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What is Linux
What is Linux? Why is it important?
Linux is an open source version of the Unix operating system. Originally
developed in 1991 by Finnish graduate student Linus Torvalds, Linux has been
developed collaboratively over the Internet with thousands of programmers
contributing code to the system.
Linux is a modern operating system. This means that it runs on 32-bit
architecture, uses preemptive multitasking, protected memory, supports multiple
users, and has rich support for networking, including TCP/IP networking. Linux
was originally written for Intel's 386 architecture, but now runs on a wide
variety of hardware, including the full x86 family of processors, as well as
Alpha, SPARC, and PowerPC chips.
Linux runs all the applications a Unix server system should run, including
web servers like Apache, mail serving software like Sendmail, and database
servers like Oracle, Informix, or more open applications like MySQL and Postgres.
Linux supports a wide range of file system types, and through programs like
Samba can even seamlessly replace NT as a Windows file server. Through the use
of clustering technology, Linux can scale up to handle the supercomputing loads
required by many scientific/engineering applications, and required in high
availability environments.
Why Linux is important
Most servers today run some variant of the Unix operating system. Linux is
the most widely installed Unix variant, and also the variant with the most
rapidly growing market share. Linux's remarkable growth and popularity stem from
several factors:
- Flexibility
- The source code to the Linux kernel is copyrighted under the GNU General
Public License, meaning that the system must be freely distributed with
source code available, and anyone may freely modify that source code
provided that any modifications they distribute are distributed with
source code. Because the source to Linux is open, it is easy to customize.
This flexibility has enabled Linux to run on everything from handhelds and
embedded systems to clusters of hundreds of servers working in concert.
- Reliability
- Because the source code to Linux is open and widely distributed, Linux
has been thoroughly debugged. Each new version of the operating system is
rapidly viewed and tested by thousands of programmers world wide, aptly
demonstrating the adage that "given enough eyeballs, all bugs are
shallow."
Linux's fundamental architecture also creates a more reliable system.
Systems using protected memory and preemptive multitasking are inherently
more stable. Protected memory prevents an error in one application from
bringing down the entire system, and genuine multitasking means that a
bottleneck in one application does not hold up the entire system. Linux
also maintains a very clean separation between user processes and kernel
processes. While other server class operating systems use protected
memory, protected memory does no good if faulty applications are allowed
to invade kernel space with their processes.
- Economy
- Because Linux is open source, the initial cost is low. There are no seat
licenses, no usage fees associated with the operating system. Linux is
also designed for Intel architecture, meaning that it runs powerfully and
efficiently on the most inexpensive hardware capable of performing
server-class operations.
The real cost savings with Linux, however, comes from total cost of
ownership. Updates happen rapidly and openly, so users are not held hostage to a
vendor's release schedule. Support is available from a legion of open source
programmers, or from a number of commercial supporters of Linux. The result is
that bugs are identified and fixed more rapidly, new features are brought on
line more quickly, all at a lower up front cost, dramatically reducing the total
cost of ownership.
The Power of Open Source
Linux may be the best example, but it is only one example, of the power of
open source. Collaborative, networked development is a new model of software
developm ent made possible by the Internet. The full power of this collaborative
method c an only be realized when the source code to software is freely shared
among deve lopers.
Open source accelerates the development process. It breaks down the barriers
bet ween developers and users, and removes obstacles in developer-to-developer
commu nication. In today's Internet economy, these kinds of accelerators have
become n ot just a business advantage, but a business necessity.
The proof of the open source model is in the results: Apache holds roughly
60% m arket share among web servers, and that market share is growing. Sendmail
holds roughly 80% market share among mail transfer agents. Linux is the fastest
growin g server-class operating system.
Other Resources
To learn more about open source principles and the open source development
model, look at the Open Source Initiative (http://www.opensource.org)
and the Open Source Development Network (http://www.osdn.com).
To learn more about Linux, look at Linux.com (http://www.linux.com).
To see the collaborative, networked development process in action, look at
Source Forge (http://www.sourceforge.net).
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