Victory-parade for open and free Unix
http://www.lege.com/datateknik9810.html
Translated by permission
(1).
Original swedish text copyright Datateknik, Sweden:
http://www.datateknik30.se/pub/ipsart.asp?art_id=2345.
The below interview was published as the last article in a "special"
on Linux with the following headlines:
Omstartkulturen förödande för affärskritiska system
Windows NT 5.0 försenad ett år
Netware 5 blir helt IP-baserat: Förändringar bakom kulisserna
Kim Lundgren, användare
Torbjörn Gard, användare
Linuxutvecklingen sker med veto
Segertåg för öppen och gratis unix (translated below).
Victory-parade for open and free Unix
Leif Erlingsson is a Linux programmer. He is the brain and architect
behind among other things the gateway between the Internet and
Riksskatteverkets (Swedish version of IRS) 15,000 employees. Although,
what they do not know, is that all Internet mail to rsv.se flows through
Linux equipped machines.
- The situation is probably rather similar in many other places, Leif says.
Leif Erlingsson has been online since 1988, when he first ran into Unix
and the Internet, working for Ericsson Telecom's Language and Support
system Laboratory. At the moment, Leif is working for WM-Data, and run his
own business, Data Lege, which does support/consulting for
Unix/Linux/Sendmail, preferably logged in through the Internet. Leif is
also running a mailing list where business critical usage of Linux is being
discussed.
Computer technicians of today have learnt to program for Unix on Linux and
FreeBSD. This has proven to leave a considerable footprint, especially in
the attitude towards products and companies. When they get out and work,
some are even openly hostile towards Microsoft and Windows NT. Therefore,
free Unix system, such as Linux and FreeBSD has started to crawl in to the
computer departments using the back door.
How many are sure it is a Windows NT server you connect to? Many computer
departments have more or less secretly installed Unix servers who perform
NT duties. Why? Because it's free. Free always tastes the best. If RSV
(IRS) would use Windows NT with Exchange, the e-mail clients alone would
cost 1000kr (about 125 USD) per user. Linux and FreeBSD cost nothing. The
POP3 server is free. Samba, the software that performs the NT sharing
services is also free. That makes a Unix machine on the net seen as a
Windows NT server by all Windows 95 clients which also are connected to the
net.
The computer departments are saving money, and it's not a big chance that
any executive would find out, seeing the tailor made systems are faster,
and at least as reliable as any Windows Windows NT system.
- Many use Linux as a development platform, and later move the system to
the target platform, i.e. another Unix, Leif says. It also applies for
companies who never release the Linux version to the customer. Linux is
the operating system with the most rapid growth rate on the market today.
If this trend sticks, free Unix systems will soon pass Windows NT in number
of copies installed. There are many sayings about NT and Unix.
Technically, Windows NT is no match for Unix. Unix is faster, as it can be
better adjusted, and thereby get better performance. Unix can be made more
compact and scalable. Then there are more subtle differences. Unix has
been developed for 30 years. Windows NT has existed for five. Unix exists
for all platforms on the market, from game computers such as Amiga, to
super computers, such as Cray. Windows NT is available for Intel and Alpha.
The big question is in what way is Windows NT better? And, which solution
is cheaper in the long run? Computers cost. Software licenses cost. You
need support, upgrade, and service agreements. The hardware has to be
updated. How is the availability of technically competent staff when it
comes to recruiting new staff? If the systems are down, how much does it
cost in lost revenue and service. If the systems crash, what does it cost
to recreate databases and gile systems? How long does it take? If
compatibility problems occur, how do you solve it, and what does it cost?
Technically, there are some differences between Windows NT and Linux. To
recreate Windows NT from a backup is not possible. Windows NT uses a
registry file, which renders it impossible to use a backup to recreate a
system on a new machine.
To save a Unix system, a copy of the file system is enough. You can use
take any configuration, and restart using the backup. The only thing needed
is a copy of the /etc directory, and it fits on a floppy disk. To recreate
a crashed Windows Windows NT machine, it takes a complete system reinstall,
configuration, and reinstalling of all software. Windows NT can not 'grow'
in the file system either - you can not 'mount' a file system in Windows
NT. You have to install a new disk. In Unix, a disk is a resource, in NT,
it's a physical unit. The boiling point is often which system that is best
suited to run Windows software, most often Microsoft Office. And of
course, the comparison is a dud, as Unix can not run Windows software. The
question you should ask yourself is "How do I get the job done in the
easiest way?" The problem for software developers is a question of
responsibility. How to guarantee that the system works with a certain
software and hardware.
- As far as Linux is concerned, the situation is clear, even if it's
slightly different that you're used to handle at the companies. Instead of
only having one way to go, as with NT, Solaris, AIX, HPUX, Digital Unix,
AS400, etc, Linux has many ways. Thanks to open source, you can buy
support from anyone you wish.
There are even companies that sell the whole setup, from hardware to
operating systems and warranty plus support, although maybe not that much
in Sweden yet. We do have some players already however, such as Signum
Support, who both develop their own Linux based products and sell
commercial Linux support.
Among other things, they have built large parts of the Östgötabank
homebanking on the web. There are also smaller players, such as for
instance Nohup. Even the established Unix consult companies have started
supporting Linux.
Internationally, VA Research in the US of A sells complete Linux systems a
par with the most powerful sun servers, down to the PC level. As a total
supplier, they naturally take the same responsibility as Solaris, AIX,
HPUX, Digital Unix, AS400, etc. There are even some signs that the 'normal'
PC retailers in the USA start to realise that they get revenue from selling
complete Linux servers.
- When the Linux market in Sweden grows, these support organizations will
grow to cover the needs even here. The forces, which make up the market,
will make sure for that.
- The advantage of Linux is that you got other options. If you already own
a server, or want to set up a Linux server yourself, you can get the
assistance of the "Hardware-HOWTO" document that is to be found on every
Linux CD. Myself, I always consult this document, and also the Linux
kernels source code and documentation before I buy new hardware. I have
both bought preconfigured PCs with Linux [this is slightly incorrect, I
missed this proof-reading the interview -- I installed Linux myself on it],
and built one myself. I also built my first Linux PC in this way, and of
course helped friends and relatives to get started with Linux.
Additionally, there are loads of newsgroups and mailing lists on the
Internet where you can get help. If you buy some very modern gadget, you
sometimes need to search the web for a special driver to link into the
kernel. We did this on my last work, when the kernel at that period did
not support the 100 Mbyte [should have said Mbit] Ethernet card we wanted
to use. It required a recompile of the Linux kernel, but there were no
other problems.
When you buy a complete Linux system from some Linux retailer everything is
of course configured, so if you don't want to hack around for yourself,
that might be the best thing.
Another advantage with Linux, as opposed to the rest of the PC market, is
that a Linux server got all the standard components for the Internet and
the Web without having to buy them as a costly extra. It's already a part
of the OS. It means that if it doesn't work, and you bought a complete
system with warranty and support, you're protected in a whole other way
than if you sit at home and hack a server together by pieces from different
retailers.
- The only real drawback I've had with Linux this far, is that there still
are too few of the 'heavy' applications available for Linux. It's not a
technical matter, but completely controlled by market based decisions made
by Oracle and other players. But with the increased use of Linux in
business critical applications, I think this will come to an end within a
relatively short period of time.
Corel has announced WordPerfect Office for Linux already. Also, Sun has
placed themselves in the board of Linux International, an organisation that
works for marketing Linux. Sun states that they have no plans on bundling
Linux with their workstations even if there is a Sparc version of Linux
available. However, Sun plan on supporting developers of commercial Linux
products, such as Red Hat and Caldera.
One thing that worries is that Linux is available in quite a few different
distributions, or dialects.
- It's never any problem, as Linux automatically configures at compile time
for a new platform. The big commercial programs are surprisingly enough
seldom as flexible. The decelopers worries about potentially increased
support costs for Linux than for other platforms. I am convinced that even
commercial developers will learn what the Open Source community has known
for ten years. Then there are also ways to work around the problem, by
only supporting the software on certain dialects, such as RedHat, Caldera
and S.u.S.E. Linux, a rather common choice.
The main reason to use Linux, is that it's free. But there is no such
thing as a free lunch. Someone always have to pay.
- There is a big number of companies who have realised the use of having
access to the source code of everything they are doing, who use Open Source
(http://www.opensource.org/)
as Linux (http://www.linux.org/) and GNU
(http://www.gnu.org/)
and make additions and extensions that later is
recycled into the different software packages, or the Linux kernel itself.
More and more hardware manufacturers supply drivers for Linux, or at least
make the specs public so someone in the Linux collective can write drivers.
NASA has by developing a super parallel computer with Linux added to the
CD's with "Extreme Linux" from RedHat. If you need a super parallel
computer on some tens of maxed PC, there is software for $30 available from
RedHat. Maintenance gets cheaper with Linux, as the system is more
effective. It can be administered over the Internet, or via a web based
front-end, adjusted after the needs of the organisation. Unix is, as
opposed to Windows NT, a true multi-user system, that permits remote logins
on several different levels. Additionally, it's possible to log in from a
completely text based session via telnet, to edit configuration files, run
window based tools over the network using X-Windows or Java versions of
system administration tools.
- It's always possible to automate every system administration task by
letting a program handle the login and actions, whatever they might be,
through a dialog with the server on the telnet port. The possibilities for
an effective major maintenance of enormous systems are endless. Only the
human imagination sets the limits.
- Also, you don't have to think about or administer licenses. It's just a
matter of turning up the heat if you need more juice.
One should use Usenet News and also some mailing list for security problems
in software, and search for information on the Internet. Of course, it
takes time, but there is an extensive collection of FAQ's and HOWTO's on
the web, and if you cant find the answer in them, a question about Linux in
a Usenet group often gets answered within 15 minutes.
It's not for nothing a non-commercial company won the InfoWorld Media
Group's poll for "Best Technical Support Award 1997". Instead, the Usenet
users did. It is on Usenet and the Internet you get help without expensive
support numbers. One of the people in the poll gave this analogy: "A
Microsoft Access customer calls Microsoft regarding a tough problem.
Imagine that the Microsoft employee shows you the way to a web page where
you free of charge can download the latest version of SQL Server and a free
of charge copy of C++ so you can solve your problem, and then follow this
up by one week later mailing you a program written in his/hers spare time
that extends your program in some way.. 'Impossible! It will never
happen!' you say, but out there in reality, this kind of incident happens
hundreds of times, every day of the week, all of the year."
What costs extra is of course that it is a part of good etiquette to help
someone else some time. A good rule of thumb can be to help someone else
once a day.
- You only need to think that it wasn't that long ago you thought the
Internet was only a place for socially misfit computer nerds, scientists,
gadget maniacs and hackers. The Internet got big because the students
learnt it in the universities. Today, the students learn not just
Internet, but also Linux. Linux will spread like a leap fire, and become
very big. There will always be people knowledgeable in Linux employed, but
it'll be considerably harder to find people with Windows NT, HP-UX or
Solaris competence. Now when the year 2000 problems are especially current,
it should be every project managers dream to be able to search through all
source code. You can with Linux, but not with other products.
- I think it's a question of generations.. Bosses does not know what Linux
or the Internet is, but the students coming fresh out of KTH or the system
engineer program got it at home in the apartment.
- And about the old-timers, if they know any Unix today, they have no
problems with Linux. The other way around is a bit more difficult. Since
Linux is so easy to use and avoids many of the moments of irritation you
encounter in other unixes, it's not certain that a Linux knowledgeable
student can manage the companies Solaris or HP-UX server. I have some
problems evaluating this myself, as I started with SunOS, Solaris and HP-UX
way before I tried Linux the first time in the summer of 1995. Myself I
started using Unix and the Internet at Ericsson Telecom already 1988, so
I'm one of the old-timers myself. In many cases, Linux is technically
superior, but the problem is that you have to be brave and know the market
as an executive if you dare to put money on Linux. No one ever got fired
for buying Microsoft, but if you'd buy Linux and it didn't work, you'd
probably get the boot.
- It's always like that, you have to know the market to dare to bet on
something new. I think it's better for the career to succeed with Linux
than to fail with Microsoft, so if those are the choices, what should you
choose? If you want to see success projects with Linux involved, there are
plenty of good examples. The US postal service uses 900 Linux systems for
automatic address reading. Each systems consists of five double Pentium
Pro 200 MHz and one single Pentium Pro 200 MHz that all run Linux. The
computer animation in the movie Titanic is mostly made using a Linux super
parallel computer. There are loads of stories in the press, but the most
technically in depth one is probably the article "Linux Helps Bring Titanic
To Life" in the magazine Linux Journal. Web copy:
http://www.ssc.com/lj/issue46/2494.html
- But sure, if you take the responsibility to try new technology that has
never before been used in the organisation and it goes wrong, you stand
there with the dogs head [Swedish expression, hope it is an english one as
well...] It's always like that. Therefore it's wise to try first, and start
with a smaller scale project. A failure only means you haven't read up
enough, or used hardware that was not verified for usage with Linux.
Verify everything, or buy preinstalled Linux systems from a Linux reseller.
To be successful always takes business know how. The rules doesn't change
just because you use Linux, just the conditions. As with everything new,
some pioneers take the worst shots, but will also develop the deepest
competence. After that, the ones that gets the highest economical benefit
of the new, and lastly, the late ones. Just make up your mind. Soon there
are only tickets left to the last ride, for those who didn't make it.
Jan Sandred, Senior Editor
References to above interview -- in Swedish:
http://www.lege.com/datateknik/98-10/
Copyright © 1998, 2000 DATA LEGE
Updated Jul 04, 1998, 13 Jun 2000, 7 Sep 2000
(1): Translated by permission.
Original swedish text copyright Datateknik, Sweden:
http://www.datateknik30.se/pub/ipsart.asp?art_id=2345.
The below interview was published as the last article in a "special"
on Linux with the following headlines:
Omstartkulturen förödande för affärskritiska system
Windows NT 5.0 försenad ett år
Netware 5 blir helt IP-baserat: Förändringar bakom kulisserna
Kim Lundgren, användare
Torbjörn Gard, användare
Linuxutvecklingen sker med veto
Segertåg för öppen och gratis unix (translated above).
The translation was done by one of my friends because I
didn't have the time to do it myself. If he would prefer not to
be anonymous he need just say the word, and I'll publish his
name here.
Leif Erlingsson