IBM expands Linux push on servers

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A small clarification

I agree with all points except:

``2) You don't have to tie your developers up writing your own OS. Just use the free and open Linux OS (or any other free UNIX).''

Although ther are linux ports to all 32 bit h/w architecture, the big servers are 64-bit and usually large SMPs. There are Linux ports for IA-64, PowerPC, UltraSparcs, PAs, etc. but a lot of kernel work is needed to make vanilla Linux run efficiently on their SMP platforms.

SGI has patched the IA-64 Linux kernel so that it can boot on their ALTIX 3000 architectures, that uses Itanium-2s and proprietary interconnect. IBM has done the same thing for their Power4 / 5 and their interonnects.

It appears though that there has already been an effort to make Linux scalable, support larger memory models, better devices (scsi/fc) and be `more' POSIX compliant in the Pthreads. Many of these needed changes can be found in the 2.6 kernel. This makes Linux become more and more UNIX and it forces all vendors to use the SAME kernel base. So in a sense, we get a cheaper UNIX with all the freeware apps.

I would like to see a decent suite of tools that can completely replace the office suite by MS. I have been using the open/star office for quite some time now and I am very happy. It's only a matter of time when the Linux desktop will readily offer applications that are better suit the end user than what MS is offering. By the time MS straightens out their security issues, decide what to do with the .net (they have been too quiet on this) and all the other nonsense with the longhorns, etc. the Linux/UNIX will be a very accessible platform for the mainstream common user. Linux should aggresively provide NEW applications as opposed trying to imitate the contorted ms ones.

-m

Posted by: michael-t   Posted on: 02/24/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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