ZYTRAX - Consulting and Training
ZYTRAX provides consulting, training and development services for a selected range of Information Technology (IT) based on our development, marketing and marketplace knowledge. We have increasingly, over the last ten years, been specialising in Open Source technology.
We can uniquely mix in-depth technical expertise with a knowledge of marketing and the marketplace. Which for guys in the Open Source arena, frankly, makes us more than a little unique. We are adamantly not just techies.
We typically contract on a fixed-price basis for a defined work program (which we will help you to create if it does not currently exist). We provide resources on a hourly, daily, weekly or monthly basis depending on your needs. We'll be as flexible as you need.
We typically ask for a single point of contact in a client organization for operational efficiently with whom we can request guidance, clarification, arrange meetings and obtain further information. Clearly other parties may be present during reviews and other formal events.
Finally we are not just consultants. If we say during a study that X can be done for $Y. Then we will contract at $Y to do X.
Areas of Expertise
You are welcome to browse the left hand menu which illustrates the scope of information that we make available as a service to the community. We claim in-depth expertise in the following areas:
Communications - to illustrate - IP (TCP, UDP, ICMP), PPP, LCP, IPCP, SCTP, NAT, multi-cast (IGMP, OSPF), SS7, SIGTRAN, ISDN, X.25, 802.3 LAN, HTTP, DHCP, DNS, MLPS, RTP, H.323, SIP, RTP/RTCP, Diffserv, RSVP etc., etc. ad nauseam.
Open Source - Linux, FreeBSD, DragonFlyBSD, BIND 9.x, Apache (1.x, 2.x), email (Courier, Postfix, IMP), Squid, ipchains, ipfw, OpenLDAP/Apache DS, MySQL, PostGreSQL, SQLite, OpenOffice/LibreOffice, Gimp, CMS, and others too numerous to list.
Language Systems - Ruby, C/C++, PHP, Python, Javascript, Visual Basic, HTML, CSS, XML
We have significant expertise in (and are users of) Windows systems including Windows 7, 8 and 10, Windows Server 2012.
We elaborate below on the typical scope of work carried out under the topics listed below:
Feasibility and Commercial Studies
These studies typically fall into the 'can we do this ... cost effectively?' or 'we have this problem how do we solve it .. cost effectively' categories.
While all cases are unique the following table illustrates a typical work cycle:
| Phase |
Content |
| Statement of Requirements |
Report. Identifies and prioritizes requirements. Includes competitive review. Mandatory and Optional Requirements. Confirms understanding of all parties. Typically 10 - 20% of work content. |
| Review Requirements |
First Review. Buy-in, revision cycle. |
| off-the-shelf |
These may include competitive solutions. Typically 5 -10% of work content. |
| Solution Matrix |
Functionality by potential solution - off-the-shelf, classic methodologies, out-of-the-box methodologies. Typically 15 - 25% of work content. |
| Budgetary Costings |
Functionality/cost by potential solution - off-the-shelf, classic methodologies, out-of-the-box methodologies. Typically 5 - 10% of work content. |
| Preliminary Report |
Report. Identifies, prioritizes and costs requirements using off-the-shelf, classic and out-of-the-box solutions. Typically 5 - 10% of work content. |
| Second Review |
A single/dual solution set will be identified which will guide the final phase work content. |
| Project/System Design and Plan |
Detailed design, development methodology, resources, detailed costing, special services, milestones. Multi-phase deliverables in priority order. Early first phase deliverable always. Typically 20 - 30% of work content. |
| Draft Project/System Plan |
Report. Detailed design, development methodology, resources, detailed costing, special services, milestones. Typically 20 - 30% of work content. |
| Third Review |
Review and presentation. |
| Revision Cycle |
Comments, corrections and feedback. Typically 5 - 10% of work content |
| Project/System Plan |
Final Report. Detailed design, development methodology, resources, detailed costing, special services, milestones. Follow up as required. |
Technology Studies
These studies typically fall into the 'what technologies are going to affect (or threaten) us over the next n years ' or 'where should we put our resources over the next n years' categories.
While all cases are unique the following table illustrates a typical work cycle:
| Phase |
Content |
| Value Added Statement (VAS) |
Report. Identifies value-added versus commodity aspects of technology used in current operations/products. Includes competitive review. Confirms understanding of all parties. Typically 20 - 30% of work content. |
| Review Value Added Statement |
First Review. Buy-in, revision cycle. |
| Technology Matrix |
Technology review based on Value Added Statement - off-the-shelf, classic methodologies, out-of-the-box methodologies. Trends and technology evolution (3 - 5 years, 5 years plus). Typically 25 - 40% of work content. |
| Preliminary Technology Report |
Report. Identifies and prioritizes technologies - off-the-shelf, classic methodologies, out-of-the-box methodologies. Trends and technology evolution (3 - 5 years, 5 years plus) against value added Statement. |
| Second Review |
Prioritization and feedback. |
| Draft - Technology Plan |
Develop key technology areas, resources, implications, training, cost and expertise profiles based on the Technology Report. Typically 20 - 30% of work content. |
| Third Review |
Review and presentation. |
| Revision Cycle |
Comments, corrections and feedback. Typically 5 - 10% of work content |
| Technology Plan |
Final Report. Follow up as required. |
Design, Planning and Audit Studies
These studies typically fall into the 'where are we in the development cycle' or 'this project is late .. how do we get it back on track' or 'our customers keep changing the requirement' categories.
These studies can be highly controversial and we require a clear understanding of the remit and terms of reference before commencing work. We are then fearless in our recommendations.
While all cases are unique the following table illustrates a typical work cycle:
| Phase |
Content |
| Statement of Requirement |
Report. Identifies and prioritizes requirement. Validates Requirements if they exist. Includes competitive (off-the-shelf) review. Mandatory and Optional Requirements. Confirms understanding of all parties. This phase typically focuses almost exclusively on the customer side of the equation. Typically 10 - 25% of work content. |
| Review Requirements |
First Review. Buy-in, revision cycle. |
| Current Position Report |
Report. Identifies, prioritizes and costs requirements. Statement of work complete and resources used to date. Alternate approaches including off-the-shelf, classic and out-of-the-box solutions. Completion estimates based on current and alternate programmes. Typically 20 - 30% of work content. |
| Second Review |
Strategy review. Single/dual solution approach. |
| Project Plan |
Report Develop detailed plan, development methodology, resources, costing, special services, milestones. Typically 20 - 30% of work content. |
| Third Review |
Review and presentation. |
| Revision Cycle |
Comments, corrections and feedback. Typically 5 - 10% of work content |
| Project/System Plan |
Final Report. Final Detailed design, development methodology, resources, detailed costing, special services, milestones. Follow up as required. |
Open Source Studies
These studies typically fall into the 'how can we use Open Source technology' or 'can we use Open Source to reduce our cost/client cost base' or 'what are the implications of using Open Source in this context' categories.
While all cases are unique the following table illustrates a typical work cycle:
| Phase |
Content |
| Statement of Requirements |
Report. Identifies and prioritizes requirements. Includes competitive review. Mandatory and Optional Requirements. Confirms understanding of all parties. Typically 20 - 25% of work content. |
| Review Requirements |
First Review. Buy-in, revision cycle. |
| Solution Matrix |
Functionality - Commercial Software, classic methodologies, Open Source methodologies. Typically 15 - 25% of work content. |
| Preliminary Report |
Report. Identifies, prioritizes and costs using off-the-shelf, classic and Open Source solutions. Support and cultural implications. Typically 15 - 20% of work content. |
| Second Review |
A single/dual solution set will be identified which will guide the final phase work content. |
| Open Source Report |
Report Identify applications, projects, methodologies. Cultural implications, expertise profile, costs over 3 - 5 years. Typically 20 - 30% of work content. |
| Third Review |
Review and presentation. |
| Revision Cycle |
Comments, corrections and feedback. Typically 5 - 10% of work content |
| Project/System Plan |
Report. Follow up as required. |
If you think we can help you please contact us by phone or fax or by email. We look forward to working with you.
