Enterprise Search, 2nd Edition

Chapter 6. Open Source Search

Over the last few years, open source search software has emerged as a very sound option for organizations looking for search applications for websites, specialist ecommerce sites, search-based applications, and enterprise search. At present, it is impossible to get any market information on the extent to which open source search platforms are being used. It seems likely that the majority of current implementations are for website search and for specialized service applications such as LinkedIn and Twitter.

However, organizations are increasingly considering using open source search software for internal intranet and other enterprise search requirements, and this is likely to accelerate quite rapidly now that most of the larger-scale commercial search software vendors have been acquired and integrated into enterprise suites (see Chapter 5). From a search strategy perspective, it is important that the strategy takes into account the potential introduction of open source applications, even if the incumbent application is SharePoint or a standalone commercial search application.

It is far too easy for an organization, and its IT team, to work on the basis that going open source will result in an effective solution in a very short period of time for very little expenditure. Under some circumstances, an open source solution could meet those requirements. However, if the requirements are not fully considered in advance and allowance made for changes even ...