Welcome to Open Computer Consulting Services...

OCCS offers both traditional and innovative assistance for individuals and small businesses in various areas of information technology, such as installation services and technical support for both the Linux and Windows desktop and server environments. The innovative aspect is that I specialize in the installation and setup of Linux environments. These operating systems are generally available for free or at low cost, for any number of desktops or servers that you require. Significant cost savings can be realized this way, over Microsoft systems and software which require expensive licensing and upgrades, and usually require multiple payments for legal use on every machine in your installation. In addition, open-source solutions can make you virtually immune to many of the viruses and exploits which have become so common today.
This technology has come a long way in the past few years, and end-user (desktop) applications based on this environment are also generally available for free or at low cost. Linux desktop applications have become fairly mature, offering everything from basic web browsing, e-mail, chat, photo manipulation and office suites, to packages for scanning, downloading music, videos, movies, and quite a bit of other multimedia and business functionality, including networking, wireless, remote connectivity, etc...
I offer on-site consulting to assist with choosing hardware and networking components, software setup, as well as phone tech support and tutoring in a variety of areas, from novice individual users to small-to-medium sized businesses. Even if you choose to continue to run any particular version of Windows as your base environment, I can assist with installing free and open-source software alternatives for servers and databases within that environment, which have a great edge with security, configurablity and functionality, and saving you hundreds in software costs, for each unit into which the required software is installed. I'm located in the Asheville, NC (Western North Carolina) area, and can offer on-site services in a 150 mile radius. If you are outside this area I can most likely assist you via phone or e-mail correspondence.

Services offered...

• Operating System Installation (specializing in Linux)
• Assistance choosing hardware
• Networking installation and support (LAN/Internet)
• Server setup assistance: Web, FTP, Mail servers
• Technical support & documentation
• Tutoring on hardware/software setups
• Installation and upgrades of hardware
• Assistance choosing & installing desktop productivity apps
• Assistance with domain registration/web presence
• Light web design to establish your online site
• Remote connectivity/administration and terminal servers
• Setting up database clients/servers
• Custom PHP/MySQL web interfaces and interactive web-based forms

Linspire offers a live demo CD which I can provide for $4 postpaid (US).
With this you can test the OS without any changes to your hard drive.

In addition, I offer these services at low cost for the individual or small business user for both the Linux & Windows environments:

• Light web design and site hosting assistance, website maintenance & optimizing
• Digital imaging, including household inventory photos created & burned to CD
• Installation/replacement of hardware (drives, memory, video/sound cards, etc.)
• Multiple computers on one ISP connection (ethernet cards, router setup, home LAN)
• Operating system setup, troubleshooting, reinstallation
• Tutoring/assistance on desktop apps (limited in some areas)
• Assistance with other peripherals (scanners, printers, webcams, etc.)
• Choosing app packages (office suites, graphics, web development, online services)
• PC optimizing and cleaning, removal of unwanted software/viruses/spyware

Maintenance contracts or ongoing consulting packages available to fit any budget.

If you are involved with retail inventories, here's a package that may interest you. It has been written for Windows with Apache/MySQL/PHP, and shows a sample of the work I have done on that platform:

For information on pricing and services:

Please contact Frank for further information:

Business Phone (cell): 828-215-4755

Click on the button to send an e-mail inquiry now:

I look forward to serving you in the near future....