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in this issue...
Web Site Highlights Campuswide Role

Faster Connectivity At Home? Could Be

LEAD Report Released

Linux: A Realistic Alternative to Windows?

Virtual History: Web Site for Teachers

New Open-Access Lab in Surge IV

Do I Really Need This?

Move Over Godzilla: Mothra Web Site Revamp

Results of Windows 2000 Professional Tests

When 348 Open Files Are Not Enough

Biting the Bullet on the World Wide Web

TAPS Goes Online

IT Staff in the News

Letters to the Editor

Volume 8, Number 6
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Linux: A Viable Alternative to Windows?

By Mary Sue Hedrick

More on Linux

Linux Online
Linux Journal
Linux Links

Whether you're using a Mac, PC (IBM-compatible), UNIX workstation, or a network of servers, you rely on at least one operating system (OS) to run your software. For example, Macs run on MacOS, Apple's proprietary operating system and most PCs run on a combination of Microsoft Windows and DOS. Well, make way for Linux, an OS that is gaining market share and support around the world, particularly in IT organizations and universities.

Currently, Linux owns more than 17 percent of the server market in the U.S. and is anticipated to grow faster than all operating systems combined in the next four years (source: International Data Corporation, a company which analyzes and advises on information technology (IT) markets, trends, products, vendors, and geographies).

At UC Davis, Linux is running on approximately 15 percent of campus servers and desktops, estimates Ed Siegner, Systems Developer, IT-Information Resources.

Linux interface screen capture

Named after Linus Torvalds for his key developments in 1991, Linux began as part of a project (called GNU) to develop free software. A researcher from MIT, Richard Stallman, started the project in 1984 because he was becoming increasingly upset with software companies who were trying to prevent programmers from sharing--especially with programmers outside of their company. According to his own project papers (http://www.gnu.org/gnu/the-gnu-project.html), Stallman believes programmers with a common goal should be able to share their ideas, innovation, and code (what makes the program run), for the benefit of all users.

And so we come to one reason why Linux is so popular: it's free. Anyone can download the latest version of Linux from the Internet right now and begin learning it.... but Linux is not for the novice computer user. To get the full benefit of Linux, experience with UNIX is recommended. If nothing else, Linux in its current state is for the experienced computer user. Projects are underway (such as Gnome, described below) that may eventually enable a user of any level to work with Linux.

Advantages

  • Linux is "open source." Open source software applications enable programmers to modify the code in the program to customize, adding new functionality and eradicating "bugs."

  • Technical support is free, too. Users need not worry about software licensing issues because Linux is guaranteed to be free. Stallman actually had to work around some copyright laws in order to make this happen. Stallman encourages programmers from around the world to discuss difficulties they are having with Linux and offer each other solutions, which translates into free technical support. If you've read through the technical support pages and looked at newsgroup archives and have a valid, challenging issue with Linux, chances are that someone will respond to your request for assistance. And if you're not willing to or interested in reading documents, you can always call Red Hat, one of the Linux distributors who sells telephone support with their software.

  • Linux is very stable. According to many IT professionals, Linux is one of the most stable (virtually virus-proof) and reliable operating systems offering the best-known performance, hardware, and Internet compatibility. "In IT-Information Resources here at UC Davis, we have a Web server using Apache on Linux," says Siegner. "Aside from some security issues that have been resolved, we have had absolutely no problems using Linux."

  • Linux is not a "hardware hog." Linux can run on slow, outdated computers with a minimum of disk space, such as a 386 PC with 16 MB of RAM and a 200 MB hard drive. "Here at UC Davis we had a 386 web server with 8MB of RAM and a 300 MB hard drive sharing Site License Software that easily handled a half dozen clients at a time without slowing down," says Siegner.

  • More software for Linux on the desktop is on its way. Right now, Linux is available in its UNIX-like form on Dell, HP, and IBM computers. Corel and other software manufacturers have developed packages (such as Corel WordPerfect, competitor to Microsoft Word) for the Linux platform. Gaming and graphics companies such as id Software, DNI and Nvidia are hard at work on a game-compliant version of Linux. "There are many programs developed for all sorts of purposes, including graphics, mathematics, engineering, and office systems," says Siegner. More than 2,700 Linux programs are listed at http://sal.kachinatech.com/.

  • A more user-friendly version of Linux is under development. The GNU has another project called Gnome that makes a more user-friendly Linux interface (see photo), one that enables the user to easily point-and-click their way around. According to the Gnome Roadmap, most components of the Gnome 2.0 development platform will be available around the Fall of 2000. However, you can download the current version at http://www.gnome.org/start/.

 
Want to know more?
Though the campus does not currently support Linux, you can find out more about how to install and use Linux on a Web server by contacting Ed Siegner at ejsiegner@ucdavis.edu. Siegner was the developer of the initial AFS proxy server work done on campus, now used in DaFIS and other campus applications. He has designed procedures for departments to convert old computers into viable Web servers, has worked with Emory University on an experimental Internet "white board" and audio-conferencing program, and periodically teaches classes on Linux Web servers and workstations for campus technical professionals.

Ed Siegner contributed to this article.