Foundation of Linux

Foundation of Linux

To make sure that all the participants must be able to Install, Configure and Administer Linux Desktops and Linux Servers up to the enterprise level.

Provide them with the skills that will help them achieve the goals of their lives.

QUICK FACTS about LINUX

In 1998, IBM compared its fastest computer, Dip Blue, to a 64 nodes cluster running Linux...The result is:

The Linux cluster was about 4 times faster... for the quarter of the price.

They are not the only company to have made an actual Linux test, but the difference is that they published the result, and acted accordingly:

IBM invested

USD   75,00,00,000  in 1999

USD 1,00,00,00,000 in 2000

USD 1,00,00,00,000 in 2001

Now Linux as operating system is used in their largest customers back offices. Even “Wall Street” is using Linux these days !

LINUX is Multi Platform

This means that by choosing Linux, you choose a portable operating system on which you can run or develop portable applications.

Linux runs on Sparc (Sun), Alpha (Compaq), Mips, ARM, x86 (Intel), PowerPC, 680x0 (Motorola), RS6000 (IBM), and so on...

So, when choosing Linux for your operating system, you open choices to you. You don't reduce your choices to no other choice than Intel running IBM compatible PC !

Choose Linux to choose Freedom of Choice!!

LINUX is Open Source

This means you have access to the code of the operating system. You can actually learn computer science, change the code and experience the result.

You can even participate to the development code.

Linux is good for students. Other non open source operating systems do not allow learning how a system works. They don't allow you neither to try new developments or experiment a ­ potentially genial idea.

With non open source systems, your role is reduced to license buyer.

Choose the freedom ! Choose Linux !

LINUX is Multi Vendor

This means that by choosing Linux, you choose to depend on a set of (more than 340) Linux distributors in the world, plus the open source community.

This is definitely safer than depending on a unique vendor. It is also saner: prices ­if any are driven by the market, not by monopoly.

This also means that the distributors are fighting to give you the best service, the best documentation, the easiest installation procedures, the quickest updates, the best security updates, the smartest trainings, the most appropriate assistance, the most efficient helpdesk...in order to keep you as customer !

Choose Linux to avoid monopolies !

LINUX is Cheap

Linux, as operating system, is and will always remain free (in the sense of a free beer). There is no license to pay to anybody. More than that, Linux

cost of ownership is very low because of:

• You don't need expensive anti-virus software.

• You don't need to maintain a license database.

• You don't need to reinstall crashed/corrupted systems

• You don't need to install expensive remote management software

• You harmed by very old well known bugs that have not yet been fixed

• You can choose your operating system supplier (no monopoly)

• You can choose between various equivalent software (alternative                  solutions exists on Linux)

• You can adapt the system to your exact needs: you remain master of your    software solution.

Choose Linux because it's cost effective !

LINUX is not Controlled by NSA

The NSA (National Security Agency, USA) and Microsoft recognized that two sets of secret keys where shipped with Windows in order to allow either Microsoft and NSA to enter any Windows running computer in the world.

Do we accept a foreign security agency to control our bank accounts, our official mails, emails, our justice records ?

Do we accept our armies to run such software ?

Linux is open source. Anybody can check if there is such a backdoor in it. NSA is working on a certificated secure version of the Linux kernel for USA use, because they know Windows is not secure. If USA chooses Linux for security, why not us?

Use Linux because it's not controlled by

foreign intelligence agency.

LINUX is not by a Company

You can choose Win*** as preferred operating system, delivering Win*** solutions to your customers. If you do that, you know that soon or later, you will loose your business in favor of Micr****. Why ?

Because as soon as Micr**** will identify your business as significant, they will use the same technique they used against Corel, Netscape, Borland, ... They will change the API such a way that your software will become unstable, inefficient and buggy. They will develop hidden API that only their software will be able to use, giving them unfair market advantage... And they will win: they are playing on their backyard... And it's you that choose to fight with them there !

A good counterexample is the success of Sony in the game market: their PlayStation II is NOT RUNNING Micr**** system.

Choose Linux to not choose some competitor's

controlled system for your developments.

LINUX is a Standard Platform

When you develop on Linux, your software will likely use standardized APIs from standardized programming languages (Perl, Bash, Tcl/Tk, Java, Posix, AnsiC, C++...) so that your software will be easily ported on other operating systems:

• BSD

• Mac OSX

• Solaris

• HPUX

• AIX

• True64

• Irix

• ...

With a bit of care, it is even possible to develop directly pure portable code.

Choose Linux to develop platform independent code

LINUX is a Long Term Platform

Linux has no (marketing) reasons to become incompatible from releases to releases. Far from that. When you develop on Linux, you know that you are using longterm available development tools, APIs, languages... So that your software will last and will not require porting on new operating system flavor.

Ex: The bank software developed in 60's on Cobol is still usable on Linux.

What about availability of VB 4 on XP ?

What to do when an operating system provided by only one vendor is not maintained even less than 10 years after its first release ?

Can you rely on such a system for your business ?

Choose Linux because it's long lasting.

LINUX is a Multi Console

Linux comes usually with 6  text based consoles, plus 1 graphical one. On that graphical console, you have by default 4 virtual screens.

First users gets confused by so many "screens". Once used to it, systems providing only one desktop will look frustrating to you. Why should you be limited to only one desktop ? Why not launch the word processing tool in plain screen on one console, the web browser in an another one, and leave my preferred game paused on the third one ?

You can increase the number of such consoles to 8, 12 or 16... And surprise ! You will not even need to reboot to enjoy it !

Choose Linux to increase your working environment

LINUX is Mature

Linux can offer all services you can dream about:

– File client/server

– Mail client/server

– Web client/server

– Print client/server

– Software development environment

– Routing capabilities

– Clustering, load balancing

– Embedded applications

– Real time applications

– Multilingual support

– Editing/Authoring software

– Database/Data warehouse applications ...

Choose Linux because it is ready !

LINUX is Embedded OS

Linux is not only a computer operating system. It is also the system of choice for embedded applications.

Linux can run on computers having few memory (4MB...) no hard disk, no screen, no keyboard, no mouse, no graphical card, no floppy...

Smallest systems includes Linux running in a watch. Several embedded Linux projects exists, using Linux in phones, car radios, washing achines...

The system is so cheap, efficient, stable, and open that it perfectly fits the requirements of such embedded systems. Linux has been elected by the association of American digital TV broadcasters as platform of choice for their set-top boxes.

Choose Linux as embedded operating system

LINUX is Virus FREE

Because of its proper memory management, because of the user application code is executed by the processor in non-privileged mode, because the access to I/O and hardware can't bypass the operating system control, Linux is virus free.

Despite Linux is the most used operating system in the world, virus developers still develops mainly for Windows. Why ? Because it is much simpler.

Microsoft stated recently that "Microsoft products are not designed to prevent propagation of viruses"... Aside of that, Linux, using the results of tens of years of research in computer software, is almost virus free. So that MacAfee provides its antivirus software on Linux... Not to clean Linux from viruses, but because it is safer to run the anti virus software on a virus-free platform !

Use Linux: it is virus free!

LINUX is Prestigious

Linux is used by the most prestigious companies in the world. Sometimes, their leaders are not even aware, because they didn't had the courage of taking the right decision, so it is made without warning them.

Other companies wants to hide this, either because they are not proud of using free software for marketing reasons (as Rolls Royce or Microsoft) or because they don't want their competitors to know about this leading technology, considering the use of Linux as a trade secret.

Some are no more free of taking the right decision: some commercial operating system vendors are shareholders, or they signed a commercial agreement... However, prestigious companies are using Linux, such as:

* Toyota * EDF * Deutch Bank * Boeing * Alcatel * Nortel * IBM * NASA * France Telecom * P&T Luxembourg * AT&T * British Telecom * Pixar * Sun Microsystems * SESAstra * Avis * Bharti Telecom * Indian Railways * NIC * IFCCO * LIC and Indian Army ...

Linux is in the largest businesses of the world