Feasibility of Using Linux in both the Server and Workstation Environments - Research Paper Example

?Research the Feasibility of Using Linux in both the Server and Workstation Environments Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Thesis Statement 4 Linux Server and Linux Workstation and the Three Vendors 4 Comparison and Contrast 8 Conclusion 12 Works Cited 13 Introduction Linux is a version of UNIX Operating System (OS) and can be termed as a substitute of Microsoft windows. It was originally created by Linus Torvalds and disturbed under the terms stated in the GNU public License. It is also available in source codes as well as binary forms. However, most of its applications are created by governments and organizations from across the world. Notably, the Linux OS is free to be used by individual as well as industrial users playing an active role in contributing to its overall system development. Linux is also termed as open source software which offers various benefits to individual users as well as organizational users in terms of security, speed and stability (Negus, “Linux Bible 2010 Edition: Boot Up to Ubuntu, Fedora, KNOPPIX, Debian, openSUSE, and 13 Other Distributions”). In the current day context, its distributors can be observed to have much in similarities, possessing minor differences in their application forms. Contextually, some of the major distributors offering Linux server and workstation facilities currently active can be identified as Red Hat, Debain, SUSE, Ubuntu, Slackware and Mandriva. Irrespective of their high degree of similarities, each distributor has been examined to comprise their unique strengths and weaknesses when compared with other players or their rivals. Thesis Statement The paper intends to compare and contrast Linux workstation and Linux server emphasizing on the operations performed by three different vendors namely Red Hat, SUSE, and Debain. The factors to be considered when evaluating the similarities and differences based on this context can be accounted as the total cost of ownership, training, support, performance, reliability and application availability. Linux Server and Linux Workstation and the Three Vendors A Linux server can be termed as a ‘high-power variant’ of the Linux open source operating system. The Linux server has been designed with a fundamental intention to deal with the needs of modern day business applications which is becoming majorly depended on networking and systems administration, virtual database management and web services. Linux servers are often selected over available other server operating systems due to its benefits in relation to stability, flexibility and security aspects. Similarly, workstation is commonly regarded as a high performance desktop computer used for various purposes such as for business and trade as well as for personal and educational uses. To be specific, the Linux workstation can be noted as a computer system installed with Linux server and other Linux Operating System (OS) packages (Negus, “Linux Bible 2010 Edition: Boot Up to Ubuntu, Fedora, KNOPPIX, Debian, openSUSE, and 13 Other Distributions”). Red Hat Red Hat was established in the year 1993 which has headquartered at Raleigh, NC. Currently, Red Hay has more than 60 offices located in different parts of the world. Essentially Red Hat is considered to be the largest publicly traded technology company that is fully committed to open source. Red Hat Enterprise Linux server can be identified as a high scalable system which can effectively manage the underlying systems complexities. One of the competitive features possessed by Red Hat Enterprise Linux server products over its substitutes can be identified as its tendency to reduce data bottlenecks. Its mechanism which allows lower power consumption can also be considered as another competitive feature. This particular Linux server system tends to improve application performance and further ensure end to end data integrity. The Red Hat Enterprise Linux server products also provide a complete portfolio of security technologies with solution to various security challenges. Red Hat Enterprise also offers the SELinux’s compulsory access control which can be applied to system services to run un-trusted applications without any risk to the system. In addition, many improvements to system identity services has been identified that can aggregate, normalize and also cache information from diverse identity servers (Red Hat Inc, “Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Server Features and Functions Summary”). On the other hand, Red Hat Enterprise Linux desktop/workstation solution provides secure and extensible options for business desktops and laptops. In addition, it offers a complete set of productivity applications constituted with email, messaging and browsing facilities. Furthermore, its X Access control Extension (XACE) helps to prevent unauthorized communication between multiple windows on the same desktop. Simultaneously, applications that are bundled with Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation are also compatible with Microsoft formats which imply that the organizations applying this particular workstation, can view, create and edit documents formatted in Microsoft version (Red Hat, Inc, “Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop”). SUSE SUSE Enterprise Linux was founded in 1992. It is often claimed to be the original provider of enterprise Linux distribution which offers various applications to thousands of organizations across the world. It is worth mentioning that SUSE constantly focuses on benefits of open source and the needs of its commercial partners. SUSE Linux Enterprise server is often regarded as a reliable and secure operating system that is built for virtual and cloud based computing systems. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server tends to facilitate an organization in maximizing its business efficiency as well as its operational values. The server has also been accredited with its capability to mitigate various risks associated with the Linux system. Furthermore, the server is stated to help in reducing costs of installing the server infrastructure software even though its supports the latest industry standard hardware rewarding cost efficiencies to the company. The server also enables to update the organization’s system within few minutes which further makes the system application a time-efficient procedure. Thus, it can be observed that the SUSE Linux Enterprise server saves considerable time and money. The SUSE enterprise server also acts in accordance with source codes and binaries which makes the server more secure than other propriety operating systems. SUSE Linux Enterprise server comprises AppArmor application security features such as firewall along with Trusted Platform Model Standard (TPS) which accumulatively enhances its application advantages. Subsequently, SUSE Linux System Enterprise server is also interoperable with other windows and operating platforms (SUSE, “SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server”). SUSE Linux Enterprise desktop is often considered as user-friendly, secure, low cost and flexible enough to deploy and manage. SUSE Linux Enterprise desktop facilitates increased productivity by delivering integrated suite of application. SUSE Linux Enterprise desktop is considered as a versatile product and an ideal workstation to run a variety of computing platforms such as Fixed function computing, Transactional computing, Technical computing and General office computing. Moreover, it is often argued that SUSE Linux enterprise desktop, when combined with world class Novell supports and new Novell Customer Centre, can efficiently meet the business computing needs (SUSE, “SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server”). Debian Debian is an association of individuals which was established in the year 1993. Since then, it has been involved in creating free operating systems in order to reward greater competitive advantages to its individual as well as organizational users. Debian GNU/Linux also known desktop often makes easy to install new applications and configure old ones. Debian GNU/Linux can be categorized as high performance servers. Debian GNU/Linux ensures excellent communication within a window. The server shares files with window clients and further allows the Linux machine to use resources available on the windows server. Debian GNU/Linux servers are also regarded as more stable in comparison to its available substitutes. Simultaneously, Debian GNU/Linux offers the advantages of using a varied range of packages along with the benefits of user-friendliness. Furthermore, the Debian Linux server is also regarded to constitute a reliable security and management procedure (Keith Parkansky, “About Debian Linux”). Comparison and Contrast Total Cost of Ownership It has often been argued that the traditional software licenses tend to lose their value over time. However, Red Hat Enterprise Linux subscription model facilitates access to the products at the same annual fee avoiding high up fronting licensing charges making the server more cost-effective. Red Hat Enterprise Linux virtualization has also been able to respond effectively to business needs and create a more efficient data center to allow a platform to the workstations for using various OS. Contextually, organizations to shift their operations to a virtual environment with the intention to reduce capital expenditures and energy consumption along with obtaining the advantages of a time as well as cost effective business process which can be observed as few of the notably facilities rewarded by the subscription-based business model constituting the Red Hat Enterprise Linux server and workstation. Notably, the subscription-based business model refers to a lower total cost of ownership as there are no upfront licensing fee outlays, and no upgrade costs or hidden charges which further aims at making the entire business process a cost effective mechanism (Red Hat Inc, “Leading It Services Company Lowers Total Cost of Ownership with Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization). On the contrary, the system z platform with SUSE Linux Enterprise server, delivers enhanced reliability and availability providing extensive attention towards reducing the total cost of ownership. It is argued that SUSE Linux Enterprise Server running on system z delivers the advantages of a much lower total cost of ownership than any other typical distribution system. In this similar context, an important feature that promotes the use of Debian Linux server and workstation is that it offers the benefits of a lowered cost of ownership. However, from the critical point of view it can be observed that even though Debian aims towards offering cost effective applications, many of its application versions are outdated and thus render minimum advantages to its users as compared to the other vendors (Keith Parkansky, “About Debian Linux”). Training and Support Red Hat Enterprise Linux makes the training program available IT professionals during beta-test as a part of its collaborative community development process. It has been witnessed in this regard that Red Hat Enterprise Linux training programs are accurate and effective according to the needs of the modern day organizations. Red Hat Enterprise Linux also tends to establish a comprehensive knowledge base which comprises of Linux tips advice and tutorials from web support portals. Moreover, Red Hat Enterprise Linux server and workstation ensures world class training and support in order to meet the various needs of the user organizations in order to outpace the competition (Red Hat Inc, “Top reasons To Choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux’). On the other hand, SUSE Linux Enterprise offers training and support to its users through Electronic training courses and deployment of specific guidelines with technical white papers. SUSE Linux Enterprise also offers training facilities through partner led training initiatives, on demand training which is available online at affordable convenient charges. Advanced technical training is also provided by experienced instructors to discuss the wide range of advanced topics by SUSE Linux Enterprise. The custom training services offered by SUSE Linux Enterprise comprises of technical skills assessment in order to facilitate organizational growth at much affordable charges (Novell, “What Kind Of Training Does Novell Offers’). Debian GNU /Linux have developed a system to provide training facilities where trainees can practice Linux network constructions in a safe manner. Debian GNU Linux emphasizes more on quality, stability and performance as well as on workflows. However, as the vendor is often criticized to emphasize on outdated versions of Linux, its performance can also be observed as weaker in comparison to other vendors (Keith Parkansky, “About Debian Linux”). Performance Red Hat Enterprise Linux results in faster execution of applications and scales from small to large computing systems. The partnership with primary hardware vendors also ensure that organizations are highly benefitted with superior performances from its systems. As stated earlier, the training and support facilities offered by Red Hat Enterprise Linux also assists in enhanced performances of the server and the workstation. On the other hand, SUSE Linux Enterprise offers reliability and performances at much lower cost than other window applications. For instance, SUSE Linux Enterprise uses behavior enforcement in order to protect operating systems and the application from known as well as unknown threats and vulnerabilities to reward enhanced performances (Red Hat Inc, “Top Reasons to Choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux”). As far as Debian’s performance is concerned, it deciphers a slow performance when compared to other vendors along with being less innovative. Reliability Red Hat Enterprise Linux has been involved in delivering the highest level of reliability when incorporating technology assistance in the business process. Accordingly, Red Hat Enterprise Linux considers the most stringent qualifications and testing procedures over an extended period of time. Consequently, Red Hat Enterprise Linux is often argued to be the most reliable solution for commercial instances in the current day context. In the similar context, SUSE Linux Enterprise along with enhanced performances and lowered total cost of ownership also provides high degree of reliability in its functioning. On the other hand, users depict that even though Debian is quite slow, it is comparatively more stable than Red Hat and SUSE (Keith Parkansky, “About Debian Linux”). Application Availability High availability add-on in Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers applications which are easily available by reducing downtime and ensuring that there is no single chance of failure in the cluster. Similarly, SUSE Linux Enterprise offers high availability as an affordable integrated suite of robust and open source clustering technologies that can be used to implement highly available physical and virtual Linux cluster eliminating any single point of failure. Notably, SUSE is available at a cheaper price than Red Hat. Furthermore, Debian GNU Linux provides various types of software application facilities in its workstations. The various applications and development software available include primary GNU applications for software development, text processing, and file manipulation among others. The Xorg windowing system and internet protocol such as HTTP, MNTP, FTP, spread sheet as well as web browser such as Mozilla products in addition to a complete set of office application comprising OpenOffice.Org are also included in the Debian GNU Linux server and workstations rendering greater value to its users (SPI, “The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ”). Conclusion Linux OS was developed by Linus Torvalds as the free version of UNIX accessible to public. There are various vendors currently operating in the market such as Red Hat, SUSE and Debian which are involved in dealing with the components of Linux servers and workstations. In addition to this, Linux is widely used in medium and large sized companies rather than consumed by individual users for their personal uses. Red Hat Enterprise Linux possesses the certain specific features such as efficiency, scalability and reliability. Similarly other two vendors, i.e. SUSE and Debian also claim to possess the similar features. It is worth mentioning in this context that Red Hat considerably depends on sales and support activities for its revenue consumption. Thus, it can be argued that dealing with Red Hat can be quite expensive in comparison to other Linux vendors. On the other hand, SUSE Linux enterprise incorporates most of the applications serve in the interest of Microsoft OS (Red Hat Inc, “Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Server Features and Functions Summary”). Moreover, it can be emphasized that Debian Linux provides the most cost effective applications. Hence, organizations concerned with high quality and performances can opt for Red Hat or SUSE while the organizations having cost concerns and seeking optimal performances shall have the choice to install Debian Linux. Works Cited Keith Parkansky. About Debian Linux, 2012. 11 Feb. 2013. Novell. What Kind of Training Does Novell offer, 2013. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. Negus, Christopher. “Linux Bible 2010 Edition: Boot Up to Ubuntu, Fedora, KNOPPIX, Debian, open SUSE, and 13 Other Distributions”. John Wiley & Sons 682 (2010): Print. Red Hat Inc. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Server Features and Functions Summary, 2010. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. Red Hat Inc. Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop, 2013. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. Red Hat Inc. Leading It Services Company Lowers Total Cost Of Ownership With Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, 2012. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. Red Hat Inc. Top Reasons to Choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux, 2009. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. SUSE. SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server, 2012. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. SPI. The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ, 2012. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. Read More