When will Linux come of age?

What started out as a hobbyist software project in Linus Torvalds's bedroom has grown into a major challenge to the proprietary world of server computing.

Linux is now a major powerhouse in the operating system (OS) market, despite it being freeware and open source.

It continues to take on the likes of Windows NT, Unix variants and MacOS in niche environments, while the low running costs and modest hardware requirements have helped establish it as a firm favourite among cost-conscious internet service providers (ISPs), hosting companies and indeed anyone looking to run a back-office server on the cheap.

But how has Linux come so far so quickly, and without the support and nurturing of a massive corporate, development and marketing machine such as those of Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Oracle, Hewlett Packard (HP) or IBM?

According to analyst Gartner, it's down to the establishment of a grass roots user base which, in turn, has helped to argue its case in the workplace and effect a gradual programme of adoption.

"A technology must take root deeply in the IT infrastructure or get blown away by the next technology storm," explained George Weiss, Linux research director at Gartner.

"The roots put down by Linux, and open source software generally, have spread horizontally throughout network infrastructures as a consequence of the internet. Most Linux deployments revolve around the edge of the network and in clusters."

While it's now commonplace for a large organisation to have Linux tucked away somewhere in the business, the bias remains on network functions and services, rather than on the desktop, according to Weiss.

"Eighty per cent of Gartner clients - typically companies with 1,000 employees or more - have Linux deployed somewhere in the business," he said.

"But at least 80 per cent of these deployments are in appliance and network functions, file and print services, web front-end applications, or computational server farms.

"A select number of open source products that run on Linux are enjoying success among businesses that are adopters of leading-edge technology, and among mainstream adopters.

"In particular, the Apache web server and Tomcat servlet engine are widely used by independent software vendors, as well as directly in IT departments."

Applied uses for Linux
The focus on networking and back-end applications has saddled Linux with significant baggage. Despite its popularity it's still seen as a server OS, and subsequent development has continued to focus on that side and has restricted its push to the desktop.

IDC analyst Dan Kusnetzky said: "Among the first uses of Linux in commercial settings was server-side file and print sharing.

"Freely available open source software tools, such as the Samba file and print service software, support for many network protocols, and web server software such as Apache, were of great interest to organisations looking for ways to lower hardware and software costs, while still working with reliable, robust, and customisable tools."

Apache has been one of the biggest success stories for the platform, providing it with an established application at a time when demand for web servers was exploding.

Coupled with the free nature of the product and the accessibility of source code, Linux Apache web servers are now the cornerstone of ISPs, web hosts and companies looking for low-cost internal web and intranet server systems.

The corporate sector is also turning to Linux as a platform for business applications. Toyota Motor Sales, the Japanese car giant's US sales arm, is responsible for 49 states across the US.

It needed a way to store and forward cached content but, rather than opt for a bespoke solution, the company wanted an off-the-shelf cacheing application that would allow specific customised modifications.

Toyota opted for Red Hat Linux 6.1, running on Dell PowerApp servers. The actual specs on systems deployed are surprisingly low, compared with a Windows server solution. It uses meagre Intel Pentiums running at 700Mhz, with 128MB Ram, and 20GB to 30GB of drive space. The cost per site is estimated at less than £1,000.

Apache configured the Red Hat Linux package with modifications by Toyota. The company altered key components of the Apache code. It added SNMP management utilities, DNS, network time protocol and Secure Shell into the server, and optimised the network settings.

While the desktop implementation of Linux has yet to take off, there is some growth, particularly in the web browser market.

This market had been dominated by Netscape, through its Mozilla open source project, but now faces competition from Norwegian outfit Opera. Its fast and small footprint browser has enjoyed some success in the Windows environment, but the dominance of Microsoft's Internet Explorer continues to stifle its progress.

"Opera marked the beginning of a significant and healthy browser war on Linux, particularly in areas such as Asia," explained Dean Kakridas, vice president of desktop products at Opera. "The result has been that a great deal of attention has been focused on the Linux community."

There has also been significant interest among manufacturers of embedded computing appliances and network hardware.

"We see enormous benefits in security using Linux," said Jude O'Reilley, director of product marketing at security vendor Aventail. "We can strip down the operating system to its essentials, harden the file system, and layer on the most necessary components.

"Reduction in complexity equals improvement in security for us. Moreover, Linux is under far more public scrutiny than other commercial operating systems we've supported before."

Aventail has launched a security product for operating virtual private networks (VPNs) using a dedicated appliance, which runs an embedded Linux operating system.

Because Linux is a modular operating system, Aventail can use just the bare minimum components needed to perform the VPN functions and nothing else. The end result is a fast system that runs on very basic and low-power hardware.

"We're still in the early stages of testing, but we've seen enormous performance benefits of Linux on Intel hardware over previous commercial Unix platforms that we've used," said O'Reilley. "Essentially, we have a lot more ability to optimise the OS for the needs of our application."

More big names are also looking to Linux as a new avenue for their products. Oracle has been working extensively with Red Hat and HP to develop a complete Linux solution for its Oracle 9i database products.

"With Linux demonstrating that it's an attractive enterprise computing option, companies are looking to deploy proven applications," maintained Doug Kennedy, vice president of Oracle's platform technologies division.

"Oracle can now deliver our flagship database solutions on industry-standard HP ProLiant servers running Red Hat Linux Advanced Server, with the same levels of reliability, scalability and performance that businesses have come to expect from other operating systems."

Support and migration issues
Although commercial open source vendors have emerged to provide support on Linux, most are still struggling to establish viable long-term commercial strategies.

Businesses that adopt Linux and open source must provide systems integration and product support for themselves.

Companies such as Red Hat and SuSE have significant support and training arms to provide the educational and technical support needed to get a company established with Linux, but often the external support ends there, with a significant lack of skills in the workplace.

"Intel Solution Services is one of the companies that founded the Open Source Development Lab to test the high-end applications under Linux," explained director Richard Curran.

"More and more companies are looking for consultancy for the most seamless migration onto the new operating system.

"Companies are keen to maximise return on investment and the cost benefits attached to moving to Linux, coupled with scalability, improved throughput, and flexibility. All this makes Linux a compelling enticement for many organisations.

"Already proven in the academic and scientific arenas, technology-leading sectors, such as the financial services market, see Linux as a verified and truly viable solution to accommodate new ways of working and new business methods."

But despite the cost benefits that Linux offers, analysts still warn that charging down the Linux/free software route is far from sensible in the longer term, particularly when it comes to future software development and the supply of skilled workers to run the systems.

"Open source application servers should be avoided when more comprehensive and extended e-business platform functionality is needed, such as business-to-business application integration or a portal," said Weiss.

"In such cases, integrated suites from IBM, BEA Systems, Sun and Oracle should be entertained, even though the products will have standard commercial licence and support costs."

Overall, the gradual take-up of Linux in the business world has ensured that it will continue to have a role to play in the longer term. But compared with Windows NT and Solaris, it remains a very immature platform, and is in need of far more serious low-level development and support for it to be a player on the bigger IT stage.

Continuing pressure on costs, the need for IT departments to increase provision for online and internal web-based services, and increasing interest in the platform among commercial software developers, mean that more development is likely to come to the Linux platform over the next five years.

Pros and cons
Each Linux distribution has its own quirks and problems. While each is built around a single Linux core that is ratified by a single committee, there are still inconsistencies that need to be tackled, such as archive builds and installation paths.

Although each core OS remains compatible at a code level, some fiddling is often required to make sure an application installs and works correctly. But there are plus points that cover all Linux distributions.

PROS:

• Linux is fundamentally a free product, without the licensing overheads of Windows, Unix versions and other operating environments.
• The source code for Linux is freely available to developers, allowing for easier development of applications and expansion of the OS.
• Unix skills are often easily transferred to Linux.
• Linux distributions generally produce excellent performance on meagre hardware.
• Apache web server on Linux is one of the cheapest, best performing and most widely used web platforms.
• Generic driver support has improved significantly, including support for USB, FireWire, audio and wireless local area networks.

CONS

• Linux is still perceived as too complex for use as a workstation or desktop operating system.
• Certified Linux user or technical qualifications are still new and relatively unproven.
• There remain multiple distributions of the OS, each with their own design, layout and installation processes.
• Open access to source code is viewed as bad by some because it makes it easier to identify and exploit security problems.
• Most major software developers are still not backing the platform.
• Manufacturer driver development for Linux is still limited, hampering the use of more specialist hardware.

Common questions about Red Hat Linux can be found here.

Details of Linux software and developments in business computing can be found here.