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Google Gives Reason Why it is Built on Linux

Posted by samzenpus on from the google-google-google dept.

Rob writes "A common reason why more governments and enterprises around the world are moving to open source software is unhappiness, it was revealed during a panel discussion at the LinuxWorld Conference in San Francisco yesterday. Google Inc open source programs manager Chris DiBona said the search giant has stuck with Linux throughout the company's life, in part, because it was unhappy with the terms of another software company. Which borgware company is he referring to?"

5 of 670 comments (clear)

  1. Slackware by cbelle13013 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I had a circuits professor who had either done some contract work or worked at Google back in 2000. He told me and a couple other students that they used Salckware and ran the entire site from RAM, OS and all. Before that talk I never new you could run entire systems directly from RAM. Wild.

    1. Re:Slackware by darkonc · · Score: 4, Interesting
      I never new you could run entire systems directly from RAM.

      You boot off of the net. Most PCs these days have support for it. Linux works real well that way. I've run classrooms off of one knoppix CD, using the Knoppix Terminal Server (penguin menu -> services -> Start KNOPPIX Terminal Server). Takes all of a couple of minutes to start up. No need even for disk drives (although swap space is sometimes nice).

      When Microsoft tries to FUD about 'difficult installs for Linux', they're obviously doing their damndest not to look at things like Knoppix -- The hardest thing is setting the BIOS to boot off of the NIC.

      --
      Sometimes boldness is in fashion. Sometimes only the brave will be bold.
  2. OT: Traffic impact by Google Personalized Homepage by vinlud · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This is offtopic, but because it didn't survive the submission I did I thought it would be best to post it attached to another Google story.

    A few days ago I noticed several websites which are linked by default in the Google Personalized Homepage show staggering increases in web traffic and page views. According to Alexa.com Wired more than doubled and also Slashdot , the NY Times and the Washington Post show remarkable growth at the end of july.

    Is this a redefinition of 'slashdotting' or is there something else going on?

    --
    Repeat after me: We are all individuals
  3. Linux success b/c of Google by bach37 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Linux is successful many say because of Google- Google being the free 24/7 searchable customer support for your Linux problem. Somewhat ironic that Google's success is in part from using Linux.

  4. BSA AUDIT by erroneus · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Prior to my getting hired by the company I presently work for, there was a painful BSA audit. I can say with 100$ certainty that the BSA is the main reason for our migration to Linux.