Linux - The Operating System Of The New Millenium
Started as a hobby project,this Operating System(OS),developed by Linus Torvalds,has come a long way and now powers servers,workstations and desktops all over the globe.LINUX outperforms other Operating Systems by featuring true multitasking and multiuser capabilities;above all a high level of security and stability -
things which are unreachable in other POPULAR Operating Systems.This is the only reason why the combination of Linux and Apache(a web server) powers more than 60% of the worlds web servers where security and stability need to be an outstanding reality.
Though the word Linux Refers to the Kernel of the OS,it is commonly used to refer to a complete set of software that along with the kernel makes up a working Operating System.
The best feature of Linux is it's cost - It is FREE and it comes along with its
source code.For the business minded ones Linux is distributed in accordance to the GNU-General Public License.The whole Linux movement was started when Linus Torvalds put up the source code for the OS, that he developed,on the Internet ( i.e a posting on the Usenet).People reviewed the code,exchanged suggestions and ideas,thus leading to a situation wherein Linux-Development became a craze.
The availability of the source code was the major factor that drove developers and hardware manufacturers towards Linux.They could develop device drivers and other software without having to acquire expensive source code licenses and Non-Disclosure Agreements.As the user-base grew for Linux, more and more companies started supporting Linux,which in turn triggered more usage thus dragging Linux into the loop.Once Linux entered the corporate circles, fears of the Linux-Movement being curbed were set aside.One of the major comanies which switched over to Linux are IBM - whose Netfinity range of servers run on Linux and are one of the first to be certified for Linux.In fact IBM is all set to become the first ISP Solution Provider in INDIA to provide an end-to-end solution on Linux for cable ISPs.Linux is also supported by DELL, Compaq, SUN, SAP, Lotus, Oracle, SGI, Loki Softwares etc.One noteworthy feature is that the Karnataka Government also supports Linux.It's said that every single of the top Fortune 1000 companies have deployed Linux in one way or the other.In fact, Intel sees its furure in high-powered Web servers using the their Itanium processors(64-bit)and imply that these servers would perhaps have to run Linux. Linux has developed a reputation as an extremely reliable and low cost alternative in e-commerce operations(where a crash
means serious and instant losses in revenue).
The Open Source Concept has also increased the development of applications under Linux.At present there are a wide range of applications, both commercial and free, available in Linux.They include categories like entertainment, education, office applications, server applications,multimedia etc, but Linux LACKS in one thing - AntiVirus applications.This is because, being a unix clone a virus just cannot exist under Linux.Sounds Interesting Eh!.To site a few examples Linux has a web server (Apache) with a market share more than all the other web servers put together,a mail server which has more than 80% of the market,a chat server which has more than 70% of the market and a news server with a share of more than 95% of the Internet market ...all for FREE.Star Office - a complete Integrated Office Suite is now available for Linux,again for FREE.
A very interesting feature is the way in which bugs are fixed in Linux.It takes
as much as one day for solving a bug.There are thousands of expert programmers who have access to the source code of the buggy programs.These programmers look through the code and fix the bug as fast as possible-the only spirit driving them being Peer Recognition.Most of the bugs are fixed by the time YOU find them and the patches or updates would be readilly available for download.The best example to this was the way in which a recently discovered secutity hole in Apache (the Linux Web Server) was fixed.As soon as the hole(bug affecting security) was discoverd a solution was developed and the message was mailed to all the LUGs(Linux Users Group)and other companies running Apache.The result - The hole was fixed in an unimaginably small interval if time.All this happened three to four weeks ago.
Till recently Linux has been supported mainly by volunteers and volunteer-based
organisations.An example is the Linux-India Group which set up a whopping stall
at the IT.Com99 and was a big hit.Though Linux has been late to catch up in India,now it is on an its way up.Linux is well suited for Indian conditions where outdated systems based on the 386 and 486 processors are still extensively being used.The only reason is that Linux runs well on old machines and these can be put to use effectively.For example a 386 or 486 based machine can be set up as an Internet router,a mail server or a firewall.
And finally if you are tired of your system crashing on you all the time,you should seriously consider moving even your desktop to a Linux Workstation.Linux provides you with a highly powerful,stable and reliable platform for gaming(excellent-Quake II & III are examples) , multimedia,browsing,downloading,watching movies,office work,management - the List is endless.
So if you were to ask ,"Is Linux for me ?",the answer is a definite YES.
