SUNScholar/DSpace/Why Ubuntu Server

In order to make the research outputs of Stellenbosch University available, the library decided develop an open access research repository service. The repository has to make the research available for future researchers as well. With this in mind as a selection criteria, DSpace on top of the Ubuntu server was used for the following reasoning:

1. We cannot predict what technology will exist in the future but we can be almost certain that open systems based on open standards will have a better chance of surviving to the future.
2. Since we are betting on open systems based on open standards, we have to eliminate any proprietary systems.
3. DSpace is supported by a foundation and based on open standards which is very popular therefore it was chosen as the repository management system.
4. Ubuntu is also supported by a foundation and is also one of the most popular linux distributions based on open source software.
5. Ubuntu is committed to releasing a "long term support" LTS version of the distribution every two years.
6. The method of Ubuntu LTS releases allows to plan for upgrades and makes capacity planning of the repository more effective.
7. In addition, Ubuntu is derived from Debian, the original linux distribution. Debian is very stable and has a very large community supporting it.
8. Most linux distributions are based on open Unix standards.

So considering all of the above, DSpace on an Ubuntu server made logical sense.