To make this initiative a success, Kudler Fine Foods, must pay for a major technology upgrade in order to successfully service the number of customers that join the Kudler Fine Foods frequent shopper program. As detailed in the Kudler Fine Foods intranet, Kudler currently uses outdated software and hardware.
Novell 4.11 Server, as well as Windows versions prior to XP are not supported or maintained any more. Additionally the use of dial-up Internet access with a 56K modem would be upgraded to broadband access ideally. (UoP Apollo Group, Inc., 2004)Another major project constraint is that the in-house Kudler Fine Foods technical staff may not be adequate in the technical knowledge required for this undertaking. The technical staff consists of only two computer support specialists, who have supported the backdated technical infrastructure without vendor support. The current Kudler Fine Foods database of choice is Microsoft Access.
All is not lost, however.
S.u.S.E. Linux GmbH
A SLED 10.1 Based setup, showing the Novell gnome-...
SLED 10 with XGL enabledKudler Fine Foods can still move forward with the Frequent Shopper Program without immediate technology upgrades. The new required customer fields can easily added to the Microsoft Access database. Customers can be encouraged to check their rewards points at any Kudler Fine Foods Location, or call in to customer service. To meet the challenge of the required technology upgrades, Kudler Fine Foods can exercise a couple of options.
One option could be the new Novell and IBM Integrated Stack for SUSE Linux Enterprise. This innovative system accommodates the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 with a varied assortment of open and proprietary IBM software that runs on top of either IBM System x or BladeCenter servers. These are low-priced AMD Opteron and Intel Pentium IV and Xeon-based servers. (Vaughan-Nichols, 2006) Using this system, a smaller businesses, such as Kudler Fine Foods, can get file and print, web application, and database...