Linux-based Production System running at South China Morning Post
Sep 3rd, 00:17 UTC
The South China Morning Post is running a Linux-based
production system for the entire newspaper. Built by Australian company
Raster Solutions, it provides 4-way replication on Compaq ProLiant(TM) servers. 3 September 1999 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia --
Raster Solutions (www.raster.onthe.net.au) has
used Red Hat Linux on Compaq servers to deliver a new
production system to the South China Morning Post, Hong
Kong's leading English-language daily newspaper. The new
system is a mission-critical component in the daily
process of publishing the newspaper. Raster develops
primarily on Red Hat Linux and recommends it unreservedly
where consistently reliable servers are needed.
``Raster's responsiveness has resulted in a truly
customised system - one that SCMP feels is very much its
own and with which we are very comfortable'' said a
spokesman for the paper.
The new production system stores all the graphics and
images used in the paper, and ensures that the pages seen
by readers include the correct high-resolution and
high-quality pictures, while letting editorial staff work
quickly and efficiently with lower-resolution versions.
Pages for printing are routed dynamically to various output
devices. The new system replaces SCMP's ageing Autologic
OPI servers with a robust, flexible and scalable solution
based on Raster's modular production support software and
Red Hat Linux.
The new system required practically no changes to the
existing workflow, allowing users to become productive with
little training. On the other hand, features long-demanded by
the same users can now be implemented with ease. For example,
images, graphics and even full pages can now be checked
on-line from a standard web browser. For classified
advertising, the same technology allows staff to view
newly-booked ads on-line, and have them faxed automatically
to clients. Advertisers can even check copy on the public
internet by entering a secure authorisation code.
Raster delivered the solution to SCMP on four Compaq
ProLiant(TM) 3000 servers, each running Red Hat Linux 5.1
with updates supplied by Raster.
About Raster Solutions
Raster Solutions specialises in developing targeted
production systems to the newspaper and publishing industry.
Raster combines their innovative publishing toolkit and the
highly reliable and capable Red Hat Linux to produce systems
of unparalleled robustness and value.
(Submitted by David Keeffe of Raster Solutions)
| 
