Linux Solutions

While the battle between Novell and SCO continues with regards to potential royalties due to Novell for the use of “their” Linux code, it seems that events have taken a controversial turn. Darl McBride, the CEO of SCO, was called to the stand this week and under oath he made the claim that Linux is a copy of UNIX and as such the royalties which Novell are claiming are null and void. So what really is happening?

This is the latest in a number of twists and turns which revolve around code which Novell owned the rights to but were supposed to have signed over to SCO sometime ago. The claim by Novell has been reduced to some $20 million after the company began to appreciate the fact that some of their compensation claims were actually invalid.

The case is growing more complicated by the day because while there is evidence that they signed the rights over, there is a counter claim that they still held rights to the royalties on the binaries. The case may soon become academic because on the eve of the court case SCO filed for bankruptcy protection in a clear attempt to protect the business prior to any claim by Novell.

The case is set to continue for some time yet and there are many observers who believe that even if SCO lose this battle they will look to exhaust the appeals process further delaying any possible payments and forcing Novell to come to a lower settlement figure.

Whether Linux is a direct copy of UNIX is debateable but it may just be a coincidence that Linus Benedict Torvalds (the man behind the Linux Kernel) was also heavily involved in the UNIX project. At the end of the day this court case seems unlikely to affect the wider Linux industry where the open source code is very much in the public domain.

While Linux continues to grow in popularity we thought it might be interesting to take a look at the man who has changed the operating system landscape forever, the man who created the Linux Kernel and the man who so many think has Microsoft of the run. Step forward Linus Benedict Torvalds!

Linus Benedict Torvalds was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1969 and while there is some debate about the connection between his first name Linus and Linux, the truth is that there is no relevance. He was actually named after a Noble Prize winner, Linus Pauling!

It will come as no surprise to those who have come across Torvalds to learn that he studied computer science at the University of Helsinki between 1988 and 1996 where he produced his thesis entitled Linux : A Portable Operating System and became heavily involved in choosing the standard binary format for Linux and Unix. This was really the start of his close relationship with Linux something which has pushed him to the forefront of the industry where he still holds a very high position with regards to the ongoing development of the operating system.

While Torvalds is not one who courts the press, the very fact that just over 2% of the current Linux Kernel code is still his original coding is a testament to his skill and foresight. This may not sound like an awful lot on the surface but when you consider the amount of people who are now working on the open source system and the millions of work hours which have been spent on developing the Kernel further, it really is an amazing achievement.

It is difficult to think of Linux without Torvalds as many still look back to the days when he created his own Operating System for his Sinclair QL – an event which many believe gave him the will and determination to succeed in challenging the big players like Microsoft Windows.

It seems that the news for Linux just gets better and better with a commitment from Dell, HP and Lenovo that they will “strongly encourage” the production and delivery of open-source drivers which make use of the Linux kernel. So what does this mean?

The Linux kernel is the heart beat of the operation system and allows the operating system to communicate with hardware and software to ensure the smooth running of your computer system. The fact that the likes of Dell, HP and Lenovo are set to champion their cause is a major boost to an operating system which seems to be going from strength to strength.

While there have always been Linux drivers which will allow your system to communicate with other hardware and software, the move to open source drivers is a big step. This now means that the code for Linux based drivers will be in the market place and allow any skilled third party to make amendments, rather than returning to the original creator of the driver.

The move to open source drivers is the next step in the attack on the likes of Windows, which retains total control over access to their inner Windows kernel (for obvious commercial reasons). While the Linux Foundation have been very vocal in their support of the Linux operating system, the take up by Dell, HP and Lenovo allows someone else (majors in the industry) to pick up the baton and run with it on behalf of the Foundation.

There are still many who have doubts about the ability of Linux to move into the mainstream, but each increase in exposure and each addition to the Linux “fan club” is a step forward. The next few years are critical for Linux and it will be interesting to see how it develops.

As the battle to take market share from Windows continues to gather a head of steam, it is only now that many people are starting to question what this mysterious “operating system” does for you. Why is it so important? What exactly does it do? Why has Microsoft been so dominant of late?

There are many aspects of the operating system which are vital to the smooth running of your computer system, with a number listed below :-

Speed

Many people are forever demanding quicker and quicker computer systems, and while they may have the best chips in the world, ultimately it is the operating system which will dictate processing speeds and the overall performance of your computer.

Security

In basic terms the operating system is the interface between your computer and supporting hardware and software. The Kernel of any operating system is the most vital area and is the one which is afforded the most protection. Microsoft was in trouble at the launch of Windows XP because they would not allow security software companies access to this area - concerned about possible consequences.

Control

While many of us just take for granted that we can have multiple programs and multiple services running at the same time, this can often require complicated stacking and queuing systems. This is an area of your operating systems which is hardly mentioned, but one which allows you to affectively multi-task.

The fight between the likes of Linux based and Windows based operating systems has started to hot up over the last couple of years and has pushed the operating system sector to the fore. More and more people are now curious as to what the operating system controls and what it does. This in turn has seen many look into what Linux offers over Windows and other operating systems.

Perhaps now we might all be able to appreciate the work which goes into the “simple” running of your computer!

At a time when some of the main players in the world of Linux operating systems are taking a step back from challenging the might Microsoft it seems that Ubuntu and the Linux based Ubuntu 8.04 operating system are set to go head to head with Windows, but will they crack it? Why are they so different?

While it is well know that the likes of Ubuntu 8.04 will struggle to obtain hardware and software certification from the main players in the market, their possible door into the market may have come in the form of Dell. Dell, rumoured to be keen to move away from Windows and take some of the power from Microsoft, has installed the Ubuntu 8.04 operating system in a number of their new mainstream desktop and notebook systems. So will this be enough?

While Ubuntu on their own would stand very little chance of receiving the necessary hardware and software certifications required to “make it big”, with Dell backing them they must stand more of a chance. It is also interesting to see that over the last couple of years we are starting to see interest in non-Microsoft browsers grow, with Firefox perhaps the best known of the alternatives available.

Slowly but surely there seems to be a growing wave of optimism in the Linux arena that they can collectively, put together a strong challenge to Microsoft Windows. Those in the computing industry who have tested operating systems such as the Ubuntu 8.04 package have been pleasantly surprised by the flexibility and the speed of the system. For too long we have all been conditioned to the fact that we do not need to look beyond Windows, but perhaps now times are changing?

As the operating systems industry continues to evolve and grow we are seeing more interest in alternatives to Microsoft. Perhaps the years of dictating to the markets are about to come back and haunt Microsoft?

As the popularity of the Linux operating system began to grow, it soon became obvious that there would need to be some form of central point to ensure the code was developed in the correct fashion, and all source code made available to the masses. The merger of Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) and the Free Standards Group (FSG) brought about the Linux Foundation. So what is the role of the Foundation?

In simple terms the Linux Foundation promote, protect and standardise use of the Linux source code in order that the code is able to compete with commercial competitors. While this is something of a simplified version of their full role, there is a lot more work goes on behind the scenes.

The Linux Foundation hold an annual “get together” at which point those involved in the Linux environment will sit down and chat about their thoughts and hopes for the future. These brain storming sessions, together with the array of speeches by prominent players in the industry, have fostered something of a Linux community, a community which has worked closely for some years (even prior to the merger which formed the Foundation).

The Foundation, in unison with the Foundation members, has also put together a massive database of devices which are compatible with the Linux operating system. This service gives members the chance to not only update comments on certain products but also see at a glance which devices are compatible with Linux.

The Linux Foundation is a major part of the Linux movement and with the support of major players such as Red Hat they are now central to the progression of the industry. It will be interesting to see if the commercial profile of the Foundation, and the code itself, change as the popularity of Linux continues to grow.

While Linux is not the only Open Source operating code in the market place, it is by far and away the most successful of any Open Source code there has ever been. As the likes of Wordpress and JAVA continue to expand their spread in the commercial markets, the market for Linux based services and applications literally runs into billions of dollars a year. So will it ever be rivalled?

It is difficult to see how any new Open Source operating code could even manage to register on the radar with Microsoft and Linux dominating the markets, although the wider picture may not be as clear cut. We are seeing a massive growth in mobile communications, something which has seen JAVA pushed heavily to the fore. The recent announcement that Sun Microsystems will be releasing the total JAVA base code to the Open Source arena has not only increased the profile of JAVA but is sure to see increased use in the market place.

Content Management Systems (CMS) is another market which has shown great progress over the years, with the likes of Wordpress leading the field (although it has to be said there is a field of many!). However, like most Open Source codes, Wordpress does have drawbacks, it does have limitations and there is a feeling that these limitations may soon be “found out”.

The major benefit for Linux is the fact that the more machines that use the code, the more demand for Linux based software and the more people “join the party”. Like Microsoft’s impressive growth over the years, the more people that depend on you at an early stage (i.e. the operating system level) the more chance you have of expanding and pushing your markets forward.

Will we see success stories such as Linux again? Never say never in the world of computing, because none of us know what is around the corner!

In a move which has angered as much as surprised many in the industry, the third world campaign to promote the use of laptops as a tool for education, One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) have attacked the creditability of Linux and the Open Source sector in general. So what is happening?

There seems to be a lot of confusion and many will not be surprised to see the name of Microsoft and the Windows operating system very much at the fore. While many viewed the Linux based operating system as perfect for such a cost conscious campaign, it seems that all is not well with the founder of OLPC. Nicholas Negroponte has accused the open source community of pushing Linux into this new area of the market, stressing that many people were aware of Microsoft and wondering why they were not involved in some way.

We are getting to a situation now where it seems to be more of a marketing disagreement with OLPC seemingly a little aggrieved that Linux has been able to benefit from the increased profile which the OLPC campaign has given them.

However, those in the know are a little surprised that the OLPC has taken this tone as surely a free open source operating system has as much to offer those who have never even seen a computer as a commercial package? Introducing something like Microsoft Windows would add millions of pounds to the cost of the OLPC campaign. Then there is also the knock on affect of software costs and the fact that Microsoft would stand to gain financially in the long run.

In years gone by this type of spat would not normally have received a mention in the press but the fact that Linux is growing in use and in profile seems to be upsetting some people. But surely a service which needs to cut costs to the bone would need to use Linux, rather than paying for a commercial package?

While we hear so much about Linux and the Linux Kernel, what exactly is the Kernel and what does it do?

In summary the Linux Kernel is the interface between the operating system and your computer hardware. It is the core of any computer allowing the operating system to control a number of different functions and is the most vital part of any operating system - without which your computer would not operate.

So what are the basic functions of the Linux Kernel?

The most basic responsibilities of the Kernel include :-

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The Kernel will control which operations and tasks have access to the processing power of the CPU at any one time. The vast majority of CPUs can only handle one instruction at a time and therefore the Kernel will allocate a time slot for each function, which is why you will see your system slowing down the more functions you have running at the same time.

Memory

The vast majority of computer functions will require access to different areas of the internal memory at some time. Again it is the responsibility of the Kernel to decide when each process can access the memory and specify which area should be used. In the event of a lack of available memory it is also the responsibility of the Kernel to make other arrangements.

Input / Output

This is where the skill of an operating system is perhaps at its best, controlling the vast array of input and output devices available today. We are talking about monitors, keyboards, the mouse and any other devices which can communicate with your computer system.

The Linux Kernel is the key to the success of the operating system and while we have not mentioned it above, security is also a vital component of the whole package. Access to and from the Kernel needs to be water tight and this was the area where Microsoft were deemed rather unhelpful when the array of software security firms requested access to the inner workings in order to improve security for users.

Many people may not be aware that the mobile phone market is dominated by Linux which is the operating system of choice for the vast majority of handset manufacturers. When you consider that Windows dominate the desk top market, why have they faired so poorly in the handset market?

One of the main strengths, and a subsequent weakness, of Microsoft and their Windows operating system is the fact that they have the computer desktop and laptop markets in their pocket. There is no other operating system which even comes close to them and as such they also dominate the software market with more and more programs and systems forced to use Windows to gain mass market appeal.

However, the mobile phone handset market is a little different and has always used the Linux system for its flexibility and the fact open source has meant that improvements can be made along the way at very little cost. As we have covered on this blog before, it is also the combined effort of those using the Open Source code which has given it extra strength.

There is also one more reason why mobile phone companies prefer Linux – the fact that Microsoft will not be able to dominate what happens in the future and the programs which are introduced. While they have released a Windows mobile operating system over the last few years many believe that it is all too little too late. The mobile phone companies do not want to be dictated to by the likes of Microsoft and would much prefer to have their own future in their own hands.

It will be interesting to see how Microsoft do respond to this lack of real progress in the phone market because you can bet your last dollar that they will try every means at their disposal to spoil the party!