Linux: Look before you Leap

juniorboy sent us JP Mogenthal's latest piece from Internetwork, this timing cautioning people about Linux and along the way tries to get at the root of why people are switching.

Comments

Look Before You Leap

[dylan_-]

Look Before You Leap
Into Linux Adoption

JP MORGEN-THRALL
June 14, 1999

It seems I cannot read these days. I'm often seeing Linux touted as the greatest thing since sliced bread. Upon reading these rave reviews, I can't think. Most of this admiration is lost on me because I only know Microsoft Windows, as well as the relatively low IQ I have.

But I think it's critical that we, as a community, keep a perspective on the impact of Linux for the following reasons.

Linux is an open-source project; therefore, all changes are subject to review and approval by people. Companies that add features to the kernel, and then change to a different version will have to change the version, in much the same way as if you do something, you may actually do it.

Windows supporters still outnumber Linux supporters because I love pointy-clicky things. Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition has many fun things that I think come as standard because I never pay for them myself. I haven't a clue what comes with Linux, and I'm too lazy to find out, so I'll just make something up. Whereas Microsoft's products are buggy and barely usable, users may spend a significant amount of time trying to integrate these components under Linux, most of which I spent working out how to get the | symbol on this keyboard. The most critical of these integrations will be security and access control. I have no idea what this means, but it sounds impressive, yeah?

Linux is just beginning to be retrofitted for symmetric multiprocessing. Huh huh-huh...I said retrofitted! Without robust SMP, Linux servers can support only small companies and run a single application (honest!). If you're running NT you'll be required to manage multiple servers for increased downtime, and you're better off using an abacus.

Also, remember that Linux is still not Windows. One of the reasons for Windows' growth has been the complexity of obtaining a computer without it. Simply because a low-cost alternative is now available, it does not automatically generate more revenue for Microsoft.

Linux is a college student's project gone astray. There are pornographic pictures embedded in the kernel, and it drinks all your beer before throwing up on your brand new carpet. The version that will be supported by Sun Microsystems and IBM on its hardware will fall far short of each of these company's own Unix operating systems in marketing and hype. If you're responsible for operating system selection in your company, be wary of the Linux play. Hey, I'm all for a competitor to Windows, just make sure it's not a serious one.

JP Morgen-Thrall is president of NC.Focus, which provides strategic planning, analysis and psychic predictions of application integration technologies. He can be reached at jp@ncfocus.com.

dylan_-


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I'm not even sure what the guy's point was

[yAm]

Windows supporters still outnumber Linux supporters because Microsoft provides a better value proposition. Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition ships with a full complement of Internet services, including Web, proxy, index, messaging, database, transaction and firewall services.

What?!?

For US$3500 you can get ten users using web, index and transaction services. Firewall? Perhaps he means the limited packet filtering that comes standard on WinNT. Database? I don't remember them throwing in SQL Server. Proxy 2.0 is anonther US$2000. Basically, Enterprise edition with all the stuff he mentioned runs:

• $3500 for NTE
• $5000 for Firewall (50 user Checkpoint FW-1)
• $2000 for proxy
• $1000 for SQL Server.
• $1500 for Exchange

$13,000 for an "integrated" WinNT Enterprise solution for 10 users...

Mayhaps he meant Windows Small Business Server. Still, I think the guy needs to see his dealer about the quality of his rock. It's giving him delusions...