The Linux Advantage as a Server OS over Windows

Rapid growth in the market for x86 servers over the past year brought good news for both Linux and Windows, as research firm IDC reported last week.

What's not always appreciated, however, is just how significant a portion of the market Linux servers are getting to be. Whereas unit shipments of Windows servers increased 28.2 percent year over year in the second quarter of 2010, Linux server revenue grew 30.0 percent to $1.8 billion when compared with the second quarter of 2009. Linux servers now represent 16.8 percent of all server revenue, up 2.5 points over 2Q09.

That's no accident. Linux is eminently better suited to server use than Windows is--better than most any other competitor, I'd argue. Why? Let's count the ways.

1. StabilityLinux systems are well known for their ability to run for years without failure; in fact, many Linux users have never seen a crash. That's great for users of every kind, but it's particularly valuable for small and medium-sized businesses, for which downtime can have disastrous consequences.Linux also handles a large number of processes running at once much better than Windows does--that's something, in fact, that tends to degrade Windows' stability quickly.Then there's the need for rebooting. Whereas in Windows configuration changes typically require a reboot--causing inevitable downtime--there's generally no need to restart Linux. Almost all Linux configuration changes can be done while the system is running and without affecting unrelated services.Similarly, whereas Windows servers must often be defragmented frequently, that's all but eliminated on Linux. Let your competitors endure the plentiful downtime that inevitably goes hand-in-hand with Windows; trusty Linux will keep you up and running and serving your customers around the clock.

2. SecurityLinux is also innately more secure than Windows is, whether on the server, the desktop or in an embedded environment. That's due largely to the fact that Linux, which is based on Unix, was designed from the start to be a multiuser operating system. Only the administrator, or root user, has administrative privileges, and fewer users and applications have permission to access the kernel or each other. That keeps everything modular and protected.Of course, Linux also gets attacked less frequently by viruses and malware, and vulnerabilities tend be found and fixed more quickly by its legions of developers and users. Even the six-year-old kernel bug that was recently fixed, for instance--an extremely rare instance in the Linux world--had never been exploited.Internally, meanwhile, users of a Windows system can sometimes hide files from the system administrator. On Linux, however, the sys admin always has a clear view of the file system and is always in control.

3. HardwareWhereas Windows typically requires frequent hardware upgrades to accommodate its ever-increasing resource demands, Linux is slim, trim, flexible and scalable, and it performs admirably on just about any computer, regardless of processor or machine architecture.Linux can also be easily reconfigured to include only the services needed for your business's purposes, thus further reducing memory requirements, improving performance and keeping things even simpler.

4. TCOThere's no beating Linux's total cost of ownership, since the software is generally free. Even an enterprise version purchased with corporate support will be cheaper overall than Windows or other proprietary software, which generally involve user-based licensing and a host of expensive add-ons, especially for security.Same goes for most of the tools and applications that might be used on a Linux server. The overall TCO simply can't be beat.

5. FreedomWith Linux, there is no commercial vendor trying to lock you into certain products or protocols. Instead, you're free to mix and match and choose what works best for your business.In short, with all the many advantages Linux provides in the server realm, it's no wonder governments, organizations and major companies around the world--including Amazon and Google--rely on the open source operating system in their own production systems.If you're looking for a Linux distribution to run on your business's servers, you'd do well to consider CentOS (or RHEL, the paid version from Red Hat that CentOS is based on),Slackware, Debian and Gentoo.   

The Slow Economic Bleeding Takes Its Toll

So many small towns
Desperate
Down on their luck
Fallen, and
unable to get back up
No way to revive opportunity

I’ve seen their faces…
all those workers, young and old
losing it all, including their dreams
More than they ever imagined–
gone, like a vanishing ghost
leaving them cold and empty

Times have been tougher
like the Great Depression
but the slow economic bleeding
is taking its toll everywhere
Hope is still out there, but
wrapped in unfamiliar clothes

ALL I HAVE TO GIVE

You're the first thing I think of
Each morning when I rise.
You're the last thing I think of
Each night when I close my eyes.

You're in each thought I have
And every breath I take.
My feelings are growing stronger
With every move I make.

I want to prove I love you
But that's the hardest part.
So, I'm giving all I have to give
To you... I give my heart.

Corruption

Corruption is today a world-wide phenomenon. In our own country some people in high positions lave been charged for it.

A corrupt person is termed immoral, dishonest and unscrupulous in his dealings. His disregard for honesty, righteousness and truth results in his alienation from society. He is treated with contempt. But as erosion of values leads to decadence, remedies for the social malaise remain elusive, and so no amount of contempt can eradicate corruption which is a symptom of decadence.

Corruption is the most virulent when crises everywhere threaten the very existence of the society and the faith in life is shaken. It has always been there like tie leech, but when the system grows weaker and the boat flounders, it gets bolder and drains its victims of the last drops of their blood.

The older the system the weaker it grows and fails to solve the riddles of life that grows more complex every day. So men lose faith in it and let it drift down. At this point corruption takes over and plunges the entire society. After Second World War the old system with all its values was left in a shambles. The crippling effects of the war, the recession and depression, and uncertainties in a faithless world of maimed and moribund encouraged cynicism in a section of the population.

This section included the government officials dealing in essential commodities. They found the post-war conditions ideal for fishing in troubled waters and jetting richer. They formed a sort of vicious circle in which moral values and honest intentions no longer held valid. The flourishing black market in essential commodities, adulteration of even baby- food, bribery, fraud and economic, political and administrative manipulations with an eye on earning profits has brought untold misery to the people.

One would say the corruption in India has an ancient lineage; it is sanctified by tradition. The author of the Arthasastra made some remarks on government officials of his time which are relevant even today: "Just as it is impossible not to taste the honey or the poison that finds itself at the tip of the tongue, so it is impossible for a government servant not to eat up at least a bit of the king's revenue. These in the post­war world became only bolder while eating up government money and accepting bribes.

Today, when India is free, these officials representing all government departments are very close to the most corrupt businessmen who are too unscrupulous to let any opportunity of amassing profits slip. This collusion broadens the base of the vicious circle and corruption spreads 'like wild fire to engulf the entire society. The political and social guardians depend only too much on the richer communities and they look indulgently on while these communities hold the entire society and the government to ransom.

Corruption starts at the top and percolates down to the whole society. Such corruption cannot be confined to the towns alone. It is as widespread in the villages where the dishonest officials and the traders carry the germs of the disease. The tyranny of confusion and price rules the land and the people are helpless victims of corruption everywhere.

Wake Up Call...

The extraordinary scene we've witnessed last week in Kerala assembly is indeed a wake up call for the ruling United Democratic Front. Somehow they've managed to find the numbers...(thanks to the veteran speaker Mr.G.Karthikeyen)..It clearly indicates the future will be very shakey for them because of the flimsy margin they have.The opposition have succeeded in bringing it into the Governers notice.

For continual development we need a stable Government.In a state like Kerala where the political equations keep on changing on a daily basis,it is indeed difficult for a party to take concrete decisions for the empowerment of the state.Lets hope the ruling party will do whatever necessary and possible to maintain the status quo.

Terror Continues..

It happened again. Three serial explosions rocked the financial capital killing 21 and injuring 100 plus on a rainy wed eve. After a small gap the extremists are again on the roads.Who is to blame for this sorry state of affairs. After the 26/11, we have enough precautionary mechanisms with us to contain the terrorist menace. But everything failed miserably once again. The lack of intelligence coupled with inaccurate surveillance might be the core reasons why this part of the country remains a playing ground for the terrorists. Deep condolences for the victims and their bereaved families.