Linux

LINUX

One of the up and coming server operating systems is Linux. In an article from CNET News on July 24, 2000, a new study has identified Linux as being a significant threat to Microsoft in the server market over the next few years. What is Linux and how is it making its impact on the server industry? This paper will answer these questions.

Linux - What is it?

Linux is a free Unix-type operating system originally created by Linus Torvalds along with other developers in the industry. Linux is an independent POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface) implementation and includes true multi-tasking, virtual memory, shared libraries, TCP/IP networking and other features consistent with Unix-type systems.

Linux was developed under the GNU General Public Licensing and all of its source code is freely available to everyone. This doesn't necessarily mean that the program and all of the distributed software is free. There are companies and developers that may charge money for the program as long as the source code remains available.

Linux In Business?

Linux is becoming more and more used in business today. One of the main reasons is the cost-effectiveness of the operating system itself. As well, there are numerous articles all over the Internet and news media detailing the positive aspects of open source operating systems in business today. One reference found on the Open Source website describes the basic idea behind open source code. "When programmers on the Internet can read, redistribute, and modify the source for a piece of software, it evolves. People improve it, people adapt it, and people fix bugs. And this can happen at a speed that, if one is used to the slow pace of conventional software development, seems astonishing." (Open Source, August 2000)

From a businesspersons standpoint, the open-source model has a lot to offer. Companies are now able to build open standards as actual software and many companies and individuals can collaborate on a product that none of them could achieve alone. With open source code, there can be rapid bug fixes and changes that the user asks for, done to the user's own schedule. Other positives are increased security and increased reliability, and yet another positive is the ability of Linux to run on systems as low-end as a 386 to the higher end systems