The Linux User Group of Mauritius (LUGM) exists since November 2000 and our main roles are:

• Advocate
• Educate
• Support
• Socialise
• Coordinate Linux and OSS activities in Mauritius

Web site and mailing list

• http://www.lugm.org
• http://www.lugm.org/mailing-list/

Scope of the survey

What we were looking for

• Patterns of use of Linux and OSS in Mauritius
• Meaning of Open Source
• Knowledge of our existence

Methodology

• Sample of 80-100 IT managers
• Questionnaire based
• Anonymous

The results: Heard about Linux ?

A vast majority of IT managers has heard of Linux (92.5%)

The rest (7.5%) must be living on another planet

How did you discover it ?

Multiple answered we allowed.

We see the ever increasing role of the Internet as a means fo propagate knowledge.

Where do you use Linux ?

38% of the IT managers questioned do not use Linux, neither at work nor at home.

Of those 62% left, the majority use Linux only at work

This seems to indicate that Linux is being used as a server operating system.

Distribution used ?

Pattern of use of distributions in Mauritius is exactly the same as worldwide.

Red Hat rules !

Applications used ?

Surprisingly, the type of application mostly used is Office applications (presumably Star Office and Open Office).

On the other hand, server applications (Mail, Web, Database and File Servers) amount to 55% which is coherent with the deduction made previously.

What about paid support ?

A majority thinks that Linux support should not be commercial.

This is very surprising given that most of those questioned use Linux at work.

An interpretation is that they are satisfied with the level of support they get in forums and websites.

Deployment date ?

The majority of those questioned already have deployed Linux-based solutions at work. This is absolutely fantastic

Unfortunately, 35% do not know whether they’ll do it or not.

They are the ones we need to convince.

What is Open Source ?

One out of five IT managers does not know anything about Open Source…

Any Contribution ?

Frightening !

38% do not know how to help.

And about 20% do not want to help.

Linux and Open Source is all about give and take !!!

Heard about LUGM ?

55% of Mauritian IT managers know that LUGM exists.

Satisfied with LUGM ?

About half of those who know LUGM are satisfied with it.

It is important that those who are unsatisfied with LUGM’s actions come forward and make proposals.

That’s the whole point of having a community…

Conclusions ?

A majority of Mauritian IT Managers

• know Linux and Open Source software
• have deployed Linux and OSS-based solutions
• do not require commercial support
• do not contribute to the OSS movement.

They could help

• Technically <=> participate in OSS development
• Financially <=> reward deserving developers & projects
• Logistically <=> help in a LUG (for example LUGM )

Copyright Avinash Meetoo | Published under the Gnu Free Document License