The Myths of Linux

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FAQ

Myth #1: Linux is UNIX.

On the surface, Linux seems to be UNIX-like in that it is a file-based OS with a scripting shell interface; however, its source code does not descend from the original UNIX. In 1991, Linus Torvalds, a Finnish university student, began the Linux kernel as a hobby. Torvalds originally used Minix, a simplified UNIX-like system built for teaching operating system design, on his home computer. Minix’s author, Andrew Tanenbaum, did not allow others to extend his operating system, which led Torvalds...

Those that mistakenly believe that Linux is a type of UNIX naturally also assume that Linux is the preferred platform for companies migrating off UNIX. In reality, Windows Server 2003 is the most popular platform for UNIX migrations, according to IDC. A 2005 IDC study found that 45% of new systems that replaced older UNIX systems were servers using Windows Server 2003 versus 37% Linux. With migration away from UNIX accelerating, companies are choosing Windows over Linux for its mission-critic...

Linux is a modular operating system, meaning that there are relatively few interrelationships between any two parts of the program code. Access to Linux’s kernel potentially increases both flexibility and configurability. The reality is that the trade-off for this flexibility tends to be increased complexity. For example, in an enterprise server environment, each Linux administrator can add functionality, implement patches, or manage security in different ways. This greater variability in ma...

All software, whether open source or commercial, faces attacks. With Linux’s source code open and viewable by all, anyone can identify and patch vulnerabilities. Many arguments for the security of open source software are based on the premise that "many eyes bring greater security." The reality is that few people can spot vulnerabilities by casually reading through source code. Compounding the issue, "there isn’t any official system for reviewing open-source code for security problems," note...

While talented Linux administrators exist, there simply isn’t an abundance of them. Linux certification ensures a level of competency, but the scarcity of Linux administrators means that they are harder to find and more costly to acquire than Windows administrators, which exceed 1.8 million certified professionals worldwide. This scarcity requires companies to either (a) pay more for system admins or (b) re-train existing staff. Either way, companies incur increased costs. As a result of ...

Resources

Understanding Unix Migration: A Demand-Side View

IDC (March 2006) "Understanding Unix Migration: A Demand-Side View" by Matthew Eastwood.

This document summarizes the results from a recent survey of 400 Unix/RISC customers regarding their plans for Unix migrations and provides insights and analyzes the impact on the Unix/RISC server installed base.

Ideas International (August 2005)

This paper compares the costs of acquisition and support of Microsoft Windows Server and Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Based on their research, Ideas International found that across several scenarios, Microsoft’s Windows Server 2003 license and support costs are competitive, and in some cases, significantly lower than the license and support costs of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Gartner (October 2005): "Costs and Benefits Still Favor Windows Over Linux Among Midsize Businesses" by Mika Yamamoto Krammer.

In a study of midsize businesses, Gartner concluded that "For midsize businesses, Linux presents many challenges, including not fully understanding the OS's benefits, resource constraints and the perceived high switching costs to move from Windows."

META Group (Acquired by Gartner) (May 2005): "File, Web, and Database Server Administration: The Realities Windows and Linux Administrators Face and Their Demands for Change" by Philip Dawson and Robert Johnson.

This Microsoft-sponsored study concluded, "Running key server workloads on Linux/open-source software may appear to have some upfront cost advantage over Windows. However, this is not true. When one examines the ongoing costs of service support and integration, these potential upfront costs are offset."

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