|
Home
News&Events
Linux Info
What &How
Adsl & Alcatel
Feedback
|
So What is Linux?
There are many answers to this question! Much is written about how
Linus Torvalds developed Linux and what happened then.
The Linux system is a Unix-clone. A bare Linux system is just the
Operating system kernel, drivers for hardware, file system etc.
and quite a number of system programs. It would take less than
100Mb to install and you have a multiuser, networking, character
/ terminal based computer system and you could run it on an
old 386 pc.
But in the Linux concept we include a number
of other functions and programs also developed in the Open Source
community. So when we add the Free X11 system, a Window manager
and some other programs, then we have a complete modern and
nice desktop computer system.
Linux software has matured
the last couple of years and there are a lot of quality programs
around.
Linux is NOT ONE system, it is a modular system that becomes different
things depending on how you configure it. You might already
be running it on your TV set-top box without knowing it.
Read more here.
NetDeveloper
Or here:
Linux OnLine
or here:
University of Helsinki - Department of Computer Science
or here:
Linux-FAQ
|
|
Why Use Linux ?
|
Because Linux has good:
- Security and
- Stability
and is:
- Highly configurable,
- Controllable,
- Cost efficient,
- Affordable.
And the future ?
- It won't go away !
- Application base increases.
There is a wide variety of different programs available, both commercial
and open source software. And more and more companies and people is getting
involved in open software development.
- Why be left behind ?
If your are not already a user, TRY it!
|
|
Which Linux should you use?
|
There are more than 100 official Linux distributions around. Some commercial,
some as hobby-projects and everything in between.
The big distributions are often distributed as different compilation of Linux for
different purposes.
Specialiced releases for desktop, server, mail server, firewall etc.
The different versions are usually easy and simple to install, quicker to install
than any Ms-windows installation. And it works with loads of hardware and computer boxes.
The big official distributions are packed with several hundreds of programs.
All you need for your Office use, to edit text documents, get on the Internet,
send and receive mails etc.
Big nice distributions ( more
complete list here
)
Mandrake
Very nice packages. Good setup. Highly recommended for startup and desktop.
RedHat
Maybe more for the professional user. More support from other software systems
and development, but that is changing with the LSB definition.
( often used as development platform by "softwarehouses").
Suse
Nice packages as well. Many different packages for different purposes.
ipCop
New and very good firewall distribution, ( support for dial-up and Adsl ).
MuLinux
by Michele Andreoli. One of the many
mini-Linux
distributions that exists. Small to download ( 8 - 14 Mb ) may be copied to a couple
diskettes for easy install. Installs in a directory on your Windows system.
Does not mess up Windows in any way, and is deletable from windows if you do not
want it anymore. Try
This
if you want, but it is a little bit more work and some linuxknowledge is required.
|
|
What if you get a problem?
|
- Join a user group,
- search the net,
- consult a friend,
- buy support or help.
|
|
Is Linux for you ?
|
This depends on what we want to use the system for.
Let's divide the question into different categories:
|
Home or Office, desktop computer use.
|
Yes if you are willing to learn or if you have access to local support
and education.
|
|
Development system for software maintenance or development.
|
Depends on chosen tools and what you are developing.
|
|
Server system, to hold and share data, databases or servers for the
Internet.
|
Yes! Secure, manageable, controllable. Alternative is proprietary
system from a Hardware Vendor or Microsoft.
|
|
Dedicated systems for mail, firewall and specific applications.
|
Unconditionally YES. Best choice.
|
We also have different usage perspectives depending on who are running and using
the system and what for:
|
For personal use.
|
Yes if you are willing to learn or if you have local support and
education.
|
|
Small business use, simple setup, server and Internet connection type.
|
Yes if you are willing to learn or if you have local support and education.
|
|
Larger businesses with complex systems and lots of computers.
|
Yes, Could save a lot of money. Use your It-department for development
and support. A good complement to proprietary systems or could replace them.
|
|
A global enterprise running it's business on multiple places and with
a lot systems.
|
Yes, a good complement to proprietary systems or could replace them.
|
There are numerous web pages that explains why and what you should do and not to do
with your computer and your software. This is just a handful of links with references
to Linux and linux vs. Microsoft.
Microsoft are able to market themselves.
Migrate With Confidence From Microsoft Windows NT, 2000, and XP to UNIX/Linux
ComputerWorld Has the Door Widened for Linux?
Linux Journal
Linux Gazette
Linuxtoday.com
Operating Systems comparison chart
Why Linux? A Collection of Linux Propaganda ( lots of good references )
How too Run a MicrosoftFree Shop
What Alternatives Are There to Microsoft?
Why I hate Microsoft ( Long Microsoft / Gates story )
Replacing Windows NT Server with Linux
anti-Microsoft, anti-Gates, anti a lot!
Linux Distributions
LinuxApps
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 versus UNIX
|
|
How much does it cost?
|
Basic Linux software and code is published as a GPL freeware license, open and free
code. This also means that distributors using Linux do not charge money for the code
itself, only for distribution cost, packaging, add-on software and services provided
with the software.
The mayor distributors charge between $50-$150 for a Linux distribution depending
on what is included.
Most distributions are also free to download from Internet ( size is at least 50Mb
and may be 2-3 cd's, 1.2-1.8Gb ).
Monthly magazines often supply the latest releases of Linux on their cover cd's.
But the base software is not the only cost that you will have for your system.
We have many other costs for education, maintenance, add-on-software, hardware support
dependency cost. And there is an ongoing debate of the Total Cost of Ownership TOC,
going on for different It-solutions.
Check this article!
Different TOC list
Cost compare ( a couple of years old ) By Quinn P. Coldiron
Service
|
Microsoft
|
Cost
|
Linux
|
Cost
|
|
Operating System
|
Windows NT Server 4.0
|
$2,950
|
Linux RedHat 5.0 (CD)
|
$49
|
|
Web Server
|
Internet Information Server
|
$0
|
Apache
|
$0
|
|
E-Mail
|
Exchange 5.0 Enterprise
|
$6,400
|
Sendmail,UW IMAP,POP-3
|
$0
|
|
Telnet server
|
SLNet (4 user licensee)
|
$300
|
Included free unlimited licensee
|
$0
|
|
FTP server
|
Included with IIS
|
$0
|
Included
|
$0
|
|
Relational Database
|
SQL Server 6.5
|
$10,650
|
Just Logic SQL
|
$219
|
|
Proxy Server
|
Microsoft Proxy Server
|
$995
|
Squid Object Cache
|
$0
|
|
Backup Software
|
Included
|
$0
|
BRU, included
|
$0
|
|
Total Cost
|
|
$20,995
|
|
$268
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Users
|
100
|
|
100
|
|
|
Cost per seat
|
|
$212.95
|
|
$2.68
|
|
|
Other issues
|
Linux Administration
Office software for Linux
Firewall software
|
|
Here is a short How to start.
|
With the assumption that you have a fairly "standard" pc with not too much
new hardware, it should be a piece of cake to install and get started with a Linux
system.
If you want to try it out on a windows machine ( with windows installed ) this is not a problem.
The Linux installation sets up dual- booting automatically for you.
Suse is distributing a test-and-run-from the CD version. Very easy to use for a trial.
You need at least 2-300 Mb disk space on your windows disk.
Insert the disk and try it. And there is other run-from-the-cd linux systems as well.
You should preferably make space for the operating system on a separate part of the disk.
Free at least 1.5 - 2 Gb space.
Best / easiest way if you want to keep your
windows system is to
a) defragment your disk in your windows system and then
b) run PQ-Magic (commercial software, See below for free software)
to decrease the disk you have leaving space for the new system.
Install your Windows system 1:st ... or keep your old one, and then install Linux.
If you can scratch your disk entirely, you don't have to do anything,
the installation will Scratch and set up the disk for you.
If you want to do it manually, run FDISK from DOS, delete all partition and make
a new one or just leave it unpartitioned, the linux installation will partition it for
you anyway.
Use a bootable CD with the Linux distribution on it and restart your system.
Follow the instructions and read the help and explanatory text if you are uncertain
of anything.
If that information is nonsense to you, use a LIFELINE ... call a friend.
The computer does not have to have the power of a Win2000 machine, a pc aged a year
or two is fine. The Installation itself is done in 15-30 minutes and if you just use
a "normal" workstation / Internet machine. Choose to Install a standard
workstation in the installation process.
Free disk partitioning software:
Use this kind of software with great care, backup your data and read the documentation
and check your disk formats if you want to keep something on the disk!!
(partwd is perhaps the easiest and safest to use)
Parted -> Partition Manager is a program for partitioning of disks
and formatting FAT file systems, with FAT32 support. Has lots of features.
The program has an intuitive GUI and a command-line interface.
Fips -> For several operating systems. FIPS is a well tested and documented
program for non-destructive splitting of hard disk partitions.
Presz -> Partition resizer, small DOS executable, requires no installation.
Can re-arrange disk partitions, resize and move any DOS - Windows partition,
support for FAT 12/16/32.
|
