"I am focused on effectiveness and efficiency. I can't afford our database or e-mails to be unavailable."

Those words, spoken by Steve Thomson, Finance and IT director at the environmental organization Greenpeace UK, are part of Thomson's explanation of why Greenpeace has just announced that it has chosen to work with UK-based Linux specialists Ardenta to replace its ageing servers.

Thomson says Greenpeace will be implementing a storage area network (SAN) to support its 100-strong workforce in the UK, after Ardenta, an IBM "Leader for Linux" accredited business partner, recommended a 2 Terabyte SAN based on the competitively priced IBM FAStT600 storage array.

Greenpeace UK is replacing two Novell servers with the SAN, which sits behind an existing infrastructure of Linux and Microsoft Windows 2000-based servers. The SAN provides archiving and ancillary storage for Greenpeace UK's back office operations, its custom built DB2 database, and office applications, such as Microsoft Exchange Server, which are fundamental to their operation, handling thousands of e-mails each day.

Thomson explains: "I am focused on effectiveness and efficiency. I can't afford our database or e-mails to be unavailable, which is why I chose the SAN." Since 1986, he adds, Greenpeace UK has relied on e-mail to support its campaigns, which are often geographically dispersed. In addition to campaign management, e-mail is increasingly the contact medium of choice for enquiries about Greenpeace UK's activities, with over half of all enquiries are now by e-mail. This number is increasing all the time.