Linux vs Windows - Conquering a Windows Based World

IBM has released an open source software stack to help manage Linux Supercomputers.  The tools that have been tested and integrated by IBM include the Extreme Cluster Administration Toolkit (xCAT), Advance Toolchain for Power Systems 1.1, install scripts, a resource-management tool and a cluster-administration toolkit.

“Releasing the software as open source allows the development community to take part in adding and testing new features, which could be important in the rapidly changing supercomputer field, IBM said.”

Verizon has just announced that Linux will be its mobile operating system of choice, and will start delivering Linux based phones in 2009.  Kyle Malady, vice president of networks, also states that this does not preclude  Verizon from selling phones based on other OS’s, notably the Google Android and Blackberry. A quote from My Malady.

“We’re not adopting Linux to the exclusion of others, and will continue to support an agnostic approach, which is best for customers,” 

I am a current Verizon customer and have been very pleased with the existing service and Blackberry phone.  I can’t wait till 2009 to try out the new Linux-based phone!

In September 2008, around 9,000 computers within the Swiss Educational system will have abandoned Windows in favor of Linux. It is happening in Geneva, and has been put in motion by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Some advantages that were noted.

• Financial
• Software quality
• Students can work at home with same programs used at school

The original article in French can be found here, as well as the Google English translation.

The three way hacking challenge at the CanSecWest conference, pitted the MacBook Air, a Fujitsu Laptop running Vista, and Ubuntu Linux on a Sony Vaio against each other. In the end only the Ubuntu Linux was left standing.

“Under contest rules, qualifying exploits on day one had to target default installations of the operating system itself and winners were allowed to walk away with the hacked box and a $20,000 bounty. Contest organizers gradually expanded the eligible attack surface on days two and three by allowing an vulnerabilities in an increasing number of third party applications. The bounty dropped to $10,000 on day 2 and $5,000 on day three. No one bothered competing on day one.”

Cisco’s new routing platform has the potential to change the how enterprise view their WAN edge and Internet gateways in their network.  The ASR 1000 router debuts Cisco’s new IOS XE operating system which uses Linux at it core.

Cisco’s new Aggregation Services Router (ASR) 1000 platform is a WAN (define)aggregation platform that includes firewall, Session Border Control (SBC), VPN and other core networking features.

It is designed to have the speed and efficiency of a application specific integrated circuit with the flexibility of a microprocessor.

The Illinois based banking conglomerate, Metropolitan Bank Group, has successfully moved from Microsoft to Suse Linux. Its complete infrastructure is almost entirely based on Linux now. Because they grew via acquisitions they found that they were spending vast amounts of time in the field bringing remote locations into the infrastructure. To alleviate this problem Tom Johnson, IT Director, began a complete migration from Windows to Linux. Mr. Johnson saw an immediate increase the stability, efficiency, and a decrease expenditures with the migration. His advice

“Take a migration to Linux slowly. Work on proofs of concept. That way, if something blows up, it’s not huge. It’s called a migration for a reason”

Sounds like successful project overall, for more detailed information the full story is at http://www.linux.com

IPZS, a joint-stock company with Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, is increasing its reliability and productivity by implementing an Enterprise SOA platform based on JBOSS along with Redhat support.  IPZS is responsible for printing and dissemination of the Italian Official Gazette, government publications, security and anti-counterfeiting systems, fine art publishing and ID documents, including traditional and electronic ID cards, passports and smart cards.

A quote from Maurizio Quattrociocchi, IT & Telecoms Director at IPZS.

“Migrating our systems to JBoss solutions was a strategic choice for us. It not only offers economic benefits, but also provides constant innovation and enhancements from the community that are key aspects for a company like ours that provides high-value services” 

Linux is making inroads into the future of US military with programs such as the Future Combat System (FSC) and organizations such as DISA and DIA.

The adoption of open source software is increasing however there is not an overriding direction of how it should be accomplished. It is best summed up by Bernard Golden, chief executive officer of Navica, a system integrator.

“The adoption of open source technology is widespread but uneven in the Defense Department.There has clearly been an expanded awareness and penetration of open source. Some groups don’t do it at all, some use it and don’t even know it, and some actually advocate its use“

Some of the reasons that Linux and open source are being adopted within programs inlcude:

• Reduced cost
• Reduced time in which innovations in software can be incorporated into systems
• Security

I have also seen this first hand, where there is not a clear direction on the policy for use of open source software, but more programs and more organizations are adopting it. Open source is now becoming a relied upon and accepted option.

The French paramilitary police force is switching 70,000 desktops to Linux OS.  In what appears to the safe and evolving migration path, it first ditched IE for Firefox, they then used OpenOffice instead of MS Office.  Finally, once the users are familiar with the applications, the OS migration is like stepping off of a curb rather than leaping across the Grand Canyon.  The reasons for switch are pretty much in line with everyone else.

• Reducing Costs
• Reducing single vendor lock-in
• More control

“The 100,000 strong force’s leap to open source software is thought to be one of the biggest yet by a public organisation. Apparently, the French national assembly made the switch to Ubuntu last year.”

Ironically, it seems that Microsoft initiated the switchover to the Linux alternative by launching its anti-piracy policy in the Philippines. The government them responded by seeking out alternatives. In a sweeping move 13,000 Fedora Linux and 10,000 Ubuntu Linux computers have have been deployed within Philippine schools in the country replacing old Windows PCs. It was discovered that the old Windows PCs were not being used because nobody knew how to use them

A quote from and independent open source consultant Ricardo Gonzalez who worked on the project.

“People in the government now understand Linux can do so much for so little outlay,” he said. “In a brand new computer 50 percent goes to the operating system and office suite, so how many people can afford that?”

This should be an interesting case to follow, to discover if Linux can be a useful learning tool in the education system.