Screaming Penguin - Source Does Matter

It only makes sense that governments who are constrained by budgets work within reality and consider all of their options. Currently many government organizations DO USE LINUX but do not publicize it much. However, more mainstream usage is currently stifled because it is not certified by the "Common Criteria" that the US federal government and the governments of many other countries require. Certification costs big bucks and takes time (Win2K was JUST certified recently).

That may change soon.

The "Cyberspace Policy Institute" in Washington DC has put together a reasonable proposal in which they would act as a central repository for a federally certified and standardized version.

That strikes me as a good idea, but I am not familiar with this organization so I am not sure the proposers are the best place to house and maintain the certified version. What I mean is, its a good idea to make a standardized version and have an authority somewhere that maintains that, but the question then becomes whom is to be that authority?

Even when Linux is certified that certainly will not mean it fits for every government application. But being certified would mean that government technology decision makers could at least consider one of the most capable, reliable, adaptable, fast and cost effective platforms around. That would be a GOOD thing. Save some money and increase performance and reliability.

For more info see the linked news.com story.   Linux makes a run for government: news.com