[Cialug] Open source for Crystal Report???

[Nathan C. Smith]

Are you looking for easy report writing, or just scheduled or slick
web-based reports once the reports are written?

I'm not familiar with any report-writing tools.  PHP can out put reports in
many formats including PDF and via SMTP.  Perhaps you could clarify what you
are looking for a bit more?

Is the individual that wants to change platforms skilled with Linux and
Apache?

If I put on my psuedo-security expert hat for a minute, I would say,
switching platforms isn't necessarily the best insurance you have against
getting hacked.  Setting up your servers to be secure to the level of risk
you can manage and accept is all any of us can do.  I really like Open
Source like Linux BSD and Apache, but if you don't have the talent in-house
to secure a system to a level of risk you are comfortable with, changing
platforms is like rearranging deck chairs on the titanic.  Some opinions
will differ, but Apache, as it ships with many distributions is actually
less secure and harder to manage (lots of pre-installed modules) than IIS.  

In any case, it will boil down to a few things: The level of risk you are
able to accept.  The level of risk you can budget, and the skills of the
individuals handling the network, server systems, and web programming.

My opinions, I hope others have a take on this too.

-Nate



-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Murray [mailto:Elizabeth.Murray@dnr.state.ia.us] 
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2005 1:17 PM
To: cialug@cialug.org
Subject: [Cialug] Open source for Crystal Report???


HI.  New to the group and new to Linux.   

Do you know if there is an open source or Linux substitute for Chrystal
Report?

One of the guys on my web team is wanting to replace all of our MS IIS sites
with Linux.  We got hacked last week.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Liz M

V. Elizabeth Murray, CNE5, CNE6, MCP
Information Technology Specialist V
Air Quality Bureau
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
515-281-8565
elizabeth.murray@dnr.state.ia.us