Understanding Linux |
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| Linux was developed in 1991 by Linus Torvalds, a Finnish student studying at the University of Helsinki, and was built as a hobby. As it gained attention with his peers, Linus opened up the code for everyone to pore over, modify and enhance. He did this using the GNU GPL (General Public License), which allows free distribution of and free access to code developed under the GPL. This moment of altruism kick-started the Linux revolution, and from there it was picked up by thousands of individual programmers across the world who each took the code and enhanced it. |
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| Linux itself refers to the kernel, which is the heart of the operating system. Linux shares a lot of its basic design with UNIX, which made it highly attractive in its early days to system administrators who had experience working with UNIX servers. This, coupled with the open nature of the code, transformed Linux into a solution that found its way into many different companies. |
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What does being free mean? |
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Linux is fundamentally a free operating system in that its underlying code is available for anyone to review and modify as they see fit. Because many different people review every line of code, this results in programs and operating systems that contain relatively few bugs and are more secure. Many different people and organizations contribute to Linux-over 2,500 HP developers alone actively contribute to Linux and other open source programs.
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Just because Linux is free doesn't mean that it's limited in application. Linux is widely deployed in thousands of companies around the globe, ranging from one-person start-ups to those with thousands of employees located across several continents. These companies rely on Linux to provide a stable platform for their business, or use Linux in combination with other operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows, Sun Solaris and many others.
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Understanding distributions |
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Linux comes in many different distributions (also known as distros), providing software and applications that run on top of the kernel to make it useful. Most major distributions provide a complete operating system for servers, workstations and desktops. In addition, they come bundled with a number of open source programs that provide productivity tools, graphics capabilities, networking functions, media recording and playback services and more. A few of the most prominent Linux distributions are Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise, which you'll learn about later in this guide.
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Examining business use cases for Linux |
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So what makes Linux such an enticing option? It's not uncommon for Linux-based systems to measure uptime in months and years, rather than days. In addition, Linux is renowned for being a secure operating system, making it difficult for people to hack into and cause havoc. In addition, Linux is a less-expensive alternative to some of the other proprietary operating systems, something which may factor into your decision-making process.
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Perhaps the simplest and most common use of Linux is as a file server, providing access to files and storage for a company. Linux provides a protocol called Samba that enables you to quickly and easily set up a file server that's accessible by Linux clients and users running Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Vista. Using Samba, you can create Windows domains that users access as if they were logging onto Windows Server. Samba also enables integration with existing Active Directory implementations, making it a flexible alternative to Windows Server. In addition, you can use Samba as a print server, providing access to multiple printers to a Windows domain or workgroup.
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Note: Linux can take care of a number of internal networking functions, such as managing internal network addresses and firewalling against external would-be hackers.
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Moving on from file serving, Linux is also at work on the web, providing access to the immensely popular Apache web server application in addition to the JBoss Java-based application. Linux is also used as a platform for web development in PHP and Perl. MySQL provides a powerful relational database system that can be used in any kind of development, but is frequently found powering PHP and Apache on Linux forming the LAMP software platform.
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| Other business uses include: |
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Email: The de facto email server supplied with many distributions is Sendmail, the largest single deployed email system in the world. With Linux and Sendmail, you can quickly and easily set up an email system in a small or large environment. |
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Custom applications: Because of the open source nature of Linux, developers have easy access to code, letting them customize the kernel to their particular environment. |
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Note: HP Open Source Middleware Stacks (OSMS) offers building blocks of top-rated software components, letting you customize middleware stacks from open source and commercial software, such as JBoss and MySQL.
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Desktop PCs and workstations: Providing an operating system and a wide range of desktop application software, Linux is a great tool for office-based workers, giving you access to complete office suites, email and the internet. |
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Not sure if you can make Linux work in your current infrastructure? Consider starting small by implementing a single Linux-based file server or web server. Once you see that Linux integrates well with other operating systems, you can add on as needed. The flexibility of Linux is one of its primary strengths, and HP has the resources and flexibility to ensure that your Linux implementation is a success regardless of how fully you want to incorporate it into your existing infrastructure.
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Explore - Exploring Linux distributions supported by HP |
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Examine - Examining HP hardware and virtualization in a Linux environment |
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Support - HP support through HP Services: your helping hand for the future |
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Next: Explore |
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