Linux and Open Source

Linux is the flagship of the Open Source Software (OSS) movement. This movement is a set of rules and standards for software development, distribution and use.

Open source software is developed and distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License. This license is the product of the Free Software Foundation.

The result of the license is that Linux and other open-source software products can be had for free. Compare that to the thousands of dollars in software licenses required to outfit a few new servers with close-source products.

The Costs of Linux

The free part does not mean however that everything you want is 100% free. What it does mean is that most Linux software and open-source products are free. Some manufacturers offer pay-for products that include CDs, books and some support.

With Linux and open-source products, you do have to pay for live, human support if you demand a live human expert helping you. However, many websites provide the same information for free if you are willing to read the information.

With Linux there is a learning curve unless you are already experienced with Unix. If you know DOS commands, Linux commands are similar.

Currently there is an issue related to intellectual property that has yet to be decided. SCO Group, maker of SCO Unix is suing IBM Corporation, accusing IBM of including code that SCO says it owns into the version of Linux that IBM is distributing. The issue has not yet been resolved in the courts.

IF the courts find in favor of SCO, Linux users may have to pay a licensing fee to legally continue to use Linux. If on the other hand, the court finds in favor of IBM, Linux will continue to be free for the taking.

What's included with Linux?

Major Linux server distributions include the Linux network operating system plus fileserver, mailserver, Web server, FTP server, database server, and other server software. All of it is free.

Proprietary software vendors charge you for the operating system and then charge even more for many of the components listed above. Additionally, they charge for client access licenses so users can access the servers from their desktop computers.

With Linux, its all free. There are no licenses required for client computers to gain access to Linux servers. This alone can save thousands of dollars.

Open Source Software Examples

• Linux - this website lists all major distributions
• Apache - free webserver used on 70% of webservers on the Internet.
• Sendmail - free mailserver that processes most of the email on the Internet
• Qmail - free mailserver that is also very common
• PostgresQL - free SQL database server
• MySQL - free SQL database server
• Ingres - free SQL database server
• Samba - free Windows compatible fileserver
• SourceForge - largest site of open-source software
• Linux Documentation Project - all the help you need

Linux is Growing Rapidly. Why?

• Linux and open-source software is free
• Linux can be modified to fit specific needs
• Linux will run on older hardware very well
• Linux is reliable and well designed
• Linux has been well tested for security issues
• Linux bugs and security holes are patched rapidly
• Linux saves businesses lots of money and it works

It is not unusual for a computer running Linux and open-source software to run for years without ever needing to be rebooted.

In general, rebooting a Linux computer will not resolve any problems you may experience. With Linux, rebooting is the last thing to try to fix whatever is wrong.

Most problems encountered on a computer running Linux are not software problems but rather hardware failures - like a power supply or hard drive going bad.

Linux uses hardware very efficiently. For example, an old Pentium 166Mhz CPU, 64Mb of RAM, and a 6Gb hard drive, running Qmail (an email server) is capable of processing a couple hundred thousand emails per day.

Linux History and Design

The basis of Linux, the kernel, was built by Linus Torvalds as a college project. Thousands of other people all over the world have contributed to this base to form all the other parts needed to have a functioning server.

Linux was built to be modular like Unix. It was built from the ground up as a network operating system which makes it especially suited for running on servers.

Linux can also be run on desktop computers but non-technical users mostly prefer not to run Linux on their desktop PCs because of the more technical nature of Linux. Nonetheless, products link Gnome and KDE are rapidly advancing to make Linux easier to use on the desktop.

Heterogeneous Networks - Linux and Windows

Many organizations find that the best scenario is to run Linux on servers while continuing to run Windows on their desktop PCs. This can bring all the benefits of Linux to a business, while minimizing the learning curve for desktop users.

Using the open-source software called Samba, Windows desktop computers can access and store files on Linux servers seamlessly. Users do not even have to know that they are storing their files on a Linux box because from within Windows, the Linux drives look just like those on a Windows server.

This hybrid configuration can be excellent in that the technical complexities of Linux servers are left to system administrators while the ease of use of Windows desktops is left completely intact for the less technically inclined.

How to Move Forward With Linux

Many businesses and individuals want to investigate Linux but are not sure where to start. As with most things new there are several good approaches to getting started with Linux

• Install Linux on an old computer you have that is no longer being used. A plain old Pentium is fine.
• Buy a new inexpensive computer and install Linux on it.
• Read more on the Web about Linux and open-source
• Hire an expert to answer your questions and get a Linux fileserver running in your office.

If you are not technically inclined, you are probably best off to hire some help. If you are technically inclined and motivated to experience the benefits of Linux, all of the software and information you need is freely available on the Web

Want professional help? Contact us.