Linux AS a Server

1. LINUX ENGINEERING

The LINUX ENGINEERING program is an umbrella program covering our business activities related to the audit, installation and administration of servers with the Linux operating system. We have long experience in OS Linux administration, and our employees are real experts. Linux is an open and free operating system able to work as a perfect server. The fact that the number of newly installed servers with the Linux operating system is higher than the number of servers with Windows is self-explanatory. Now, let us present some basic facts and advantages speaking for Linux in the function of a server.

2. Why is the Linux - Server Beneficial to You?

What are the main advantages of using the OS GNU/Linux in comparison to other - proprietary - systems?

2.1. Protection of Price and Investment

Linux is a free operating system. The costs of purchase and operation are lower than with other systems. Why? The question of price is closely connected to the question of freedom of the operating system, its openness, and availability for free.

As for standard proprietary operating systems, their functions are implemented in accordance with the business strategy of the manufacturer. However, business strategies can never fully match customer needs. What's more, further development of the proprietary systems are subjected to licensing process as they are linked to certain SW components. Unfortunately, the presently used commercial SW licenses - by their concept - free the manufacturers from warranty and impose a burden on the users.

There are many products you can't even try out: First, you have to agree with the license, and pay the license fee (the price of the product). If, for some reason, the product doesn't fit your needs, there is nothing you can do. The manufacturer doesn't guarantee that the program will do what you want it to do. Or - another example - what if, after a half a year, you decide to replace the purchased SW item? Nobody would pay back the money you had invested. What if you purchase a product with the intention to use it for a limited time only?

The situation with Linux is very different. Limitations are rather exceptional, and are linked to narrowly-specialized components only. The free Linux particularly means freedom for your IT to try out the assumed best solution before you invest your money. Then, very often you realize that the investment you had planned is unnecessary - since your requirements have been met by a set consisting of SW components for free that are distributed as a part of the Linux OS.

2.2. Compatibility

Manufacturers of proprietary SW don't normally guarantee compatibility with future versions, they don't tell you that your purchased product will be completed and upgraded with the newest technologies; instead, they make you buy the same product again, and for a large amount of money, due a minor but necessary improvement. Or - even worse - you have to pay for the product again and again just to be "compatible with your environment". Of course they could maintain the compatibility - but why should they? It is the incompatibility, the manufacturers of proprietary SW love to say, making us develop new versions?

2.3. Security

What is the most important thing in server operating systems? Security, security, security. The need of security for your network and data will grow with your company. A secured network and well-protected and secured server will allow you to sleep tight, but not only this: Aren't viruses, bugs and spyware deeply under your company standards and company culture? Linux is much safer than proprietary SW. This is the motivation that makes manufacturers of proprietary SW hide likely problems, which means an undoubted safety risk. The effort to underbid and impress potential users often results in rather obscure and security-ignoring methods and procedures. Linux does not pander to clients, since Linux is created by programmers for whom security means "alpha", not "omega".

2.4. Openness

Manufacturers of proprietary SW are unable to guarantee their support of the product. Of course, the license statement says the manufacturer shall provide support; however, after two years, what if the manufacturer no longer exists? The SW was proprietary, so you can hardly find anybody who has access to it, not to mention the support... Example? Netscape products: The popular Mozilla Firefox Explorer would not have been developed without opening the code of Netscape Navigator first.

Contrary to this, Linux and thousands of various packages stand for truly open and free software - showing all the attributes you can imagine: Open for the past and for the future; safe due to its transparency; free in the method of distribution and usage. There is clear evidence that the model is live and working: The Internet. Isn't it based on open standards? And what's more, open technologies are used, linked mostly to the Linux operating system and its derivates. Many users have no idea that at the other end of their Internet connection a server is provided with the GNU/Linux system, and that these servers guide the data transferred via the Internet for the whole time.

2.5. Flexibility

It is obvious that proprietary SW has a strong position on the market, and that a well-maintained proprietary product designed for particular purposes might be better than any open alternative. However, a server operating system is the basic core of your network, your Internet, and any other communication in any modern form. This server must provide proper opportunities; you need to do things that none of the commercial manufacturers may ever dream of. What's all this about? The Linux is a well-tested and secured server operating system; magic! Any refinement, any working solution, regardless of who the author is, is shared, and available for all. What if... if you have a problem: What is the probability that you're the very first in the world who has it? Nearly zero - because there is always a solution at hand.

3. How do I arrange for Linux? What type of Linux?

The fact that you can get Linux for free doesn't contradict the concept of Linux distributions. The thing is that - actually - Linux is just a kernel of the system with which packages with other programs are bundled. Combinations of those packages may vary - and this is how the particular Linux distributions differ one from another. The distributors (e.g. Red Hat, SUSE/Novell, Mandriva, Ubuntu, Debian) want to develop the best possible combinations of packages, in order to create an ideal distribution; they then provide their distributions via the Internet or on CDs. Their earnings are derived from services, SW support, and alliance with leading technological partners (IBM, Sun, etc.).

The WebStep Linux Center, our sales center and showroom, will let you get to know commonly used Linux distributions, try them out, and purchase them afterwards. There is always professional assistance available from our consultants. Although we use the full offer of distributions (Red Hat, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server - WebStep s.r.o. is a partner of Novell, etc.), our preference is the professional free distribution, Debian GNU/Linux. Debian uses the Linux kernel (i.e. the basis of the operating system); however, most of the basic tools in the operating system come from the GNU project, so the system is called GNU/Linux.

4. Why Do We Prefer Debian?

open logo

Most distributors and other software houses are standard business companies founded to create and maintain a profit - which is not the best motivation for customers, by the way. Which company would happily announce errors and security problems in their system? Here it is, the basic reason to choose Debian GNU/Linux.

The company called Software for Public Interest (SPI), the company standing behind the Debian OS, is not a business organization, so it does not have a reason to hide security or other problems of the operating system. A basic document of the community around the Debian system is the Social Contract that formulates a kind of social commitment of the community towards the world around it. The Debian system developers share common values originating from their work, and provide their own results and products to one another and to those around them, for free. The main advantage of this sharing is the accessibility of the solutions being created, which is closely linked to benefits for all, especially the professional development and growing reputation of the community members.

Nevertheless, the starting point was not ideology: When we made the decision to prefer Debian GNU/Linux, there was another reason. Thanks to the altruistic motivation of the community around the Debian project, Debian GNU/Linux is generally considered an etalon of stability, security and administrability, not only among Linux distributions but also among server operating systems in general. Contributors to the project are leading world names in the branch of programming - important technological companies. Debian GNU/Linux has won a position of example distribution. Recently, the whole project has been transformed in a metasystem, i.e. a source from which many other distributions of GNU/Linux are derived (Ubuntu, Xandros, Linspire, Progeny). The fact that Debian is not backed up by a strong business company is, in a way, an obstacle, so Debian cannot become a dominant among the server distributions of the Linux operating system. However, this is its greatest advantage, too.