d) install and customise other FOSS packages, such as CRM (customer relationship management), ERP, etc.
e) software development

MAnix · #9 8th May 2006, 11:20 AM

i do software development and pc upgrades as a part time thing. i love it. it aint great money yet. you also have to keep learning langauges, and keep in the loop. small to medium size buisness, i have found, are most receptive to a switch from windows to linux, with the right persuasion. a live cd and other such stuff and all. but as i said i have made virtually no money, and i do it for the love of computers and all that they do. i love linux so will try and push it on anyone who will listen...

its a niche, but an empty one.

Omega Blue · #10 11th May 2006, 05:06 AM

I foresee that GNU/Linux will be gaining acceptance in the next 20 years. So get in the niche before the rush begins

ibbo · #11 31st May 2006, 01:52 PM

I just managed to convince the powers that be that we dont need Windows or Apples in the workplace. What we need is free stuff.

Hence FREE worked bloody marvelously and now I'm down to 1 box with XP on it (gorra see website under IE aint I) and a few apple's in the prduction dept (we do publishing) . Still now I can sit at the one machine and run some snmp or what have you to do my fault management without even getting up. (aint that what its about)

Backsides nice and shiny too

Ibbo

ElektraMale · #12 9th June 2006, 11:59 PM

I was considering started my own business with linux once i get an RHCT. I was considering setting up people's home computers with linux since spyware tends to be a big issue nowadays. I would probably entice them with either a live cd, a demonstration of linux on a laptop and/or a brochure. I am also thinking about doing upgrades, repairs, and setting up small networks. But the main thing I want to do is get everyone to switch to linux. I am so tired of M$ ripping us off.

ltam · #13 10th June 2006, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElektraMale

I was considering started my own business with linux once i get an RHCT. I was considering setting up people's home computers with linux since spyware tends to be a big issue nowadays. I would probably entice them with either a live cd, a demonstration of linux on a laptop and/or a brochure. I am also thinking about doing upgrades, repairs, and setting up small networks. But the main thing I want to do is get everyone to switch to linux. I am so tired of M$ ripping us off.

I have the same idea. I'm so tired of all the viruses. Other people must be too.

Melio · #14 15th June 2006, 08:41 PM

I have a business idea, but it's gonna take some help, so I might push linux classes or something to my customers if they're interested.

bullsfan · #15 16th June 2006, 03:12 AM

Not worht the time for classes. Stick to helping people for favors. I always seem to make out better that way. I haven't paid for a dinner in quite some time now.