Linux in The Enterprise

Technology Evaluation and Comparison Report
www.butlergroup.com
Linux in the Enterprise

A Viable Alternative for Server and Desktop Operating Systems? September 2004
For more information on Butler Groups Products and Services or to register FREE to receive TECHwatch, written exclusively by Martin Butler and Tim Jennings, together with a monthly guide to our Research and Events, visit www.butlergroup.com
Founder and President

Martin Butler
Important Notice
We have relied on data and information which we reasonably believe to be up-to-date and correct when preparing this Report, but because it comes from a variety of sources outside of our direct control, we cannot guarantee that all of it is entirely accurate or up-to-date. This Report is of a general nature and not intended to be specific, customised, or relevant to the requirements of any particular set of circumstances. The interpretations contained in the Report are non-unique and you are responsible for carrying out your own interpretation of the data
Research
Mark Blowers Mike Davis John Holden
Published by Butler Direct Limited Published September 2004 Butler Direct Limited
All rights reserved. This publication, or any part of it, may not be reproduced or adapted, by any method whatsoever, without prior written Butler Direct Limited consent. Artwork and layout by Pynto Limited www.pynto.com
and information upon which this Report was based. Accordingly, Butler Direct Limited is not responsible for your use of this Report in any specific circumstances, or for your interpretation of this Report. The interpretation of the data and information in this Report is based on generalised assumptions and by its very nature is not intended to produce accurate or specific results. Accordingly, it is your responsibility to use your own relevant professional skill and judgement to interpret the data and information provided for your own purposes and take appropriate decisions based on such interpretations. Ultimate responsibility for all interpretations of the data, information and commentary in this Report and for decisions based on that data, information and commentary remains with you. Butler Direct Limited shall not be liable for any such interpretations or decisions made by you.
ISBN: 1-904650-16-3
www.butlergroup.com

Contents September 2004
Section 1: Management Summary 1.1 Management Summary Section 2: Introduction 2.1 Report Structure 2.2 The Linux Ecosystem 2.3 Linux History 2.4 Legal Implications 2.5 Cost of Ownership Section 3: Technology Features 3.1 Resilience 3.2 Scalability 3.3 Security 3.4 Interoperability 3.5 Management Section 4: Architectures and Models 4.1 Open Source Model 4.2 IT Optimisation 4.3 An Alternative Client Strategy Section 5: Deployment 5.1 Business Benefits and Pitfalls 5.2 Linux in the Public Sector 5.3 SMEs and Linux 5.4 Migrating to Linux Section 6: Market Analysis 6.1 Market Overview 6.2 Case Studies 9 11 19 21 22 24 26 27 29 31 33 34 37 43 47 49 51 58 61 63 67 69 71 75 77 81
September 2004
Contents Linux in the Enterprise
www.butlergroup.com
Section 7: Tables 7.1 Butler Group Linux in the Enterprise Features Matrix 7.2 Butler Group Linux in the Enterprise Product Capability Diagrams 7.3 Butler Group Linux in the Enterprise Market Lifecycle Positions Section 8: Comparisons 8.1 Linux Distributions 8.2 Linux Services Section 9: Technology Audits Computer Associates Linux Solutions Debian Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 HP Linux Services and Support IBM Linux Products, Services, and Support Mandrakesoft Mandrakelinux Novell Linux Services Novell SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8 Oracle Linux Products, Services, and Support Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Red Hat Desktop v. 3 Sun Microsystems Linux Services Section 10: Vendor Profiles Asianux BMC Software Comodo Conectiva Inc. Fujitsu Services KNOPPIX
87 90 99 101 105 107 111 115 117 127 135 145 155 165 175 185 193 203 213 215 215 216 217 218 218
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Contents Continued
NETLINE Red Flag Software The Slackware Linux Project Sybase Terra Soft Solutions Turbolinux Inc. uClinux Wind River Section 11: Glossary 222 223 224 225 226 226 227 228 229
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
SECTION 1: Management Summary
www.butlergroup.com
1.1 MANAGEMENT SUMMARY

KEY FINDINGS
Its time to put both feet in the water Linux is now a credible alternative for the core of the data centre, and will be for the client within two years. Freedom of choice the most important attribute of Linux is the independence afforded from the hardware platform. Linux is a cost-effective UNIX replacement, and worthy competitor to Microsoft Windows Server in many areas. Linux on the client is gaining credence, with offerings available from Red Hat, IBM, Novell, and Sun. Ignore generalised Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) evaluations; the TCO of Linux varies dependent on an individual organisations circumstances. The Linux ecosystem is developing quickly and is a major driver of the adoption of Linux, especially for the main enterprise distributions from Red Hat and Novell. The public sector is showing leadership in this area, and beginning to embrace Linux and Open Source in a major way. Open Source software tends not to be innovative, but does produce efficient, secure, and robust code. For many already using Windows, it remains the best strategic choice, as does proprietary UNIX at the very high end.
Introduction
IT management needs to take a long, hard look at their heterogeneous systems infrastructure, and put in place steps to reduce the escalating costs that are in part driven by the number of incumbent Operating Systems (OSs) in the environment. Very few IT managers ever go out to purchase an OS, but it is the provision or development of services to meet the business objectives and requirements that is the main driver. Above all else, what Linux provides is the opportunity to reduce the number of platforms supported, by removing the need for close coupling between the OS and specific hardware.
Above all else, what Linux provides is the opportunity to reduce the number of platforms supported, by removing the need for close coupling between the OS and specific hardware.
It seems to many in the IT industry and outside that Linux has come from nowhere to capture a significant share of the enterprise server market. Those in the vendor community hotly dispute the actual figures, especially as the engagement model for Linux makes accurate numbers difficult to determine. However, what must be acknowledged is that Linux is definitely gaining traction in the enterprise, especially against UNIX derivatives. In little more than 15 years Linux has advanced from the garage into the core of the enterprise, has achieved credibility in the server environment, and is now even beginning to threaten Microsofts iron grip on the client OS market. The Linux generation has begun and, make no mistake, the era of Open Source development, with Linux as a leading exponent, is a reality.
September 2004
Section 1: Management Summary
11
www.butlergroup.com
Lets be clear though; Linux, whilst offering an end to hardware vendor lock in, more control, and good resilience, is no universal remedy. There are the same issues as with the deployment and maintenance of other platforms, and Microsoft Windows continues to be an effective alternative. In the short term, adding Linux to the mix can increase skill requirements and complexity, making it imperative that management processes and administration tools are in place to allow the centralised control of the IT environment. But an organisation that commits itself to just two OSs, i.e. Windows and Linux, will over time reduce the skill sets required for management and administration.
Linux, whilst offering an end to hardware vendor lock in, more control, and good resilience, is no universal remedy.
Business Issues
Everybody now accepts that Linux in the enterprise environment is not free. However, TCO is complex with many variables to consider, making direct comparison difficult as each organisation is different. Little attention should be paid to the generalised TCO studies generated by many in the industry around whether UNIX, Windows, or Linux is the most expensive to operate. IT management must retain its objectivity in selecting the most appropriate and cost effective OS for the selected services and applications. In the end, as with any IT deployment, it hinges on what the specific business and technical requirements are. What is significant is that Linux is now a valid option for enterprise use. The on-going SCO litigation saga with regard to provenance of Linux code, involving many leading IT industry vendors, and some customers, looks set to continue for some time to come. This backdrop can be unsettling for those deciding whether to make Linux a strategic OS. However, this is not seen as a major threat and should not cloud the decision-making process, especially as many vendors will indemnify users against any unfavourable judgements.
The patent protection regulation changes proposed by the European Union (EU) have the potential to cause further difficulties for the Open Source community.
The patent protection regulation changes proposed by the European Union (EU) have the potential to cause further difficulties for the Open Source community, of which Linux is a part. If the proposal is accepted in its current form it will allow patents to cover code, data structures, and process descriptions. The danger is that Open Source projects will find patent licensing costs prohibitive, stifling code reuse and innovation, as well as commercial software vendors possibly using the regulations to close down Open Source projects. This should not detract from the fact that Linux has evolved into a dependable, enterprise-ready environment capable of meeting business and technical requirements. The absence of accountability for Linux can be a worry for many organisations, with liability, and the provision of a warranty difficult to pin down to a developer. There is also a concern as to the future direction that the OS might take, as there is no guarantee that new kernel developments will cater for business needs. The establishment of enterprise-focused distributions and the availability of support from the Linux ecosystem, including the control and testing provided by the Open Source Development Lab (OSDL), should significantly diminish these concerns.
12
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Technology Issues
Linux is very much a disruptive technology where migration should not be taken too lightly, especially the retraining needs and organisational changes required when moving from Windows to Linux. Another possible barrier to adoption is the total cost of acquisition, which should be given careful consideration, with the softer issues such as the cultural aspects and management support afforded particular attention.
Linuxs ability to run on this industry standard hardware makes it a prime contender to replace proprietary UNIX solutions.
A number of significant technology trends within the IT industry have made Linux a leading contender for inclusion in an organisations infrastructure. Intel-based architecture dominates the enterprise IT environment. With Moores law continually advancing performance and the increasing use of blade technology, x86 hardware is a feasible option for all data processing requirements, even for large database and transactional applications. Linuxs ability to run on this industry standard hardware makes it a prime contender to replace proprietary UNIX solutions. This hardware independence is especially important as organisations start to move into the 64-bit world. It is by no means certain which processor will become the industry standard from Intel Xeon and Itanium, AMD Opteron, and IBM POWER. Being hardware agnostic gives the flexibility to utilise whichever system provides the best performance and value now and in the future. This portability at last presents the IT manager with the leverage to maximise the best price from hardware vendors.
Where Windows has a significant advantage is in the totality of software stack, developer tools, available functionality, and integration, especially in the desktop environment.
There is a continuing focus on doing more with less, consolidating servers to maximise utilisation along with a move to utility computing. Linux allows the number of OSs deployed in an organisations infrastructure to be decreased, thus reducing the administration overhead of the IT environment. In addition, the connectivity features built into Linux allow integration with Microsoft, Novell, and other networks, which can help with the implementation of a consolidation strategy. The latest 2.6 Linux kernel release, made available at the end of 2003, builds on the previous version with enhancements that include support for NUMA servers, hyperthreading, scalability improvements, security-related changes, and more legacy support. Novell plans to include the new kernel in its SUSE LINUX enterprise distribution about the time that this Report is published and Red Hat plans to do the same by early 2005. Linux is, of course, not the only alternative going forward. Microsoft Windows, whilst not being completely hardware agnostic, does run on industry standard x86-based hardware. The combination of Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 offers an IT platform which is compelling for the enterprise user, especially with the focus on improved security, reliability, availability, and scalability. Where Windows has a significant advantage is in the totality of software stack, developer tools, available functionality, and integration, especially in the desktop environment. A shortcoming is perceived as the on going licensing costs, an issue that ironically Microsoft itself brought to the fore.
September 2004
13
www.butlergroup.com
There could now be the beginnings of a sea change on the desktop, with Linux client offerings available from Red Hat, IBM, Novell, and Sun. However, gaining credence will be no easy task, and all the solutions must deliver the equivalent convenience and integration of the incumbent Windows environment. A number of early adopter public sector organisations, such as Munich, City of Bergen, and Schwabisch Hall councils, are now deploying Linux and Open Source on the desktop. For the sceptical, download Knoppix 3.4 or SUSE Live 9.1 and boot from the CD to see how far the Linux desktop has come in recent times. The Open Source office tools, deployed on a Linux desktop will, however, be playing catch-up with Microsoft Office for the foreseeable future. The only product that appears to have leapfrogged the Microsoft stable to date is the Mozilla Browser.
Market Issues
An important reason why Linux has successfully evolved into an enterprise-ready OS is the creation of a mutually beneficial ecosystem. Over the past couple of years the Open Source community and the commercial sector have adapted to each other and this has allowed the commercialisation of Linux to go from strength to strength. The use of the Open Source software development model has proved very good at producing efficient and robust code, but possibly not the catalyst for innovative improvements that has been advocated by many in the Open Source community. The openness and flexibility surrounding Linux is particularly appealing to public sector organisations.
To be a credible offering in the enterprise space Linux must have Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) support.
To be a credible offering in the enterprise space Linux must have Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) support. While in the early days this was lacking this is no longer the case, especially as IBM has provided active assistance to ISVs to port their offerings. Linux is now a Tier 1 OS for the majority of ISVs and hardware vendors. The main benefactors have been the Linux enterprise distributions from Red Hat and Novell, making them the leaders in the market. The availability of reference architectures from HP, Oracle, and others has further aided confidence in the Linux market. The health of the Linux ecosystem very much depends on service providers to supply Linux support and other resources to users. IBM has played a leading role in growing the Linux market. Additionally, many ISVs, hardware vendors, and service providers donate software back to the Open Source community for inclusion in the Linux kernel. A worry is the fragmentation of Linux; however, the fact that no single vendor controls the kernel has thus far prevented this.
Linux offers an alternative and is worthy of consideration as and when decisions on future OS strategy become necessary.
There are significant trigger points on the horizon for many IT managers including the withdrawal of Windows NT support, hardware replacement, and the Windows Longhorn release. Linux offers an alternative and is worthy of consideration as and when decisions on future OS strategy become necessary.
Butler Group Market Lifecycle Positions

Butler Groups vendor ranking and assessment model groups suppliers into Outperform, Perform, and Under-perform categories, and shows the predicted progress through the three major market phases of Early Adoption, Market Adoption, and Market Maturity.
14
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Linux Distributions
OUTPERFORM
Novell SUSE LINUX Red Hat
PERFORM
Asianux* Turbolinux
Asianux Debian Turbolinux
Debian Mandrakesoft MIRACLE LINUX* Red Flag* Turbolinux
UNDERPERFORM
Debian Mandrakesoft
Mandrakesoft
Early Adopter to 2005
Market Adoption 2006-2009
Market Maturity 2010-Onwards
* Asianux is an enterprise distribution jointly produced by Red Flag and MIRACLE LINUX. This will rapidly become the dominant distribution in the Asia/Pacific region.
Linux Services
OUTPERFORM
IBM
HP IBM
HP IBM
PERFORM
HP Oracle
Fujitsu Novell Oracle Sun Microsystems
UNDERPERFORM
Fujitsu Novell Sun Microsystems
September 2004
15
www.butlergroup.com
Solution Performance Table

Butler Groups summary of the analysis and market positioning of each vendors current solution, taking into account all the research as well as how the vendor addresses the market. Linux Distributions
Rating
Company/Solution
Butler Group Opinion

European Linux technology leader now owned and supported by Novell. Excellent range of management tools and close relationship with IBM and HP. Will remain one of the top two distributions for the foreseeable future.
Perform
Novell SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8
Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Red Hat Desktop v. 3
The first company to deliver enterprise-level technology and support for Linux. Recognised leader with key partnerships and full range of supporting services. Will be the other leading distribution.
Debian Debian GNU/Linux 3.0
Solid technology, but despite tie-up with HP it is lacking support and direction.
Under-perform
Mandrakesoft Mandrakelinux
French-centric distribution, with good features, but little penetration outside France/southern Europe.
MIRACLE LINUX and Red Flag Asianux 1.0
Chinas Red Flag and Japans MIRACLE LINUX have recently aligned to create Asianux, a standard enterprise distribution for the Asia/Pacific region. Given the size of the potential market, this will be a major distribution in the future.
Turbolinux Turbolinux Enterprise Server 8
Asia/Pacific distribution that is likely to suffer as Asianux (Red Flag, MIRACLE LINUX) gains predominance in the region.
16
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Linux Services
Rating
Company/Solution
Butler Group Opinion

IBM has probably the biggest portfolio of Linux products and services, and can rightly be considered the godparent of Linux. With a major part of the companys business strategy based upon migration to, and deployment of, Linux, IBM must be regarded as the leader in Linux Services. HP is a strong advocate for Linux, but provides support and services in a manner that is hardware and software agnostic, focusing on organisations having the most appropriate solution to meet their business needs. Its indemnification programme is part of a strategy to give businesses confidence to migrate and deploy Linux at the enterprise level. Oracle regards Linux as a strategic platform for its software and has aligned closely with SUSE and Red Hat in particular. Oracle is also the 58% shareholder in Japans Miracle Linux distribution. The company will provide a single point of support for its products deployed on Linux, and up to third-level support even providing code-level fixes to the Linux kernel. Fujitsu regards Linux as another flavour of UNIX, and is in the initial stages of its Linux services programme. However as the worlds fourth largest IT company, with significant presence in the Asia/Pacific region, and large public sector contracts in the UK, it is positioned to be a major player in Linux Services. Following a busy 2003/2004 acquiring Ximian and SUSE LINUX, Novell is now clarifying its offerings to build on its global experience and presence. It promises to offer a comprehensive range of services and has the opportunity to integrate its legacy applications into an expanding application server platform. Sun Microsystems seems to be putting out confusing messages about its strategy, particularly shown in its recent attitude to Red Hat, and its announcement that it is considering the release of Solaris into the open source community. If the company invests wisely with a coherent strategy, it could be a big player in the Linux services market
Outperform Perform Under-perform
IBM Linux Products, Services, and Support
HP Linux Services and Support
Oracle Linux Products, Services, and Support
Fujitsu Linux Services
Novell Linux Services
Sun Microsystems Linux Services
September 2004
17
www.butlergroup.com
SECTION 2: Introduction
www.butlergroup.com
2.1 REPORT STRUCTURE

In recognition of the fact that this Report will be read by a wide range of senior management personnel, each with different areas of interest and expertise, the Report has been structured to separate-out the elements and issues to as great an extent as possible. The aim is to make each section as freestanding as is practicably achievable. However, we recommend that the whole Report is needed to give the complete picture. A brief summary of each section of the Report is included below in order to help direct the reader to particular areas of interest. Section Two Introduction Following the Management Summary, the Introduction sets the scene, giving an overview of the considerations, concepts, and business benefits of Linux in the Enterprise. Section Three Technology Features This section describes the main features, standards, and technologies appropriate when using Linux in the Enterprise. Section Four Architectures and Models This part of the Report takes a closer look at the architectures pertinent to the adoption of Linux in the Enterprise. Section Five Deployment This section uncovers the issues and advantages of Linux in the Enterprise, along with why the Operating System (OS) is relevant to the public sector and Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Assistance and advice is also provided for the migration to Linux. Section Six Market Analysis This section gives an overview of the market, providing an examination of the drivers, along with an investigation of the future direction, and includes a review of the approach adopted by a selection of businesses that have deployed Linux in the Enterprise. Section Seven Tables This section first presents Butler Groups Features Matrix, which allows the selected Linux distributions to be seen side-by-side in terms of features and capabilities. A number of supplementary tables are also included in this section. Section Eight Comparisons This section includes comparisons of the vendors and services featured in this Report. Section Nine Technology Audits This section contains in-depth Technology Audits for the vendors and solutions reviewed in this Report. Section Ten Vendor Profiles This section contains brief profiles of a number of relevant vendors and technologies not covered by a Technology Audit.
September 2004
Section 2: Introduction
21
www.butlergroup.com
2.2 THE LINUX ECOSYSTEM

The Linux OS is currently sweeping across the IT landscape, beginning at the server and moving right through to the client. From its beginnings as a small-scale Open Source project, the OS has gained a momentum that has seen its market share overtake other flavours of UNIX and threaten Microsoft Windows. A number of governments, including those of Germany and China, and other public sector agencies have adopted Linux as a means of breaking vendor lock in with all its associated disadvantages. Linux started its entry into the IT market chiefly through its ability to support robust file and printer servers, and as an alternative to run on infrastructure hardware Linux has gained significant market share in the IT backroom.
A number of governments and other public sector agencies have adopted Linux as a means of breaking vendor lock in with all its associated disadvantages.
A significant factor in the evolution of Linux into an enterprise-ready OS is the establishment of a credible ecosystem. Initially, there was mutual scepticism and mistrust from both the Open Source community and the commercial sector. We have seen over the past couple of years these two camps reach accommodations with each other that have allowed the adoption of Linux to go from strength to strength. In addition, what helped propel Linux into the enterprise was a continuing stalemate amongst UNIX vendors. Time after time efforts to unify the UNIX camp stalled as vendors vied to retain self-interest. While this situation paved the way for Microsoft NT and later Windows 2000 to gain greater ascendancy, it has also allowed Linux to make significant inroads into the UNIX market.
Process Vendors Open Source Community Hardware Vendors Distributors DATA CENTRE CLIENT Service Providers
ISVs
Figure 2.2.1: The Linux Ecosystem
22
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
The bedrock of the Linux ecosystem is the Open Source community feeding changes and fixes into the Linux source code. While many consider this a weakness, in that it is difficult to control and gain consensus among such a large number of people, it is in fact a major strength of the whole Linux development process. Linus Torvalds and his inner circle, in close conjunction with the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), which is supported by many IT vendors, have retained copyright and control of the kernel. Many Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), hardware vendors, and service providers now contribute software back to the Open Source community for inclusion in the Linux kernel. These contributions go through the same process as code from other authors before adoption into the core code. A concern is the fragmentation of distributions/kernel and the commercialisation of the Open Source ideal. To a large degree no one vendor controlling the kernel prevents this, and so far a symbiotic relationship has been maintained between the Open Source community and the business population. This openness and flexibility surrounding Linux is particularly appealing to public sector organisations, which can take the source code and cultivate a local development community around the OS, associated utilities, and applications specific to their area of operation. This enables the creation of skills and knowledge in the immediate neighbourhood where the state-owned administration provides services. Although Linux was originally written for the Intel 386 (x86) processor and runs on subsequent Intel-based generations, it has been ported on to many other processor families as well. Linux can run on OSs such as Sun Microsystems SPARC, IBM Power, Motorola 68000, IBM zSeries, and Intel Itanium. This flexibility is rare among commercially used OSs and an important advantage, giving the IT manager the opportunity for the first time to choose the best value hardware independent of the OS.
The majority of ISVs now support Linux as one of their strategic platforms.
A perceived inhibitor to the adoption of Linux is the lack of application availability. However, the majority of ISVs now support Linux as one of their strategic platforms. The acceptance of Linux has reached a critical mass with the majority of key software vendors having ported their software to the Linux platform. Among the first to embrace Linux were IBM, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Oracle, and SAP, with others quickly joining the ranks. The IT industry leaders have recognised that Linux is a valid alternative to UNIX and Microsoft Windows for many organisations. The main factors that differentiate distributions include: The package management system for assembling the parts that build the complete OS. The installation software needed to resolve different component versions, host machine compatibility, along with upgrade and patch management. The availability of helpdesk and 24x7 support. The bundling of compatible software utilities. From an enterprise and commercial perspective the main differentiator has to be the support of the OS from ISVs. However, Linux does not alter the main criteria for OS selection, the suitability to run the organisations applications. The two leading corporate Linux distributors are Red Hat, particularly in the US, and SUSE LINUX, now part of Novell, with coverage mainly in Europe. Today these two vendors dominate corporate market share, with others available including Mandrakesoft, Debian, and Turbolinux in Asia. This acceptance is due in no small part to the selection of Red Hat and SUSE LINUX distributions for support by the hardware vendors and the majority of ISVs.
September 2004
23
www.butlergroup.com
A major consideration in any enterprise installation is the availability of skills, either internally from the organisation, or externally from the vendor, reseller, or Systems Integrator (SI). This is an area where service providers have developed their resources to satisfy the needs of Linux customers. The key service for any organisation deploying software is support, as Linux is Open Source Software (OSS) and does not have a vendor as such. There are many organisations now providing distribution-agnostic support services at contracted levels. These include Fujitsu, HP, IBM Global Services, Novell, and Sun Microsystems. Each has relationships with the Linux distributors, and also provides a level of support for a range of OSS.
2.3 LINUX HISTORY

In 1991 Linus Torvalds, a Finnish engineering student, when seeking to produce a UNIX-like OS for Intel processors with the assistance of volunteers using a Web site, re-wrote a small version of UNIX called MINIX, creating the first Linux kernel. Available for download from the Web site, Linux rapidly became popular with students and academia, as it was free. By placing the code for the Kernel in the Open Source community under the GNU Public Licence (GPL), created by the Free Software Foundation, enabled Linux to evolve quickly and protected against anyone creating their own proprietary version of Linux. During the early 1990s Linux gained all the features required to operate as a replacement for a UNIX workstation. Many different user groups were founded at this time and the Linux Journal magazine was launched. The collaboration between a loose network of users continued to maintain and improve the OS. Importantly, the kernel remained compliant with the Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX) standard and included the addition of all the features found in UNIX, such as being based on a UNIX-like structure with three main areas of code kernel modules, kernel, and shared libraries.
Compilers
User Processes
System Management Utilities
User Utilities
Shared System Libraries
Linux Kernel
Loadable Kernel Modules
Figure 2.3.1: Linux Components The kernel is the term used for the core code of Linux, interacting between the commands from applications and the hardware devices that form the computer. The kernel is loaded into a protected area of memory, and provides services on request to applications through system calls. Requests for the kernel are prioritised and managed using an interrupt handler to determine the I/O operations, a scheduler, and a supervisor to assign priorities to the tasks. Applications, including application servers, are certified against specific kernel releases, thus management and control of releases of kernels across servers is important.
24
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
The Linux kernel version 1.0 was released in early 1994, with Linux 2.0 following in the middle of 1996, which included support for multiple architectures and multiprocessing. Linux has evolved over the years into a multi-user, multi-tasking system with an associated set of tools and utilities, capable of running on many hardware platforms from the smallest client to the largest server. Linux kernel releases are separated into deployment and development. The former is set in stone, unless a fault is discovered, and all features have been tested and accepted by the community. The latter is a work in progress, which members of the community can contribute to until it is fixed and becomes the next deployment release. The current deployment release is 2.6 made available in December 2003. Commercial releases of the 2.6 kernel are planned by the major Linux distributors over the coming months. Red Hat plans to include the 2.6 kernel to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 due out in 2005. SUSE LINUX will include 2.6 with its summer 2004 release of SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9. Some features of 2.6 have already been back-ported into the 2.4 kernel used in commercial distributions.
Linux Kernel Development Timeline
First public posting of Linux kernel 08/91
1.2 kernel 03/95
2.2 kernel 01/99
2.6 kernel 12/03
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
0.98 kernel 09/92
1.0 kernel 03/94
2.0 kernel 06/96
2.4 kernel 01/01
Figure 2.3.2: Linux Kernel Development Timeline
(Source: OSDL)
The Linux kernel development is still overseen by a small group, including Linus Torvalds, supported by the OSDL, who agree additions and enhancements submitted by the community of developers, and increasingly employees of the major ISVs and the ISVs themselves. The Linux Standard Base (LSB) Project, under the auspices of the not-for-profit Free Standards Group, publishes standard specifications to ensure binary compatibility between Linux distributions. Initially, Linux development focused on the kernel, but an OS consists of much more functionality, so whereas the Linux kernel is entirely made up of code built by the community, a Linux system consists of another layer of functionality, some of which has been developed from scratch, while others are from previous projects and existing UNIX utilities. The concept of a Linux distribution was developed, grouping together the standard kernel, Linux utilities, management tools, and other associated software. With the major ISVs seeking a version of Linux that would scale to larger machines and meet the requirements of the business community, a number of distributions aimed at enterprises were developed by organisations such as Red Hat and SUSE LINUX. These companies have established support and professional service structures for customers and partnered with key industry names for additional credibility.
September 2004
25
www.butlergroup.com
The great attractions of Linux for ISVs, SIs, and user organisations, is not all about the absence of an initial licensing cost, but the flexibility Linux provides, the acknowledgement of the standards and control around the kernel, and the fact that a common set of skills can be used, reducing overheads and timescales.
2.4 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

The SCO litigation story has received large press coverage; suffice to say here that despite pending lawsuits with IBM, Novell, and others, and SCOs first lawsuits against end-users DaimlerChrysler and AutoZone, there has been no convincing evidence put forward by SCO in the public arena to suggest that any infringements have been broken over the Linux source code. To get some perspective on all this, it probably helps to look back at the chronology of events that began when SCO sued IBM in March 2003, claiming that IBM broke a contract agreement and used some of SCO Groups UNIX System V Code into Linux versions 2.4 and 2.5. In August, IBM said it had a perpetual UNIX licence and filed a counter-lawsuit against SCO. Red Hat has also filed a suit against SCO. The first lawsuit, against IBM, is scheduled for trial on 11 April 2005. Novell and SCO both filed registration for copyright over elements in UNIX System V in 2003. This stems from the purchase of assets in 1995 by SCO from Novell, which Novell claims left it with ownership of UNIX copyrights, subject to conditions.
While the SCO saga is likely to go on and on, customers should not be overly concerned about purchasing Linux.
Those unfortunate companies receiving a payment demand from SCO should wait for the courts to decide the issues before taking any step. Red Hat, Novell/SUSE, Sun, HP, and others all offer their customers indemnification programs, and should SCO win any argument in court, the Linux developer community will produce replacement patches for offending code, so there is no long-term threat hanging over Linux. While this saga is likely to go on and on, customers should not be overly concerned about purchasing Linux, and should not pay the disputed licence fees to SCO until the courts reach a decision. Even if the law courts agree that UNIX code has been copied into Linux, SCO can only win a lump sum from its corporate adversaries and problem code identified in court can be removed and replaced with equivalent code.
Another worrying threat to Linux and the use of Open Source is the increasing possibility that the patent protection regulations will be tightened.
This current legal tussle between SCO, IBM, Novell, and others brings uncertainty to the Linux market place. However, Linux vendors and leaders in the Open Source community have rallied round to protect users. Vendors have indemnified their Linux users against SCOs claims, and customers need not be overly concerned about making Linux a strategic choice.
26
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Another worrying threat to Linux and the use of Open Source is the increasing possibility that the patent protection regulations will be tightened. The various Open Source communities are becoming increasingly concerned about EU Software Patent Legislation. The Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) of EU member states in Brussels provisionally agreed on a new draft for the controversial Software Patent directive. This latest draft rejects all of the European Parliaments limiting amendments, and is described as the most uncompromisingly pro-patent text yet by the Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII). This is a non-profit association registered in Munich, which is dedicated to the spread of data processing literacy. The text from the COREPER committee goes further than the original European Commission text, which was published in 2002. At that time, the EU Commission had agreed not to allow program claims. However, while the threat still remains it is uncertain whether the EU law on software patents will be implemented, due to disagreements between officials and ministers as to validity of the new text. If the proposal is adopted it will extend software patents to every item of software, including computer programs, data structures, and process descriptions. It is alleged that this will stifle innovation and directly harm most software companies and all Open Source projects that are unable to pay patent licensing costs, allowing proprietary interests to take over the public domain.
2.5 COST OF OWNERSHIP

There has been an expectation that the lack of a licence fee for Linux should drive down the cost of ownership, and to a limited extent this is true. However, this is possibly a simplistic view and as always things are more complicated, as the many studies have indicated by their varying conclusions drawn from a multitude of variables. The problem is similar to answering the question how long is a piece of string there is no right or wrong answer. To begin with, not only is each OS designed and developed differently, but other factors should be considered including the marketing channels, and of crucial importance are the applications available for the OS. All these and other elements combined with the unique characteristics of the organisations infrastructure and make-up of skilled resources impact on the cost of the operation. Not surprisingly, it is possible to produce theoretical studies that weight the various components to reach the results which favour each OS. It is unworkable to provide a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) study that is valid for all situations. In some scenarios Linux will provide a lower TCO, while in others it is quite possible for Windows to be more cost efficient.
While cost is undoubtedly a major component of the decision, an often overlooked benefit of Linux, and of more importance, is the flexibility of Linux to run on various hardware platforms.
While cost is undoubtedly a major component of the decision, an often overlooked benefit of Linux, and of more importance, is the flexibility of Linux to run on various hardware platforms, most notably the use of x86 processor architecture. It is now possible for IT managers to consider replacing costly proprietary hardware and UNIX with Intel-based systems and Linux for many applications.
September 2004
27
www.butlergroup.com
Other important considerations covered in more detail in the report include: Scalability. Resilience. Security. Interoperability, including application availability. Management.
What cannot be disputed is that Linux is now a valid alternative OS for the enterprise.
Ignore the froth and marketing spin of the major industry players around whether UNIX, Windows, or Linux is the most expensive to operate. Butler Group recommends that you choose the OS which is right for you and the particular applications you need to support. In the end, as with any IT deployment, it hinges on what the specific business and technical requirements are. Nonetheless, what cannot be disputed is that Linux is now a valid alternative OS for the enterprise.
28
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
SECTION 3: Technology Features
www.butlergroup.com
3.1 RESILIENCE
Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability (RAS)
IT managers responsible for enterprise systems rightly have a keen interest in issues such as failover and High Availability (HA), as many of the applications are now critical to the operation of the business. It is imperative that systems are very reliable and can continue to operate even when components are removed for replacement or maintenance. Linux has made great strides in terms of meeting the resilience requirements of the enterprise user, especially in the 2.4 and, most notably, 2.6 releases of the kernel and the commercially available distributions now obtainable. Reliability There are many factors that determine reliability of the Operating System (OS), both in the code and in the hardware components supported. Whilst the ability to recover quickly from a failure is important, it is better not to have the failure in the first place. The IBM Linux Technology Centre has run a Linux reliability evaluation to demonstrate that the Linux kernel and other core OS components are dependable and stable over 30, 60, and 90 days, and can provide a robust, enterprise-level environment over long periods of time. The results of the tests and observations over the duration of the runs included: The Linux kernel and other core OS components, including libraries, device drivers, file systems, networking, and memory management, operated consistently and completed all the expected durations of runs with zero critical system failures. Linux system performance was not degraded throughout the long duration of the run. The Linux kernel properly scaled to use hardware resources (CPU, memory, and disk) on Symmetric MultiProcessing (SMP) systems. The Linux system catered well for continuous full CPU load (over 99%) and high memory stress. The Linux system handled overloaded circumstances correctly.
The Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) is now heavily involved with kernel testing.
The Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) is now heavily involved with kernel testing. The Scalable Test Platform and Patch Lifecycle Manager offer an open, publicly accessible workbench for the submission and testing of kernel patches. It also makes available automatically generated testing data from a variety of kernel versions. The OSDL Database Test Suite contains three kernel workloads developed to simulate complex database workloads found in data centre applications.
September 2004
Section 3: Technology Features
31
www.butlergroup.com
Availability The availability of a service can be determined by how many nines of availability it offers. One nine of availability equates to 90% of uptime, while two nines of availability means it is accessible 99% of the time, and so on. Converting the number of nines into the amount of downtime permitted per year produces the following results: No. of Nines 1 2 3 4 5 6 Availability 90.0000% 99.0000% 99.9000% 99.9900% 99.9990% 99.9999% Downtime/Year 37 days 3.7 days 8.8 hours 53 minutes 5.3 minutes 32 seconds
Obviously the more nines of availability required the more expensive the system becomes, as single points of failure are minimised with redundancy of resources. Using Linux clustering, along with enterprise standard hardware and software, can provide high nines availability at a fraction of the previous cost, which in the past was only obtainable from proprietary equipment. Clustering is a technique often used to improve availability, and to meet the requirements for load balancing, replication, failover, and redundancy. It consists of a group of two or more servers working together, sometimes referred to as a node, which is used as a single virtual resource by an application or the network. In the event of failure it enables another physical server to take over the tasks of the problem hardware. In a HA cluster individual nodes can take over from others if and when required. Whilst a cluster allows both the OS and application to recognise it as a single virtual server, it may be appropriate for security or management reasons to run multiple instances of an application on a cluster.
The Linux High Availability (Linux-HA) community development project provides a clustering solution for Linux.
The Linux High Availability (Linux-HA) community development project provides a clustering solution for Linux. The Linux-HA project is widely used, with a few thousand installations in production. Heartbeat is available as part of SUSE LINUX, Mandrakelinux, and Debian distributions. The Red Hat Cluster Suite is provided as a separate Red Hat applications family product and is designed specifically for use with Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems. There are numerous other availability features that can be found in a Linux distribution by using various open source and proprietary utilities, either as part of the distribution, or as third-party add-ons. Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) and power management features are key technologies within the availability context. Other important functionality includes: Hot swapping (the ability to add or remove on-line): Processors, Memory, I/O adapters, and hard disks. Having alternate kernel installations available. The ability to undertake dynamic kernel patching.
32
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Serviceability It is vital for the system to be aware of failing components, highlighting these to the operator at the earliest stage, and the ability to self heal is now a key requirement. The capability of the distribution to diagnose and fix problems is the foundation for an enterprise-capable offering. A bug or fault is irritating but to be expected from time to time. However, an unfixable problem is indefensible. Good serviceability features reduce the impact on the availability and reliability of the system. Linux is supported by third-party tools and utilities that meet the key serviceability requirements of: A range of failure prediction tools. Failure data capture. Automatic problem detection and resolution. Off-line analysis.
Recovery
No one wants to deal with crashed servers, however, the complexity of the devices, interacting with many uncontrolled elements, despite all the resilience features employed, will inevitably meet problems from time to time. The ability to undertake a quick and automated recovery is of considerable advantage. This applies not only in the large data centre hosting corporate e-business applications, but also, for example, in retail outlets, where a local server may be supporting the point-of-sale terminals and authorising credit card and other payments. This situation may be just as business-critical as the data centre, but the likelihood is that there is not an operator or IT manager on site. In the latter situation automated recovery and then remote management is essential. Automatic recovery functionality and features need to be available not only for a complete server crash, but also for failures of individual components. As with the resilience features, not all recovery features are applicable to every solution, and often require appropriately skilled support staff to be effective. Support for Linux systems is now included in most recovery solutions on the market.
Conclusions
Reliability The Intel architecture upon which the majority of Linux systems are based is inherently robust and the Linux 2.6 kernel brings improvements in this area. Availability Linux systems can be built to provide high-availability. Serviceability There are a range of open source and third-party proprietary solutions on the market.
3.2 SCALABILITY
Scalability consists of the capacity to scale up where a number of distributed systems are connected together, and scale out, which involves the use of a number of processors contained within one system. The ability to scale out is particularly important when considering a server consolidation strategy.
Linux systems now feature in many of the Transaction Processing Councils benchmarks.
Linux systems now feature in many of the Transaction Processing Councils benchmarks. Linux scalability can also be achieved by using virtual machines. Four technologies that can improve scalability are SMP, Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA), clustering, and Hyper-threading.
September 2004
33
www.butlergroup.com
SMP In SMP, or tightly-coupled multiprocessing, the processors share both memory and the I/O bus. A single implementation of an OS is run across all the processors, treating them and their memory and I/O as a single resource. Operations from an application can be divided across more than one processor, and effectively run concurrently. This reduces the time taken to perform transactions and processes. There is, of course, a level of overhead for the division of the data, the monitoring of the processes, and reassembly of the data after completion. Early implementations of SMP required that SMP awareness had to be coded into each application. As OSs and their supported languages have matured, this is now delivered as core functionality in Linux. The numbers of processors that can be supported on a single server in this way depends both upon the distribution and the hardware architecture. For example, the maximum number of x86 processors that can be currently supported by server vendors is normally 16; however, the Linux 2.6 kernel has the potential to support up to 64 processors. NUMA New processor architectures are beginning to use NUMA technology where all of the main memory is partitioned into local and shared. The local memory provides the processor with memory running at memory speeds; while access to shared memory is slower due to latency of the connection between the memory on each processor board. This design approach tends to be cheaper to produce on motherboards with four-way processors and above, leading it to be adopted by many manufacturers. The Linux 2.6 kernel supports NUMA. Clustering Clustering can be used for scaling out, as well as for RAS requirements. Linux cluster vendor California Digital, along with Quadrics and Intel, have developed one of the most powerful Linux supercomputers ever built; a 4,096 Itanium 2 processor-based Linux cluster code-named Thunder at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The Thunder cluster can deliver up to 19 teraflops of sustained performance. Hyper-threading Hyper-threading is a technology developed for x86 processors, which allows a single processor to act like two separate processors. Hyper-threading facilitates greater use of the processing power within the CPU, by utilising spare capacity that may be awaiting data or instructions from a slower component in the system, for example a disk drive. Hyper-threading has been included in the 2.6 kernel.
Conclusions
Linux continues to increase its scalability features, with the Linux 2.6 kernel enabling more performance. Scalability is less likely to be an issue in the future.
3.3 SECURITY
Many aspects of Linux security are similar in design to that found in UNIX systems. Linux source code is openly available for anyone to examine, which prevents any hidden entry points into the OS, and enables the addition of bespoke security software to further enhance security. Users need a password and the relevant authorisation rights to be able to access services and resources. Other functionality available includes logging, monitoring, audit, and patch management features. IP Security (IPSec) support has been added to the latest kernel release. Comodo supplies the security hardened, server optimised Trustix Linux distribution.
34
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Linuxs Open Source credentials mean it is supported by many thousands of developers globally who continually check out Linux security. This brings about the identification of more vulnerabilities than equivalent proprietary OSs, which tend to rely on customers to report problems. When problems are identified the community can develop fixes quickly, sometimes faster than with proprietary OSs that are constrained by the size of vendor development teams. Additionally, the user organisation or service provider can fix the Linux security issue instead of having to rely on the proprietary vendor to come out with a patch.
Linuxs Open Source credentials mean it is supported by many thousands of developers globally who continually check out Linux security.
While currently not being the favourite target of hackers and those with malicious intent, Linux still needs to be protected from attacks. The Open Source community has developed a variety of security tools for use with Linux. Utilities contained in Linux distributions and other third-party software are available to provide a secure Linux environment. The technologies and functionality include:
Authentication and Access Control

Authentication makes sure that the user or application accessing the system is actually who or what they profess to be, and that the IT resource being accessed is what is expected. Access control ensures that users can avail themselves of only the resources for which they are authorised. Open Source authentication tools include OpenSSH, Pluggable Authentication Module (PAM), and Kerberos. OpenSSH encrypts all traffic, including passwords, to stop eavesdropping, connection hijacking, and other network-level attacks. It also offers secure tunnelling functionality and other authentication mechanisms. PAM is an industry standard providing an integrated login structure. It is employed by system access services to authenticate users logging into the Linux system. PAM is able to combine a number of authentication mechanisms such as Rivest, Shamir and Adleman (RSA), Kerberos, and smart cards. Kerberos is a certificate-based authentication. It is based on tickets that provide authority for users. These are passed to the servers on a network to allow the user to undertake tasks using applications running on those servers. As with the use of a directory, this significantly reduces the demands for administration on individual servers. Where there are servers that require tickets, the user is authenticated by an Authentication Server (AS), which creates a session key. This is passed in encrypted form to a Ticket Granting Server (TGS); this validates the ticket for an application, a particular role within that application, and for a specific time (normally eight hours). The ticket is then sent to the server hosting the application and access is granted. Authentication services are the base for any security control, and the tighter the integration with an OS the more secure the IT environment is likely to be.
Network Security Services

Security on a single server or within a single domain can be complex enough. When security has to be extended across or even outside the enterprise, then additional services may be required. Listed here are key technologies required for implementing secure networking, particularly across the Internet. As before, if these are integrated with the OSs of respective servers, then deployment and integration should be quicker, management easier, and consequently security will be increased.
September 2004
35
www.butlergroup.com
1. Virtual Private Network (VPN) A VPN offers a secure tunnel across private and public networks to access resources and for the transfer of information. Users need to authenticate to the VPN before they are allowed access to it. The VPN encrypts the data passing through it, protecting the data from unauthorised access. 2. Intrusion Detection Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs) provide a defence against unauthorised access by monitoring and analysing network traffic and alerting when suspect activity is detected. Snort is an Open Source network intrusion detection system that performs real-time traffic analysis and packet logging on IP networks. It carries out protocol analysis, content searching/matching, enabling the detection of a variety of attacks and probes, including buffer overflows, stealth port scans, Common Gateway Interface (CGI) attacks, network probes, and OS fingerprinting attempts. 3. Firewalls A firewall limits network access between two or more security domains within a network, normally described as trusted and untrusted. As a simple example, the organisations Intranet, which is subject to access by those authenticated by the organisation, could be considered as trusted, and the Internet as untrusted. Firewalls can pass or limit data on a packet level, and whilst fairly simple in operation they need to be very fast to ensure network performance. Many network managers like the idea of a firewall on a separate PC or server to produce a clear separation between trusted and untrusted domains. 4. Encryption Services Much of the data passed between servers is considered confidential. This may be a business confidential issue, such as credit card numbers or customers personal details, or operationally confidential as in usernames and passwords. Where there is a single direct connection between server and user, as in the case of a dumb terminal, there is little risk, but as soon as the data is passed into a network, and thus the direct connection, there is the possibility of interception, copying, damage, or loss of the data. Encryption scrambles the data using an algorithm before it is sent, and on receipt the algorithm is reversed and the data can be read by the intended recipient, whether a user, server, or application. The de facto standard for encryption across TCP/IP networks, including the Internet, is Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. Versions of SSL are referred to by the level of complexity of the algorithm used to encrypt the data. 128-bit encryption is now the norm for transactions across the Internet. OpenSSL is an Open Source project providing SSL functionality. 5. Virus Protection The biggest security headache for IT Managers is the malicious, self-replicating program known as a virus. Whilst the majority of computer viruses have been written to exploit holes in Microsoft Windows security, predominantly through the use of macros, UNIX and Linux viruses are increasingly evident. There are numerous third-party anti-virus software packages available, which can operate either on the desktop or the server level, and protect Linux systems. Although Linux systems have yet to become a major target for hackers, probably due to the fewer numbers deployed, there have been a number of releases of code recently that can crash the Linux kernel.
Security Compliance
The most widely respected international standards for security compliance are those of the US Department of Defence (DoD). The DoD has defined four divisions of computer security, A, B, C, and D, where D is minimal security and A the highest level. C has discretionary protection through auditing, and is divided into C1 and C2. In B, objects have unique sensitivity levels, B being divided into B1, B2, and B3. Certification of an OS to a division C, B, or A, should give a level of confidence to IT managers. The fact is, however, that the security level can only be achieved if the OS is installed correctly, all updates and patches are applied, and that there is active management of the security based upon policies. General Linux distributions meet the same security certification levels as Microsoft Windows and UNIX versions. The Linux Security Module (LSM) included in the Linux kernel allows for the addition of security extensions to the standard Linux kernel. Higher levels of security and Discretionary Access Control (DAC) can be achieved by integrating modules into the kernel developed by the SELinux project.
36
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Conclusions
Linuxs inherent security offers a good basis for providing protection. Extensive peer review and visibility of the source code improves security. The flexibility of Linux enables additional levels of security to be added if required.
3.4 INTEROPERABILITY
The IT environment of the 21st century is heterogeneous. Whilst proprietary, single-processor OSs offer the greatest potential for the close integration of hardware and software, this homogenous nirvana is unlikely to be achieved in any organisation with more than one server. Linux does offer an opportunity to reduce the number of OSs required by an organisation. It is essential, therefore, that a decision on the deployment of Linux is made with reference to the other IT environments with which it will interoperate, and the variety of software that may be deployed upon it. It is certainly important that as a particular vendors products mature there is ongoing compatibility. On one level this could be described as lock-in to a particular vendors strategy. From a different perspective it can deliver tighter integration between OS and architecture, with improved performance and reliability. A value proposition for Sun with Solaris on its SPARC servers, IBM with AIX on its pSeries, and HP with HP-UX on PA-RISC, has always been the control and performance that proprietary standards bring. Microsoft software for many currently symbolises the issue of proprietary software. Linux, on the other hand, coming from an open background, is able to operate on a number of different architectures, and crucially can exploit the commodity pricing from using industry standard processors. Just as the choice of OS is driven mainly by the choice of application, so the hardware architecture has been largely driven by the selection of OS. With the emergence of Linux, this limitation is diminished. Linux can be deployed on many different hardware platforms and can utilise many different types of processor. This flexibility is a key differentiator for Linux against other OSs, being able to run on processors designed for mobile devices right through to the large zSeries systems. In addition, it is crucial that any OS can interoperate with other operating environments and control the multitude of hardware devices available. Linux utilises open standards, such as TCP/IP, HTML, XML, Java, and Web services, to ensure flexibility, ease of integration, and portability of applications.
TCP/IP
Linux
HTML XHTML
STANDARDS
Web Services J2EE UML Eclipse
XML
Figure 3.4.1: Key Standards
September 2004
37
www.butlergroup.com
Processors
The hardware architectures of computer systems are related to the respective processors used. Processors, often referred to as chips, are the physical engine of the computer, performing the operations, logic, and arithmetic to run programs. There are three principal types of processors: Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) processors produced by Intel and AMD; Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) processors used by Hewlett-Packard (HP), IBM, Motorola, and Sun Microsystems (Sun); and Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing (EPIC) processors, such as Intels 64-bit design, known as Itanium, designed to rival the power of RISC processors. CISC Processors The core architecture of the original 8-bit Intel 8080 processor released in 1974 has continued into the 32-bit Intel Architecture (IA-32) of the current range of Intel and AMD processors. The processors are also referred to as x86. CISC processors are the de facto standard architecture for desktop PCs and low-end servers. Many peripheral devices have been developed to work specifically with the system boards upon which the CISC processor is sited. The Microsoft Windows OS has developed in close partnership with the development of Intel-based processors. Servers based upon CISC processors and architectures can utilise peripherals and components designed for desktop PCs, which reduces the costs of both purchase and replacement. There are also benefits to user organisations where the skill sets for IT staff supporting desktops overlap with those supporting servers. This has been one of the drivers behind the adoption of Linux, providing a UNIX-like OS to run on relatively low-cost Intel-based architecture. RISC Processors The RISC processor was originally developed as part of a project between IBM and Ericsson to find faster ways of switching telephone calls. The RISC processor is suited to very high volumes of operations, including handling graphics, making it the technology of choice for high-end UNIX systems, and also used in graphic-intensive workstations. However, servers using RISC processors tend to be highly proprietary. Consequently peripherals and components are comparatively more expensive than those using CISC processors, as the market for processors is smaller, and devices are not so price-sensitive as in the CISC arena. IBM has invested heavily in ensuring that Linux can run efficiently on PowerPC chips. In contrast HP has decided not to actively support Linux on its PA-RISC processors, although distributions are available that support the chipset. EPIC Processors Utilising the Intel 64-bit Architecture, abbreviated to IA-64, this range of processors has been designed in partnership with HP specifically for high-end servers and workstations. HP will itself use the Itanium processors running Linux for future high-end servers, eventually phasing out PA-RISC.
Windows
Operating System
OS/400 UNIX Linux
Intel/AMD
RISC
zSeries
Other Hardware
Figure 3.4.2: Linux Portability
38
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Device Support
A major element of Linux is to manage the range of peripheral devices attached to the server and client. Devices have generally been developed on a piecemeal basis, either as an opportunistic discovery or in relation to a specific operational issue. Many of these devices tend to be designed to industry standards that may or may not be widely accepted. Other devices, because of widespread and rapid adoption, have become de facto standards. Whilst availability of peripheral devices is not as key a business element in the selection of an OS as the processor, because the devices are linked to a particular architecture, the capacity of an OS to address and manage such devices directly both improves reliability and reduces overheads. This is an area of significant change in the Linux 2.6 kernel, with the creation of the unified device model enabling a representation of the device architecture leading to improved device management and better power management control. Driver support can be an issue with Linux distributions, although as vendors make Linux a Tier 1 OS this situation is improving. Drivers for niche devices and legacy equipment can be hard to come by. It is important to verify that drivers are available for all the intended hardware in a Linux system. There are a number of standards that a Linux distribution must support to be credible in the enterprise arena. These include: Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) SCSI is a series of standards for the connection of storage devices such as disks and tapes through a single card. On a single SCSI port, up to 16 devices can be connected in a chain. SCSI was developed for larger servers, principally UNIX machines, but SCSI adapters are widely available for the Intel architecture as well. Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) Fibre Channel will transmit data between servers and other computer devices at very high speeds. Currently this is 1Gb/ps but a specification for 10Gb/ps is being developed. Fibre Channel is ideal for connecting distributed or shared storage devices to servers. Despite its name it is not a specification exclusively for optical fibre. The specification supports the same speeds of transmission across twisted pair and coaxial cables for short distances. InfiniBand The InfiniBand Architecture (IBA) provides a high-speed switched fabric subsystem linking the processor and I/O nodes to form a Storage Area Network (SAN). This connectivity mechanism moves away from the use of buses to employing channels. The architecture is independent of the host OS and the processor platform. The OpenIB Alliance, including Dell, Intel, and Sun, is working on enabling IBA within Linux. The group is defining a common set of software utilities, InfiniBand hardware drivers, and networking protocols, such as IP over InfiniBand, and the Message Passing Interface (MPI) used in high-performance computing. Removable Storage Removable storage can refer to hard disks and memory sticks. With the ability of OSs to address significantly larger volumes of data, the need for removable storage support is decreasing. This method is often used as a back-up solution. Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) Storage RAID separates stored data across a number of disks, in a process known as striping. It uses an algorithm with calculated check-digits to ensure that if any one disk fails the data is not lost and the computer can reconstruct the missing data and operate as if the disk was still there. To the OS the array of disks appears as a single logical hard disk. There are ten specifications for RAID, including a non-redundant array (RAID-0).
September 2004
39
www.butlergroup.com
Tape Libraries Larger installations use tape libraries to provide long-term, high capacity, but accessible storage for archive data. Integration with the OS increases speed and resilience of access. Distributed Storage There are two principal forms of distributed storage: 1. Network Address Storage (NAS) Hard disk storage with a separate network address to that of the servers or workstations. Effectively a server dedicated to storing and managing data. This removes the overhead of managing the disks and I/O from the processor in the server running the application(s). It also allows the NAS to be used by more than one server or application. NAS servers, because of their critical nature, will always use high-end RAID in their design. 2. Storage Area Network A sub-network of storage devices that provides a single view of all data storage to servers and applications. As with NAS, this makes for very efficient use of storage space, because each server does not have too little or too much available local storage. It also allows for distribution of storage, improving resilience. SANs are ideal for mirroring, remote back-up, archival storage, and transfer of data from one system to another. As with NAS, there is a level of latency, determined by network speed, so high-speed, potentially Fibre Channel-based, connections are necessary. Support within Linux for both NAS and SAN should improve performance, particularly when applications are processing high volumes of data.
File Systems
The types of file systems supported by OSs and their management are closely linked to memory. A file system defines how files are named and how they are both stored and retrieved. Many file systems have a hierarchical structure with a root directory expanding to named sub-directories. File sizes and the page sizes in memory, used by the OS, have a relationship, which can either enhance or decrease performance. Linux can use several different file system formats such as Extended File System 2 (EXT2), File Allocation Table (FAT), iso9660, and reiserfs. In Linux the physical file system is separated from the OS by the Virtual File System (VFS). Network File System (NFS) NFS allows a server to store and manage files on a separate computer as if those files were on a local hard disk. The files can be managed and controlled in exactly the same way as if they were held locally. Support for NFS in an OS additionally facilitates remote management, support, and installation. Linux can function as client and server for file systems shared using the NFS protocol, the standard for UNIX systems. Journaling Support In a Journaling File System (JFS), the changes to both the directories and bitmaps are recorded separately in a log file before updating the file system in storage. This protects data integrity. If there is a crash then the entries in the log file can be used to reconstruct the data in storage. Journaling support within an OS is an essential tool for improving resilience and performance in business-critical systems. Improved journaling functionality has been included in the 2.6 kernel, along with IBMs JFS and SGIs XFS. Directory Services Historically each application was built with its own security regime, normally authorised by a username and password. Whilst this is manageable in a single domain with a limited number of servers and applications, the volume of work can increase.
40
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
With large numbers of systems, and potentially distributed deployments of servers, management of registrations, allocating appropriate rights and, more importantly, removal of rights when necessary, becomes increasingly complex, time-consuming, and expensive. To address this, the concept of a single directory, holding details of all users, their access rights to applications and resources, has been developed. The directory in this context is itself an application and database, which identifies that something or someone is located on the network. On TCP/IP networks the directory system is the Domain Name System (DNS). The de facto standard in directories is compliance with the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). LDAP enables the location of individuals, groups, organisations, files, and devices on a network. Effectively a LDAP directory is a database of an organisations resources. It is organised as a tree hierarchy and normally replicates the organisational structure. From the Root directory there are branches to countries, from which there are branches to organisations, and finally to individuals, files, or devices such as printers. LDAP directories can be distributed across servers, using replication and synchronisation. This can ensure that if for some reason a copy becomes corrupted it can perform self-healing. Entries in directories can also include membership of groups (for example, a project team) that span the hierarchy, providing a high degree of granularity in the access to, and thus security of, systems.
Linux provides support for directory services and LDAP.

Where OSs and applications can work with a LDAP-compliant or other directory, administration can be highly simplified. In addition to the obvious reduction in overheads, control of security is greatly increased. Linux provides support for directory services and LDAP.
Software Support
The first thoughts on support are Who does one turn to when things go wrong? It should be expected that Linux has a range of support methods and processes. In many organisations faced with the twin issues of global deployment, and global presence through the Internet, it is essential that these support methods can be accessed on a 24x7 and global basis. In these circumstances, a vendor with an existing global support network is preferable to one without. Similarly, on a more local scale, the support needs to be available and responsive within the organisations operating day. Support is also essential prior to, and at the time of, installation and deployment, as Linux is effectively a base technology for the IT infrastructure, i.e. its foundation, like the foundations of a building, needs to be planned to be able to provide the base for the applications that are to be placed upon it. Professional services staff of the vendors, consultancies, and Systems Integrators (SIs), can all provide these services, normally in partnership with the organisations own IT staff. IT Managers and Chief Information Officers (CIOs) need to establish at the outset the support requirements of their organisations, and the risks and threats that will affect the demands on the server environment. Support contracts will always be a compromise between risk and cost. CIOs need to identify Service Level Agreements (SLAs) required, and to be aware of limitations in support that can be provided under any contract. As Linux is Open Source Software (OSS) and has distributions rather than one vendor, the IT Manager is immediately presented with a dilemma regarding the issue of who to call if there is a problem. The increasing adoption rate of Linux in the enterprise environment is in part due to increased confidence owing to the availability of widespread support. Of the distributions, Red Hat and Novell have established regimes that will provide organisations with support contracts and services similar to those offered by the vendors of proprietary OSs. They also have relationships with SIs and consultants.
September 2004
41
www.butlergroup.com
For ongoing support there are other companies offering distribution-agnostic support services, providing assistance mainly for SUSE LINUX and Red Hat distributions, such as HP and IBM Global Services. Each has relationships with the Linux distributors, and will also provide a level of support for other OSS. As Linux is a community development, there are, in addition, a large number of people supplying a range of support services, again both formal and informal, to support problems and faults.
Of arguably more importance for the enterprise is the support available from commercial third-party software developers for the Linux platform.
Of arguably more importance for the enterprise is the support available from commercial third-party software developers for the Linux platform. Whilst many OSS applications are becoming available Linux does not become a viable alternative until vendors such as Oracle and SAP make the OS a strategic platform on which to base their applications. Over the past year Linux has been adopted by most ISVs as a Tier 1 OS. In addition, Linux needs to gain traction in the commercial developer community with tools and an environment catering for their requirements. This has been addressed with the Eclipse OSS project, and the synergies with Java, Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), and XML.
Client Features
Whilst Microsoft Windows unquestionably has technological superiority in meeting desktop OS requirements, it is no longer the technical issues that prevent Linux becoming a viable client alternative. Microsoft Office power users and environments where there is a great deal of Windows document interchanging may find that Linux desktop functionality, integration, and interoperability are to some extent lacking. However, it cannot be denied that Linux running Open Source desktop applications now provides all the features required by basic users, especially if a thinner client approach is adopted. The adaptability of Linux also makes it a capable platform for other clients, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), smart phones, kiosks, and Web terminals.
The adaptability of Linux also makes it a capable platform for other clients.
Keeping up with the Microsoft desktop is a moving target for the Open Source community that it cannot meet in the short term, but with the continued adoption of XML at least there will be levelling of the playing field, and document exchange will no longer be restricted to Microsoft formats. A client requires a desktop interface and browser, along with integrated applications for Personal Information Management (PIM), productivity, and collaboration. Inter-connectivity with Windows is vital for any client environment, and can be achieved in a number of ways on a Linux client including: Dual boot where both Linux and Windows reside on the same machine, and the user chooses at start up which OS is required. This can be used for piloting, parallel running systems, or during migration but does defeat the object of using a Linux client and is not recommended as an ongoing option. Thin client software from Citrix and Tarantella enables access to Windows applications through a session on the Linux desktop. Network access Linux is able to gain access to Windows network volumes.
42
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Virtual machine software from vendors such as VMWare and Win4Lin enables the Windows environment to run in a virtual machine on the Linux system. Windows emulation products from CrossOver and the closely aligned Open Source project, WINE, allow Windows applications to be run natively on the Linux desktop. This should be seen as a short-term solution, as emulation is complex, in some cases restricts functionality, and inflicts a significant overhead.
Conclusions
Not many interoperability issues remain for Linux to resolve, due to extensive work by the Linux ecosystem, especially IBM. The building blocks are in place for Linux on the desktop to be an alternative worth consideration now for some users, and over the next two years by the majority.
3.5 MANAGEMENT
The true test of the effectiveness of any computer system is not the processor power, memory size, or other hardware-related functionality, but the ability to easily manage and administer resources, including the delegation of responsibilities, effectively across the organisation. Research has shown that management and support costs comprise nearly half the true cost of system management. Unless there are appropriate tools for the control of the environment, deployment of any system presents a business risk and will not deliver the required benefits. Linux and its multiple components and features needs to be managed, both to ensure the most effective use of the resources, and to ensure the security and integrity of the data. For the OS, this is ideally via an integrated systems management tool, as this should provide the greatest control. The mature operating systems provide a wealth of management functionality that Linux has yet to match.
Linux has limitations on its ability to manage other OSs, and this is an area where third party, OS-agnostic tools can play an important role.
In a computing environment with a large number of servers there is obviously an administrative advantage in managing multiple systems from a single console. If this ability is provided as part of the systems management interface for a server, then there can be considerable economies of scale in management and a reduction in the TCO of the servers. Linux has limitations on its ability to manage other OSs, and this is an area where third party, OS-agnostic tools can play an important role. Several vendors, including BMC, Computer Associates, HP, and IBM, provide system management tools that can be used across a number of heterogeneous servers and can be resident on a Linux server, or have a roadmap to enable this.
Storage Management
Inclusion of a storage configuration and monitoring tool, accessible from within the systems management tool, along with integrated Open DataBase Connectivity (ODBC) and Java DataBase Connectivity (JDBC), will again reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of an OS and should improve the relative performance of the storage systems. These features are more likely to be available for a proprietary storage mechanism or the market-leading solutions.
September 2004
43
www.butlergroup.com
Features that are desirable in integrated storage management include: Storage partitioning support. The ability to configure and manage hot spares. The ability to identify hot blocks and redistribute them to equalise loads on respective devices. In transactional processing, support for two-phase commit to facilitate rollback of the database in case of error.
Software Management
As the purpose of a server is to run applications, besides the actual operation of the applications in performing their respective tasks, it is essential that not only the OS components but also the associated OS utilities and applications be managed. This is to ensure the integrity of the software, its availability, and its interoperability with other software. Software management tools are designed to install, uninstall, verify, query, and update applications. They will generally use a software registry/configuration database containing an archive of files that comprise the application, along with information about the software such as its version, and a brief description. More advanced tools can allow multiple configurations of software, specific to particular clients.
Workload Management
Workload management, also referred to as resource management, is a generic description for tools that make the most efficient use of the available computing resources. It can be most effective when used in systems that are distributed across multiple physical servers and are thus key requirements in utility computing, and can also be employed with multiple servers on a single, high-capacity system. Workload management tools can either be entitlement or goal-based. The central tasks in workload management are focused on the priorities of tasks undertaken, also referred to as job control. Job control tools can manage a range of processes: Adding new job submission queues. Removing queues. Restricting user access to specific queues. Change the priority of specified queues. Remove or suspend jobs in a queue, by job, owner, or if appropriate all jobs. Resume suspended jobs. To maximise the effectiveness of workload management tools, it is advantageous to be able to access them from within the systems management interface.
Security Management
Security management functionality supplies a way of assimilating and administering the many security components. The system should offer centralised control of all the security elements of the system.
44
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Installation Options
While installation of Linux is not a daily task, it is essential that the process is straightforward and uncomplicated. There will be either periodic upgrades or the installation of additional servers. In these situations, the flexibility of installation options is important. Because the tasks of installation are infrequent for an organisations IT staff, it is important that the process is as easy and as automated as possible. These features must not compromise the ability to tailor the configuration to the organisations operational and security requirements. The installation methods must be appropriate for the business environment. In a highly replicated and distributed environment such as retail, the ability to install, reboot, or upgrade over the network is advisable to reduce overheads. This will ideally include configuration replication to further minimise administration. The difficult and complex installation process of many Linux systems has been a weakness that enterprise distributions have worked hard to improve. Linux systems are now beginning to be sold pre-installed, with installation normally undertaken before the server is sent to the customer, by the vendor or SI. In these circumstances, the OS is often pre-configured.
Conclusions
Linux management tools and installation procedures supplied with a distribution have improved. More significantly from an enterprise perspective is that the main system management software vendors now extensively support Linux. UNIX variants and Microsoft Windows still provide more depth and breadth of management functionality.
September 2004
45
www.butlergroup.com
SECTION 4: Architectures and Models
www.butlergroup.com
4.1 OPEN SOURCE MODEL

The principles of the Cathedral and the Bazaar first articulated a number of years ago by Eric Raymond helped define the Open Source model, a true community approach to software development. The success of Linux and other Open Source projects turned on its head the conventional thinking at the time that the best approach to software development was by individuals or small teams building software in a similar fashion to constructing a cathedral. The belief was that a centralised method worked best as development teams beyond a certain size made the project too complex and unmanageable.
The success of Linux and other Open Source projects turned on its head the conventional thinking.
In contrast to this, the approach of delegating everything, releasing early and frequently utilised by Linus Torvalds in the development of Linux went against the traditional method. To the surprise of many this chaotic arrangement with a large pool of developers with different agendas managed to produce robust and usable code. This bazaar (no pun intended!) type of development was found in fact to have a number of strengths, which included the breadth of ideas generated, extensive peer review improving the quality of code, and the availability of a large testing network. The Free Software Foundation (FSF) also provided a catalyst for the development of no-cost software with a special licence that encouraged the viral spread of code due to the formalisation provided by the GNU General Public Licence (GPL). This licence enshrined the right of free distribution and copying. This licence type, while providing the source code for free, made it impossible to base a business model on and made it difficult for commercial organisations to exploit. This led the Open Source Initiative (OSI) to create the Open Source Definition (OSD), a more practical approach enabling both the Open Source community and business to contribute and benefit from OSS. This has further led to the creation of a number of licences embodying the principle of freedom to reuse software but allowing a degree of protection for commercial use. This has led to a thriving Open Source ecosystem where both non-profit and commercial organisations mutually benefit. Although many tout Open Source Software (OSS) as producing innovation and there can be no argument that it is very good at improving the efficiency of an existing function, it has yet to provide a step change in the way people use systems. Many of the design principles for Linux were taken from UNIX and improved upon, but Linux has so far failed to produce new and different ways of catering with the challenges faced by Operating Systems (OSs) today.
September 2004
Section 4: Architectures and Models
49
www.butlergroup.com
Source Code Open

Non-Commercial OSS
Commercial OSS
Software Free
Shareware Freeware
Software Incurs Cost
Source Code Proprietary
Commercial Software
Figure 4.1.1: Software Categorisation The availability of OSS has led to various categories of software in the market: Freeware where the source is kept from the user but the program costs nothing; Shareware, where a contribution is asked for; and proprietary software from commercial software vendors, where licence charges are made, but again only the binary code is provided. There are two types of Open Source; that which conforms to the original ideals of the FSF where there is no cost and the source is provided, and commercial OSS where the user is provided with the source and then runtime code for a charge usually to cover maintenance and support. There are a number of important organisations which provide stability and direction on standards and Linux development. These include the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), Oasis, Linux Standards Base (LSB), and Kernel.org. LSB is of particular significance as this provides a standard to which Linux distributions can be certified reducing interoperability issues between different distributions. IBM and Computer Associates (CA) are two of a number of commercial technology companies embracing the Open Source model. This includes HP, Novell, BEA, and most recently Sun Microsystems, adopting this approach for some products and indicating that it is thinking about open sourcing its Solaris OS. This rash of recent announcements indicates that there is now a growing trend for software vendors to exploit the undoubted strengths of this method of development, as shown by the adoption of Linux, Apache, and Tomcat in the enterprise environment. CA has a multi-faceted Open Source strategy including contributing software to the Linux code base, the releasing of Ingres database using a new open licence, and closer collaboration with the Open Source community. The OSDL has accepted CA technology, known as Kernel Generalised Event Management (KGEM), which will be included in future Linux kernel builds. This enables the interception of more system events without the need to rebuild the kernel for every specific product. CA is working with the Linux distributors and kernel development teams to make sure the feature becomes standard in future Linux versions. CA has adopted a new licensing model for the release of Ingres Enterprise Relational Database into the open source community. CAs Trusted Open Source Licence (CA-TOSL), a derivative of the common public licence, is being used to cover the database, enabling open source developers to embed Ingres into their solutions as long as the Ingres source code is provided with the software. CA plans to offer support and indemnification as added cost choices. A major alliance between CA and JBoss will combine and integrate technologies to release an Open Source platform for Java. The project will amalgamate the JBoss Application Server and Hibernate object-relational query service with Ingres. CA has also accepted a position on JBosss Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Customer Advisory Board. CA will offer support for the entire platform, assisted by JBoss production support.
50
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
CA is working closely with Zope Corporation, a provider of Open Source content management functionality. Currently, Zope deployments use a flat file configuration restricting its use in the enterprise infrastructure. Developers at the two companies are to collaborate on the building of a new module that will allow the use of Ingres, along with other relational databases, in Zope implementations. In addition, the Plone community, a developer of Open Source enterprise content management solutions, has announced the creation of the Plone foundation to assist with development, marketing, and economic aspects of the project. CA has committed to provide resources to the foundation and to make use of the subsequent releases of Plone.
Conclusions
Linux, along with other successful OSS, such as Apache, Tomcat, and MySQL, has shown that using the Open Source model for development can be very successful. OSS is gaining traction in the commercial market place. Linux is very well placed to exploit industry standards. LSB should enable distributions to be certified for use against many applications.
4.2 IT OPTIMISATION
IT departments are being asked to do more with less. The budgets are static, or are being cut in real terms, and IT employees with the requisite skills are becoming harder and more costly to find, just as the environment becomes increasingly complicated. The use of Linux in conjunction with consolidation approaches can help to alleviate these problems by simplifying the existing infrastructure and making more efficient use of existing equipment. Linux also provides much more flexibility with regard to hardware choice, as it is not restricted to a particular processor.
Linux also provides much more flexibility with regard to hardware choice, as it is not restricted to a particular processor.
Server consolidation, utility computing, and the emerging grid computing are major components in an IT managers arsenal of approaches for evolving to and maintaining an optimal, responsive computing environment. Server sprawl is a major concern, which can easily lead to an inefficient architecture, both in terms of escalating costs and resource utilisation. It is also important that the infrastructure should be flexible enough to offer the opportunity for business value creation. The optimisation of the IT environment can produce savings, which can be ploughed back into investments in new equipment to further improve the efficiency and agility of the infrastructure.
Processor Choice
Initially the choice for the data centre was relatively simple which version of UNIX and related hardware platform to deploy. The evolvement of a performing Wintel platform added to the complexity of the decision, which recently has been further compounded by the emergence of Linux as a contender in the enterprise computing space. Linux on Intel (Lintel) is now an alternative to the Wintel model and to the lower-end UNIX/RISC solutions. Linux does give the IT manager the freedom to choose the best value processor and hardware.
September 2004
51
www.butlergroup.com
This x86 architecture is gaining ground in the market. The introduction of Linux into the equation has had a positive effect for this microprocessor architecture, bringing into question the likely longevity of RISC, also influenced by the technology advances in both RISC and Complex Instruction Set Computers (CISC) that have helped to diminish the early advantages of RISC and brought the two architectures closer together. The growing concerns over the proprietary nature of RISC, allied to the growing influence of Linux and industry standard technology, it is hardly surprising that RISC has started to come under increased pressure and x86 is gaining a much higher profile. Users are now looking at Open Source software, such as Linux, allied to non-proprietary platforms as a means of decreasing risk in the hardware ownership. This is not to say that Linux is only influential in the x86 market far from it. For example, enterprise distributions from Red Hat and Novell support POWER, S/390, and SPARC, among many other hardware platforms. Interestingly, HP does not support Linux on its PA-RISC architecture, due to its commitment to Intel Itanium. Due to Linuxs independence from an individual vendor, developers can adapt it for any architecture they might require. This allows the decision on platform choice to take other factors into consideration, such as microprocessor architecture. These decisions will be based upon numerous factors, but the one that most people will best understand is that of cost. Unfortunately, cost is not always that easy to quantify, especially when consideration is given to the various influencing factors that will be unique to each organisation. Most of the research looks at cost in the Microsoft versus Linux environments, rather than where significant cost savings can be exploited at the hardware/processor level, where the decision is x86 versus RISC architecture. This has been further complicated recently with the availability of 64-bit processors aimed at the enterprise. It is by no means certain which of a number of chips, Xeon, Itanium, Opteron, or POWER, will be the industry standard going forward. This makes the hardware agnostic characteristic of Linux very significant.
Server Consolidation
Consolidation approaches that can be exploited with the Linux OS are either running natively, in a partition, or as virtual machine. The use of physical consolidation reduces the number of servers in the environment by replacing small servers with the same processor architecture running the same application, with one larger capacity server capable of supporting the combined user community without any changes. Dependent on circumstances, this type of consolidation can be deployed at department, data centre, or enterprise level. The average usage of a distributed server is between 10% and 35%. With implementation of a consolidated environment containing fewer, more powerful servers, this utilisation can be increased to much higher levels without impacting response times. Large servers available from HP, IBM and others are capable of workloads in excess of 80%. In an interesting development IBM is to produce a new line of POWER5 Linux servers with virtualisation features at the processor level, enabling up to ten micro-partitions. The POWER5 processor has also been tuned to increase the performance of Linux. Moores law indicates that computing power doubles every 18 months and chipset architecture providing performance improvements with faster memory, larger cache, improved I/O design, and servers enables servers (including Intel-based systems) to support many more users, allowing consolidation onto fewer machines. Linux scalability is also improving. The 2.6 kernel offers the opportunity to scale up to 16-way processors and beyond, and the use of Linux clusters provides the ability the scale out.
52
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Application A
Application A
Application A Server Application A
Figure 4.2.1: Physical Consolidation Application integration is an approach that can be used to host different software on one server or mainframe, moving from silos of separate applications to one enterprise system. This method enables applications with different workload patterns to be merged onto one server, increasing optimisation. This rationalisation of servers can offer the IT department cost savings and better flexibility. Virtualisation and partitioning technologies can also assist with consolidation. VMwares ESX Server software allows the coexistence of multiple OSs on one machine. The HP Integrity Superdome range, along with IBMs zSeries, pSeries, and iSeries servers, are all capable of running Linux applications together with other OSs, to facilitate migration and consolidation strategies.
Application A
Application A Application B Application B Application C
Application C
Figure 4.2.2: Workload Consolidation
September 2004
53
www.butlergroup.com
Linux on zSeries During the 1990s decentralisation was in vogue. There was a widespread belief that a distributed approach using many small powerful servers would produce cost and productivity savings. The flexibility of quick deployment led many organisations to implement new applications using this distributed architecture, rather than continue to use the mainframe. However, there were hidden consequences to this approach, not least the increasing complexity of the environment and a growing management overhead required to control the distributed architecture. This has led to a reappraisal of such a strategy and for many organisations to look at IT optimisation, especially server consolidation, to reverse the trend of server sprawl and provide improved efficiencies. The mainframe can offer a platform to support this revised approach. In the meantime, IBM has not stopped investing in the zSeries platform, re-engineering onto cheaper Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS)-based technology and implementing, among many improvements, Parallel Sysplex. IT management must administer IT resources efficiently and strive to do more with less, despite the emergence of new technologies and additional business requirements to support. The need is to maximise the usage of existing assets for better competitive advantage. An IBM zSeries resource is able to take on many tasks, including the running of legacy applications, along with the newer technologies such as Web services and utility computing. The use of Linux in this environment is able to facilitate the integration of different technologies and allow server consolidation. Linux can provide the opportunity to maximise the mainframe workload by filling the gap from the diminishing traditional workload with new services, and provide the standardisation on one OS. Possible areas for new workload include database services, Cobol to Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) migration, Web hotel, core applications, and communication server.
Required Workload
Workload
Projected Workload
Time
Figure 4.2.3: zSeries Workload The ability to easily cater for different workloads and the virtualisation capabilities are important features of these machines. This opens up the opportunity to re-host applications from smaller UNIX and Windows servers to the zSeries platform, especially now Linux is available on the mainframe to provide a common OS onto which applications can be consolidated. Linux on the zSeries supports 64-bit zSeries architecture for real and virtual memory. This allows new 64-bit services to be run together with existing 31-bit legacy business applications.
54
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Virtualisation technology has long been an integral part of the zSeries server, enabling the creation and management of virtual processors, communications, storage, and I/O devices in a single physical mainframe. The resources can be dynamically shared and reconfigured to meet the current demands, assisting with catering for new workloads. The technology also enables the cloning and deployment of virtual Linux servers in minutes rather than days, helping to speed up time to market and provide a low cost environment for development, testing, and trialling of services without the need to invest in new hardware. Server consolidation can be achieved by using z/VM. Linux workloads can be scaled up by adding virtual processor, memory, and I/O capacity, or scaled out by creating additional Linux virtual machines. z/VM also supports Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL), an optional hardware feature available on the zSeries providing processors exclusively for Linux workloads, and included as standard on some models. This facilitates the purchase of processing capacity solely for the use of Linux environments and therefore has no impact on software charges for other OSs. A dedicated zSeries Linux server made up exclusively of IFL engines is also available.
Linux
Linux
Linux
CMS
VSE
z/OS
Virtual
z/VM I/O and Network Memory Processors Real
Figure 4.2.4: z/VM If we take a look at the other strengths of the mainframe there are a number of features and capabilities that can make it an ideal solution for todays complex and heterogeneous environment, especially for those organisations that already have an under-utilised mainframe in their IT data centre. For many applications, especially those that are Web-based, it is very difficult to predict future demand. It is becoming increasingly important for the IT infrastructure to be able to scale both up and out, and to cater for the spikes in demand, which can easily lead to system outage if not carefully managed. The data bus design of other types of processor can quickly become a major constraint in high capacity transactional systems. The I/O throughput of the mainframe has been specifically designed to enable large amounts of data traffic. This makes the zSeries an ideal database engine and e-mail server, enabling it to combine data storage and processing requirements onto one server. It is feasible to consolidate tens of thousands of e-mail users onto one Linux zSeries system greatly improving flexibility and scalability, and allowing new users to be added easily, along with offering scope to provide collaboration functionality.
September 2004
55
www.butlergroup.com
System resilience is of paramount importance. Any unscheduled or planned downtime can cause considerable disruption to an organisations day-to-day operations. The integral fault tolerance and error checking features found in the zSeries platform can help minimise downtime and support disaster recovery. The system identifies impending trouble spots and takes the necessary action to prevent them by moving tasks away from failing components, minimising the impact on end-user service levels. It is possible to replace the problem parts while the processor is still active, enabling the service to continue uninterrupted. Todays Internet-based environment introduces a number of security challenges, including the protection of services, networks, and resources. The zSeries represents many years of investment in this area, incorporating many security features designed to enable transactions to stay secure and private, such as enhanced cryptography support and high-speed connections known as HiperSockets. Security is improved by reducing the need for an external network, along with the lowering of costs and complexity. Another strong suit of the zSeries platform is systems management. Again this has evolved over many years into a comprehensive suite of administration tools, enhanced recently to include self-managing features. When Linux is used in conjunction with z/OS on zSeries it enables the use of z/OS Workload Manager, which provides the logical partition that Linux runs in. It is possible to be prepared for the inevitable spikes in demand by utilising the Intelligent Resource Manager (IRM) to dynamically balance the computing resources with workloads. Apart from IBM, there are a number of third-party software suppliers, such as CA, that can provide additional functionality to further exploit and assist in the use of Linux in the mainframe environment. CAs management software focus provides end-to-end mainframe solutions encompassing enterprise management, security, storage, portal, business intelligence, application development and lifecycle management, and data management. IBM Managed Services provides Linux virtual services, enabling the consolidation of distributed server workloads onto zSeries servers running Linux without the need for up-front investment in physical hardware. The solution is supplied as a utility, where payment is for the processing, storage, and network resources consumed. It is possible to easily add more capacity to cater for peaks, or growth, in demand. While there are undoubted benefits from utilising Linux on zSeries, it is probably the larger enterprises with existing investments in mainframe technology and skills that are in the best position to maximise the advantages. Having said that, for IT departments with a large number of smaller servers and fluctuating demand the potential flexibility is compelling, especially when the use of IBMs Virtual Services based around Linux on the zSeries is considered. On the downside, while the industry long ago accepted that there is no such thing as a free lunch with regard to Linux deployments, the cost of support for zSeries Linux distributions can be quite expensive in comparison to other hardware platforms. There are many examples of existing mainframe users utilising Linux on the mainframe. This includes Banca Carige, one of Italys oldest banks, with international offices in Frankfurt, London, Madrid, New York, and Paris, and employing around 4,000 people worldwide. To meet its requirements for openness and resilience, Banca Carige utilise a zSeries solution running both z/OS and Linux. This combination enables the bank to preserve its investment in existing legacy systems, while taking advantage of open systems to allow new services to be developed. Linux on zSeries is capable of providing a Linux environment that can further drive down IT costs in the enterprise. The combination of Linux and the zSeries server can enable scalability from a few, to many hundreds of Linux virtual workspaces all using the one machine, network connections, and software, reducing the need for large server farms, complex systems, and miles of cabling. This helps to transform the infrastructure into a utility operating environment, provide the freedom of choice in software, and continue the mainframes relevance well into the future.
56
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Utility Computing
One of the major issues facing IT management is how to quickly adapt the infrastructure to meet market-based changes without interrupting system operations. IT managers are required to administer an increasingly complex, many-layered architecture that spreads across many boundaries within the organisation. The concept of utility computing has been created as a way of meeting these demands, providing IT managers with the framework to support the establishment of a service-centric computing model. A key feature is the capability to quickly deploy additional system resources when required, along with the ability to bill for services in a similar way to that of public services such as electricity or water supply. This environment should provide modular expansion and central administration, based, where possible, on Internet-based and industry-standard IT architectures and infrastructure. Of equal importance is effective capacity planning, which has increasing significance due to the many external stakeholders requiring access to corporate systems. Responding to the challenge of managing a complex environment with less human intervention is leading IT vendors to concentrate on the idea of self-managing systems. The main aim of this technology is to hide complexity from users whilst meeting their requirements, and to make it easier to realise the benefits of IT systems without suffering spiralling systems management costs. Self-managing capabilities enable organisations to match IT capacity with demand, and to charge based on usage, rather than the cost of computing equipment. A self-managing approach to systems administration ensures that the on-demand architecture delivers reduced complexity, flexibility to adjust to a changing environment, and a clearly-defined Quality of Service (QoS). Managing the computing environment as a large number of autonomous IT islands will soon become a thing of the past. The ideas behind virtualised systems from a computer science perspective have been around for a long time, and they underpin the solutions for optimising IT infrastructure. IBM is investing in On Demand computing as are other computer companies, such as CA, HP, Oracle, and Sun, who are aligning their future strategies, in one form or another, around the concept of utility computing. The aim is better usage of computer resources and improved services to clients, without an escalation of the data centre management problems and costs. Linux forms a fundamental component in this utility computing vision and can be utilised in all areas of the IT infrastructure including clients, Internet access, line-of-business applications, and back-end data solutions.
Penetration Over Time

Internet Access Line of Business Business Applications Enterprise Data Data/Content Server/ Warehouse
Network Edge
Infrastructure
Proxy Caching VPN Firewall WAP VoIP Gateway
Directory Security Load balance File/print Web E-mail NAS
ERP SCM CRM HB
Databases Server Consolidation
Compute Clusters
Financial, R&D, Biotech, energy, DCC, visualisation
Client Devices
Figure 4.2.5: Linux in the Enterprise
(Source: HP)
September 2004
57
www.butlergroup.com
Grid Computing Another technology which forms a growing component of the utility concept is grid computing. It links servers, clients, and storage from across the Internet to form virtual resource pools, which can be dynamically allocated. It is an idea that has been around for a number of years, going under various guises, including peer-to-peer computing, collaborative computing, distributed computing, and supercomputing. The technology is the application of the resources of many computers in a network to a single problem at the same time. Each node has its own resource manager and allocation policy. It is sometimes confused with cluster computing, which is the management of distributed resources by a single, global, centralised scheduling system. Grid computing will allow organisations to work more closely and more efficiently with colleagues, partners, and suppliers. They will be able to utilise geographically-dispersed systems as one virtual environment. There will be access to any remote database within a grid, which will be particularly appropriate for companies involved in life sciences that need to share human genome data with others. It will also enable widelydispersed organisations to work together on projects, so that they can share information, content, and applications. There are a number of examples of grid computing in use today. Corporations, professional groups, university consortiums, and other groups, have developed or are developing frameworks and software for managing grid computing projects, including the use of Linux.
Conclusions
Of more importance than the Windows-versus-Linux argument is the decision as to which hardware platform offers the best value. Linux can form a major component of an IT optimisation strategy. Linux is a capable alternative for all areas of the IT infrastructure.
4.3 AN ALTERNATIVE CLIENT STRATEGY

For a number of years, Microsofts dominance of the desktop client space has been something of a fait accompli. There is something rather refreshing therefore about offerings from Red Hat, Novell, Sun, and IBM that promise to provide a greater degree of customer choice in this area. However, gaining a foothold in the market is no easy task, and all the players will need to deliver product offerings that can overcome the sheer convenience, familiarity, and coverage of the incumbent Windows environment. However, we are now seeing a number of early adopter organisations select an open client strategy, especially in the public sector, including Munich and Schwabisch Hall councils.
Open Source desktop software is now in a position to ask serious questions of the fat client and Microsoft approach.
Above all, it is good to see the emergence of greater choice in the desktop client market. The initiatives described below may as yet be in the early stages of adoption, but it is clear that Microsoft will not enjoy the same degree of market dominance for much longer. Microsoft Windows 96% share of the PC-based client market has led to a lack of competition. Hopefully, these new players will be at the vanguard of how organisations will develop their client strategy in the future.
58
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Open Source desktop software is now in a position to ask serious questions of the fat client and Microsoft approach. This alternative architecture will be able to provide an end-to-end Linux solution from client, through the network, and into the data centre. Red Hat is working closely with Wind River to meet the requirements of thin client computing and mobile devices, the objective being that in the future developers and administrators will be able to standardise on one OS platform across the whole organisation, from handheld to server. The next generation devices will require an infrastructure that can support reliable connectivity and exchange of information. Security on the desktop is becoming increasingly problematic, with frequent patches required to fix the latest loophole. The use of Linux can reduce this overhead, although the Linux client is not yet a match for Windows, with its industry leading integration and interoperability between the various desktop applications. Apart from the major Linux enterprise distribution providers of SUSE LINUX and Red Hat, other Linux desktop distributions are available from IBM, Sun, Debian, Mandrakesoft, Xandros, and Linspire. It is recommended that either Knoppix 3.4 or SUSE Live 9.1 is downloaded and booted from the CD to ascertain whether the current functions and features found in the latest Linux desktop meets the requirements of users in the organisation. Red Hat Desktop The Red Hat Desktop offering is a PC client solution designed to meet the needs of government, academic, and enterprise users, and IT departments. The environment initially includes Open Source personal productivity applications for e-mail, browser, and office suite. Future additions to the solution will concentrate on productivity and interoperability, helped by collaboration with other industry players, such as VMWare, Real, Macromedia, Adobe, and Citrix. Red Hat Desktop is the latest addition to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux family, which already includes server and technical workstation products. The bundle includes Red Hat Linux, the Evolution mail client, OpenOffice.org as its office suite, and the Mozilla browser. The client system has been designed with security and manageability as key criteria. The configuration includes either the Red Hat Network Proxy, or Satellite Server to ensure the deployment is consistent, secure, and easy to administer. The Proxy Server supplies consolidated desktop management including provisioning, updates, and upgrades. The OS supports single CPU systems with up to 4GB of memory and is available in multiples of either ten or 50 units. Red Hat Desktop will use the same technology model as employed for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, including 12-18 month release cycles synchronised with other Red Hat Linux products, and commonality of OS, management tools, applications, and services within the Red Hat Linux portfolio. Red Hat Network provides one year of software updates, enhancements, and support as part of the offering, which can be continued for five years through an annual subscription. Red Hat has put considerable thought into this offering, particularly in terms of management, and for organisations that have already bought into the Linux concept this is a credible option. It should again be noted, however, that OpenOffice.org is unlikely meet the requirements of heavy users of the Microsoft Office suite. Novells Ximian Desktop Ximian Desktop 2 is an enterprise Linux desktop that provides desktop productivity tools for users. It consists of an integrated suite of applications that includes the Ximian edition of OpenOffice.org, and Novell Evolution, for e-mail and Personal Information Management (PIM), a Mozilla-based Web browser, and Red Carpet software management. The application suite enables Windows interoperability making it a choice for organisations using Linux desktops within a mixed Windows and Linux computing environment. The desktop applications have the same weaknesses as for other Open Source offerings and therefore will not currently meet the needs of all users.
September 2004
59
www.butlergroup.com
Suns Java Desktop System (JDS) The JDS is based on Linux, and includes the Star Office 7 Suite, the Evolution mail client, and the standard edition of the Java Studio development environment. For companies used to Microsoft pricing, it is at least likely to make them sit up and take notice, but take-up thus far has been relatively slow, and initial market reaction has been mixed. JDS does not yet hide its technical origins, and Star Office is not sufficiently compatible with the Microsoft Office suite, such that the differences are transparent. Again, for many heavy users it may not yet pass the convenience test. IBMs Workplace Client Technology While not a Linux-only solution an alternative new model for deploying and managing client applications is IBMs vision for the future of the desktop. IBM describes the concept as middleware for the client, and it creates a halfway house between Microsofts thick-client model and the server-based computing favoured by companies such as Sun, Wyse, and Citrix. Users will be able to access both server- and client-based applications, with both being managed from a central server. Most importantly, this same middleware stack and management system will support multiple client types, including PCs running Windows and Linux, and mobile devices such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), smart phones, and embedded clients. Although the component pieces are available now, the concept is as yet unproven, and will need to be tested in real-world deployments.
Conclusions
There are the beginnings of an alternative client strategy for many IT managers, whereas up until recently the only realistic choice for the enterprise desktop was Microsoft. OSS desktop collaboration and productivity tools are worth considering for some users.
60
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
SECTION 5: Deployment
www.butlergroup.com
5.1 BUSINESS BENEFITS AND PITFALLS

There are a number of benefits that can be gained from the migration to Linux, several of which have already been alluded to in this Report. Many of these advantages stem from the way in which Linux has been developed and the design principles adopted from an early stage, meaning that aspects such as resilience and security were built into the Operating System (OS) rather than added at a later date.
Whilst there can be significant advantages for many organisations it is dependent on the specific circumstances of the enterprise as to whether maximum benefit can be accrued from adopting Linux.
Whilst there can be significant advantages for many organisations it is dependent on the specific circumstances of the enterprise as to whether maximum benefit can be accrued from adopting Linux. As would be expected there are also a number of issues, perceived and real, that can impact on the decision to deploy Linux, not least the cost of migration. Again these can be important to some organisations, while others may deem the issues minor or surmountable.
Advantages
Linux has evolved into a robust multitasking and multi-user enterprise-ready environment that offers features and functionality out-of-the-box, matching UNIX and Microsoft Windows in many areas. Where Linux scores highly is with its unique portability, where the same kernel is able to run on many different hardware platforms. The decision on which OS is to be used can be separated from the hardware platform to be deployed. It also means that UNIX applications running on proprietary platforms can be easily ported to cheaper x86-based hardware.
Reliability
Security
TCO
Flexibility
Open Source
Figure 5.1.1: Linux Benefits
September 2004
Section 5: Deployment
63
www.butlergroup.com
In this way the flexibility of Linux is able to improve the cost effectiveness of the infrastructure by enabling the use of the best value hardware without being constrained by the choice of OS. It also makes Linux an ideal OS on which to base a consolidation strategy, allowing the number of OSs supported by the organisation to be reduced, thereby lowering the management and operational overhead of the IT environment. The interoperability features built into Linux enabling connectivity with Microsoft, Novell, and Apple networks can assist with the implementation of a consolidation strategy. Although an area of contention and vigorous debate, Linux can improve security and reduce the impact of virus attacks. Whilst Linux is currently not a major target of the hacking community, it will in all probability find more attention is directed its way as the popularity increases. This being the case there are inherent design features and the method of development that have led to Linux being particularly strong in this area. This is not to say that no security failings will be found in Linux, as this is very much a moving target, just that Linux is particularly robust. Another strength is the ability of the open source community to turn round security patches quickly. While this is also feasible for other OSs, it is the sheer number of developers contributing to Linux that means a fix can be made available to the community in hours, while other OS vendors only have a finite number of resources, and in some instances difficulties in designing an effective resolution quickly. Linux is, to all intents and purposes, a Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX)-compliant UNIX that comes supplied with all the standard UNIX utilities and tools. The advantage of this is that UNIX system administrators can easily cross train to support Linux systems. In addition, the close adherence to standards improves Linux portability and flexibility. In many instances Linux can utilise old redundant hardware, instead of having to upgrade to the next generation platform to support the latest release of the OS. A benefit of the open source development mechanism and the use of a General Public Licence (GPL) is to ensure that it is very difficult for Linux to become obsolete through lack of investment or by going out of business. For as long as there are Linux users the licence will allow the OS to be enhanced, and even in the worst case scenario a copy of the source code is available and could continue to be maintained by any organisation. Another advantage of this type of development is the sheer speed with which the platform can technically develop and evolve. This can, however, be a double-edged sword, especially for enterprise users and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) where stability and predictability are key requirements, rather than the speed of innovation and change. The business needs have been catered for with the creation of enterprise-focused distributions with planned new releases every 18 months to two years.
Each organisation is different and it can depend very much on the mix of IT administration skills found in the enterprise, as staff costs make up the majority of the overheads found in the IT environment.
The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) debate continues to rage, as outlined in Section two of this Report. There are aspects of the cost equation where in certain circumstances Linux can be cheaper, especially when there are a large number of user licences required. In other instances a Microsoft Windows solution can be more cost efficient. Each organisation is different and it can depend very much on the mix of IT administration skills found in the enterprise, as staff costs make up the majority of the overheads found in the IT environment. In many instances TCO for Linux will be comparable with Windows, although probably better than UNIX, mainly due to proprietary hardware costs. However this price differential is being eroded, due to the threat of Linux causing the reduction in the cost of the associated proprietary hardware. There have been some high profile examples of the real cost savings that Linux has facilitated, for example at Amazon.com.
64
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
TCO and Return on Investment (ROI) is a much wider topic than the decision on which OS to use. There are many other variables, not least the hardware platform to be utilised. A ROI modelling tool should be used when appropriate, and is especially important when projected savings must fund the initiative. Specific TCO/ROI tools are available from most vendors, and also from more specific suppliers, such as CIOview (TCOnow! and ROInow!), and Alinean (ROI Calculator). Organisations should consider developing a customisable financial model that measures the ROI and Payback period information, enabling IT management to make informed decisions, based on the unique company situation, about various infrastructure optimisation options.
Inhibitors
Or as termed by those in the Open Source community, the Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD) factors. An undoubted strength of Microsoft Windows and the UNIX environments is the maturity of the solution and the integration of the OS with the various utilities and applications. This is particularly true of the Windows environment where the associated software stack of Microsoft products are fully integrated, tested, and supported with the OS. Only recently Linux and the associated software stack, provided with the distribution, was very much made up of point solutions, with either the organisation or a Systems Integrator (SI) having to test the various software components together on the chosen hardware platform. The whole solution would then have to be individually supported.
An undoubted strength of Microsoft Windows and the UNIX environments is the maturity of the solution and the integration of the OS with the various utilities and applications.
A number of Linux solution providers, notably HP, are beginning to provide tested and supported hardware and software stack combinations including the LAMP Open Source reference software stack, which is made up of Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP, as well as platforms that include a mixture of commercial and open source programs.
HP Services, Customer Support, Consulting & Integration

Middleware Partners
Workload-specific Workload-specific Software Software Solution Workload-specific Applications Software Management Tools Availability Tools Backup Tools Apache/Tomcat Jabber OpenLDAP Workload-specific Software BEA Oracle JBoss Workload-specific SoftwareMySQL
Value-add/ Completers
HP OpenView/HP Systems Insight Manager HP Serviceguard Veritas NetBackup
Foundation
System Software
Agents Drivers Kernel Features Red Hat, Novell/SUSE HP StorageWorks HP ProLiant/HP Integrity Servers
Linux Distribution Hardware Platform
Figure 5.1.2: HP Linux Reference Architecture
September 2004
65
www.butlergroup.com
The software compatibility issue has definitely held back the mainstream adoption of Linux. Many ISVs were slow to port their enterprise products to Linux, and without this base of applications organisations were reticent and unable to utilise Linux other than for edge-of-network applications. Over the last year IBM and others have provided assistance to ISVs to port their products to Linux. There has been a significant change of emphasis, with the majority of ISVs either making the software available on Linux, or having a roadmap outlining when it is planned to enable their offerings on Linux. Even though Linux has some way to go before it matches the amount of third-party software available for Windows and UNIX.
Applications Custom, Packaged

DEPLOYMENT Software Design Rational ClearCase eCommerce WebSphere Commerce Industry WebSphere Branch Transformation E-mail Lotus Workplace Content DB2 Content Manager INTEGRATION Integration DB2 Information Integrator DB2 Connect Collaboration /E-mail Web Application Server WebSphere Application Server Lotus Domino Lotus Domino Web Access Database DB2 UDB DB2 Integrated Cluster Environment Informix IDS JRE/JVM 1.3, 1.4 Integration WebSphere Business Integration WebSphere MQ Directory IBM Directory Integration WebSphere Portal Lotus Workplace Family MANAGEMENT Systems Management Tivoli Orchestration System Automn Enterprise Cons Access Manager Monitoring Config Manager Storage Manager
Software Build WebSphere Studio
Java
Linux Hardware Processor/Virtualisation Intel, POWER, zSeries, Clusters, ...
Figure 5.1.3: IBM Software for Linux Linux on the desktop, whilst gaining interest, is still confined to early adopters, mainly due to the difficulty of interchange between Open Source software documents and files with Microsoft Office format files. For users without this requirement then a Linux-based desktop is becoming a valid alternative. Novell, amongst others, is focusing on improving the interoperability of a desktop Linux solution, which is to be released later in 2004. In certain areas, such as legacy hardware and new products, the availability of Linux drivers can be problematic. The size of the Linux ecosystem and the Open Source community within it means that there is a breadth of relevant software and drivers, although the coverage can be patchy in some vertical and niche sectors. Although the situation is improving it is important that organisations ensure that the proposed hardware platform has the required Linux drivers for all components. The management of driver software sometimes lacks co-ordination due to the size of the community, with confusion as to which is the most up-to-date driver available. The lack of accountability obtainable for Linux is a concern to many, where liability is difficult to pin down, along with a warranty from a particular vendor. There is also a worry about the direction the OS may take, as there is no guarantee that future development will be what business users require. This has been mitigated to a large extent by the creation of enterprise-focused distributions and the availability of support from these distributors, Linux solution providers, ISVs, and SIs. The fragmentation of Linux, as happened with UNIX, is a concern. However, the lack of ownership by one vendor and the Open Source origins are strengths in this situation, as no one vendor can take control of the kernel.
66
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Despite the potential savings that the deployment of Linux can bring, the migration issues and costs should not be underestimated, especially the retraining expenses and cultural changes required when moving from Windows to Linux, as well as catering for on-going Linux skill needs. It would appear that there is a shortage of Linux knowledge in the market place, although this is likely to be a short-term phenomenon, as more IT administration staff are retrained and those leaving education are more familiar with Linux.
Despite the potential savings that the deployment of Linux can bring, the migration issues and costs should not be underestimated.
Lastly, the legal issues between SCO and the rest of the industry provide an unsettling background for those making Linux a strategic choice. As discussed elsewhere in this Report these and the patent concerns are not seen as a major threat, especially as many vendors will indemnify users from any adverse judgements. However, it is important that the industry as a whole resolves the issues, coming to some accommodation to remove the uncertainty from the Linux market.
Conclusions
Butler Group recommends that organisations implement a TCO/ROI modelling tool to not only ascertain Linux migration cost efficiencies, but to enable the wider decision making with regard to IT optimisation. If feasible a pilot should be used to ascertain true cost savings from a Linux deployment. The use of software patents could hinder standardisation if they preclude developers for utilising common code. The widespread availability of reference architecture and software for Linux will further drive adoption.
5.2 LINUX IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Unusually, the public sector, especially employing Linux on the desktop, leads the way in Linux adoption. There would appear to be a number of motivations varying from idealistic to moral, and possibly financial, for migrating to Linux. Obviously, with budgets under pressure the potential cost savings are important, although interestingly the other advantages of Linux, such as interoperability, security, and standards, also feature highly for public sector IT managers.
1 1. Interoperability 2. Security 3. Respect for standards 4. Functionality 5. Easy to use 6. Low cost 7. Source code available 8. User friendliness 9. Stability 10. Support and training 11. Political reasons 12. Because IBM, HP, etc. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Figure 5.2.1: Public Sector OSS Criteria
(Source: The IDA Programme)
September 2004
67
www.butlergroup.com
The Open Source Software (OSS) approach to Linux development is advantageous for the public sector in a number of ways, not least the perceived benefit of Open Source being available for no or lower cost. However, as previously reiterated in this Report, this element of the costs is only a small percentage of the TCO and it is important that other overheads are included into the overall equation, such as staff costs, integration, migration, training, and support. Despite this the public sector is enthusiastically adopting Linux within all areas of the IT environment. Another particularly appealing aspect of the open source model is that it gives independence from commercial software vendors, which reduces the need for proprietary tools and standards, preventing reliance on one supplier. Governments are keenly aware of the requirement for the use of common standards that are not under the exclusive ownership of one vendor. Public sector organisations have for a long time had no alternative but to use an OS from one vendor; Linux now offers the opportunity to utilise an OS that is not owned by an individual supplier and is based on open standards.
Other characteristics of Open Source that make Linux an attractive choice as an OS for government includes the availability of the source code which provides transparency.
Other characteristics of Open Source that make Linux an attractive choice as an OS for government includes the availability of the source code which provides transparency, enabling interested parties to review the code and gain an understanding of how the OS works. Although no piece of software can be guaranteed 100% security proof, at least Linux has been through extensive peer review and the code can be checked to ensure that there are no hidden back doors, or secret agents embedded in the program. It also enables support to be obtained from multiple sources, not just from the one vendor with access to their proprietary code. Whilst not many user organisations are looking to update or enhance Linux source code, the knowledge that this is permissible allows a certain degree of comfort that public sector agencies will be able to cater for any unforeseen circumstances that may crop up in the future, and new developments can be embarked upon without worrying about any legal constraints. A local ecosystem can also be built up around the specific Linux distribution, bringing interaction between the public service provider and the local population. This is especially important to local government where something can be put back into the community and not lost to commercial organisations purely fixed on maximising profit and shareholder value. The removal of licensing restrictions should not be underestimated, as there is a significant management overhead in administering a large user population, consisting of ensuring that licences are kept up-to-date and matching the software deployed in the infrastructure. This flexibility in the use of the OS enables it to be redistributed around a large user community with impunity and the use of the GPL licence means that these rights cannot be withdrawn. The UK government has launched a number of initiatives to trial Linux in the public sector, included as a wider remit to look at the use of Open Source software as an alternative to proprietary offerings. The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and the Office of the e-Envoy are taking a leading role in recommending that government departments consider Linux as an alternative during the procurement of IT systems. Nottingham City Council is examining the feasibility of Linux on the desktop.
68
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
The German government has been particularly active in facilitating the use of Linux in the public sector. The German Federal Office for Information Security has been at the forefront of the Linux Government Desktop initiative and local government agencies such as the City of Munich and Schwabisch Hall with Linux migrations. The French government has also announced that it will be migrating from Windows NT to Mandrakelinux Corporate Server. In fact all the European governments, in conjunction with the European Commission, are actively promoting Linux as an alternative OS for the public sector, as well as considering an Open Source software stack to replace proprietary offerings. This appears to be a worldwide trend as public sector organisations around the world contemplate moving to Linux, for example in the Asia Pacific region, especially China, there is great interest in utilising Linux as a flexible OS. It is expected that China will soon require a percentage of all software used by the Government to be developed in the country. Regardless of the exact percentage chosen a major beneficiary will be Linux.
The same benefits applicable to administrative functions within the public sector have a resonance in the educational arena.
The same benefits applicable to administrative functions within the public sector have a resonance in the educational arena. In addition to the advantages already outlined, the use of OSS can help to narrow the digital divide where the inequality is usually due to monetary factors. It opens up the use of technology in schools and homes that would be impossible using the existing business engagement models. Educational establishments are able to teach the generic concepts of computing using numerous different example applications, rather than teaching one particular vendors software, and the OSS such as Linux and OpenOffice can be taken home without the usual worries about licence infringement. Despite these benefits Linux has been slow to penetrate into the classroom, mainly due to the lack of educational applications available on Linux, although the larger universities and colleges are users of Linux in the infrastructure. This is starting to change as more and more schools begin to trial Linux as an alternative OS and Open Source applications meeting educational needs are developed.
Conclusions
The public sector leads the way in Linux adoption, especially on the desktop.
5.3 SMES AND LINUX

There is no doubt that the advantages of migrating to Linux are applicable to all sizes of enterprise, as they are to public sector organisations, both large and small. Smaller organisations do have specific challenges to overcome and benefits that can be exploited. Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) by their very nature tend to be both capital and resource constrained, leading to a concentration on the practicalities and a risk adverse IT strategy, with a tendency to be technology followers. Major barriers for the adoption of Linux by an SME include, in many instances, the fear of change and the migration overhead, plus on-going costs.
September 2004
69
www.butlergroup.com
The IT industry has tended to focus on the large corporations where it is possible to sell large amounts of services for Linux deployments. In the early days of Linux each implementation was different and integration and testing of the software stack with the Linux distribution was nearly always required. As the market has matured this requirement has lessened, with the major vendors and solution providers bringing out reference architectures built on Linux and OEM hardware. This enables an out-of-the-box deployment experience with minimal resources required for configuration and better interoperability, which is more suited to smaller organisations.
Major barriers for the adoption of Linux by an SME include, in many instances, the fear of change and the migration overhead, plus on-going costs.
Channel partner and ISV support for Linux are a critical litmus test for many SMEs. Many ISVs, including those providing software to SMEs, have now ported their applications to Linux. On the other hand, many SMEs utilise Microsoft Windows and associated technology almost exclusively, and for these companies moving to Linux presents a number of difficulties, not least the use of a new OS with all the added complications and resourcing issues. In spite of this Linux is now gaining ground amongst SMEs in the UK and elsewhere. A survey conducted last year by Vanson Bourne for IBM of UK IT managers showed that one in four SME respondents currently use Linux. Of those not utilising Linux, 15% said that they were likely to use it in the future, with a further 26% uncommitted. The survey also highlighted the critical role that the channel plays in encouraging SMEs to migrate to Linux. Business partners, professional organisations, and consultants were highlighted as the most important sources of information on Linux for the SME, whereas large enterprises tend to be influenced directly by the IT vendors themselves. This is probably another reason for the apparent lag in the adoption of Linux by SMEs, due to the time taken for the channel to gain the required knowledge and experience. There is a real opportunity for SMEs with a mixed UNIX and Windows environment to consolidate onto a single platform both for systems development and the production environment regardless of the underlying hardware. This flexibility gives the SME user the ability to use commodity hardware from different vendors, which could be under utilised.
The scalability and flexibility provided by Linux can now make solutions available to SMEs that were previously too costly.
The scalability and flexibility provided by Linux can now make solutions available to SMEs that were previously too costly, due to the expense of the required hardware or the outlay needed to develop the software for multiple platforms. Linux can reduce the cost structure to enable SMEs to run applications that were previously only the preserve of the larger organisation, in some instances levelling the competitive playing field. The growth of Linux on the desktop is another interesting opportunity for SMEs, as it is for all sizes of organisation.
70
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Conclusions
Linux is a feasible alternative for SME UNIX users. An important benefit for SMEs is the convenience of a single platform for development and production. Channel support is rapidly expanding for Linux.
5.4 MIGRATING TO LINUX

Why Linux?
Linux is a disruptive technology with associated migration costs. It can, however, bring significant advantages in the longer term that can make it worth persevering with to achieve a sustaining technology status within the organisation. The pain of change has been substantially reduced with the provision of numerous tools, training, and methodologies designed to mitigate both the cost and cultural aspects of the move to Linux. While not wanting to go over ground already covered it is important to reiterate that when talking about Linux Free means FREEDOM rather than no cost. The independence of the OS from the underlying hardware gives the IT manager the flexibility to choose the best value platform on which to run the IT services, and the ability to use commodity x86 components. In addition, support for the OS no longer has to be purchased from one vendor, giving rise to healthy competition that must put downward pressure on the cost.
Even for the most risk averse organisations Linux can be looked upon as an OS for running critical applications.
Notwithstanding Microsofts and others protestations to the contrary that this flexibility must have a beneficial impact on the TCO, but even if individual circumstances result in negligible cost differential, these freedoms mean that Linux is an option that must be seriously considered for inclusion in an organisations infrastructure strategy. Even for the most risk averse organisations Linux can be looked upon as an OS for running critical applications.
Which Distribution?
With all distributions based on the same kernel, at a first glance the choice would seem extensive, with each distribution being optimised for a certain set of users, containing a different selection of utilities and installation procedures. However, on closer inspection there are only a handful of distributions suitable for use in the enterprise, and only two which merit serious consideration at present. The global support from ISVs and vendors for Red Hat and Novell SUSE enterprise distributions means they are the only feasible options for the data centre. However, in the desktop environment other vendor options than these two are possibilities if considering an Open Source client software stack, including solutions from Linspire, Debian, Mandrakesoft, and Sun Microsystems.
September 2004
71
www.butlergroup.com
Microsoft Windows
Linux is by no means the only strategic option going forward. Microsoft Windows, while not giving the complete hardware independence offered by Linux, does utilise commodity x86 hardware, which is becoming increasingly able to handle high-end processing requirements through clustering and the use of multiple processors. There are numerous studies available in which Windows outperforms Linux in terms of TCO, performance, and vulnerabilities, as there are other research papers that identify the opposite. What is clear is that the combination of Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 provides an IT platform which is very persuasive for the enterprise user, especially with the addition of new features that have improved security, reliability, availability, and scalability.
What is clear is that the combination of Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 provides an IT platform which is very persuasive for the enterprise user.
Where Windows remains a leader is in the totality of software stack, available functionality, and integration, especially in the desktop environment. The .NET architecture provides further evidence as to the power that organisations can derive from the platform, along with the integrated developer tools that can assist with the speedy development of new services. Interoperability is of paramount importance, especially in todays heterogeneous environments. Instead of migrating to Linux an alternative is to make UNIX and Windows seamlessly share information. This can be achieved with Microsoft Windows Services for UNIX (SFU) that enables Windows- and UNIX-based systems to share data, security credentials, and scripts. For those organisations that can reconcile themselves with being locked into one vendor for the majority of the software stack then Microsoft is a valid option. What the emergence of Linux has done is to provide an alternative and while not yet up to the sophistication of Windows, it offers a flexible platform strategy that many will want to adopt over the next five years. This flexibility has a downside in that integration will never be as tight as in the Windows environment, but with the emergence of XML and Web services this is probably not as important as it has been in the past. The discontinuation of Windows NT support is bringing into renewed focus future OS strategy. With Longhorn on the horizon, Microsofts next OS version, which could require a significant migration effort and more powerful hardware, is another significant trigger point looming, where organisations will have to choose whether to continue with Microsoft Windows or look seriously at Linux as an alternative. There are, however, many occasions where Windows will remain, or be, the best solution.
Migration Strategy
In most instances migration is driven by hardware change, application replacement, or amendments to software licensing. It would be better if the move was proactive as part of a wider planned technology strategy. The migration to Linux is no different in concept than, for example, moving from Windows NT to Windows 2003, or a significant UNIX version upgrade. It is very unusual that an OS is chosen on its own, and it is usually part of a wider plan for the deployment of new services or IT optimisation. As with any IT project, planning is key to a successful deployment of a new OS, along with the building of a multi-skilled team, training, and management backing.
72
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
The Open Source background of Linux means that everyone needs to be brought on board with the differences and the changes this will cause. Even those organisations not planning a move to Linux and OSS immediately should develop a strategy of using open standards to enable a smooth transition to Linux should the decision be taken to move in this direction. It is probable that the migration will be phased over a number of months and with large deployments a pilot phase built into the process to validate the system and plan, especially when contemplating a migration to a Linux desktop. Migrating from UNIX to Linux is similar to porting from one version of UNIX to another. Many of the utilities and associated administration features are the same, although problems can arise from the use of extensions that are not part of the Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX) standard. However, these differences should not be major and bespoke applications should not find any architectural problems. Whilst the configuration can be expected to be dissimilar, the tendency has been for the different UNIX versions still to use standard mechanisms for communication and file formats, making the migration easier. A migration from Windows to Linux is slightly more problematic due to the incompatibility of the two environments, especially in their administration. The move can be achieved using one of two methods, either by adding the Linux servers to the existing Windows domain and then phasing out the Windows servers, or with the creation of a new parallel Linux environment and migrating users and systems over time. A number of tools are available to assist with the migration, including Win4Lin from NeTraverse, Codeweavers Crossover products, and Koppix. Win4Lin and Crossover Office can be used to run Windows-based applications in a Linux environment. Koppix is a Linux system that boots from a CD making it useful for demonstrations and trials, as the Windows system on the PC remains unaffected. Numerous other utilities and applications are provided by the distributors and solution providers, along with migration services provided by all the major IT vendors. The use of partitioning technology from VMware can help with the integration of Linux in the IT infrastructure and provide a way of running Linux systems within a current environment.
In the short-to-medium term it is highly likely that Linux will need to co-exist with other OSs, which highlights the importance of system management tools.
In the short-to-medium term it is highly likely that Linux will need to co-exist with other OSs, which highlights the importance of system management tools that can manage heterogeneous IT environments. Many IT solution providers, including BMC, Computer Associates (CA), HP, IBM, and Novell provide management software, enabling the centralised administration of multiple UNIX, Windows, and Linux systems. This aspect should not be overlooked when adding Linux to the mix, as one of the major contributors to the overheads in the IT operation is the additional management requirements of a new OS.
Conclusions
Migrating to Linux is like any IT project in that it must be driven by business and technical requirements and be properly planned. Cognisance should be taken of the softer people issues, especially when migrating from Microsoft Windows to Linux. The first step for those contemplating Linux on the desktop is to evaluate one of the CD-bootable Linux distributions.
September 2004
73
www.butlergroup.com
SECTION 6: Market Analysis
www.butlergroup.com
6.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

The Linux trade name and copyright is owned by Linus Torvalds, effectively covering the kernel source code developed and maintained by a small team under the auspices of Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) and kernel.org, and supported by many IT vendors. Uniquely, when referring to Linux this usually means a distribution from an organisation which has taken the core kernel software and packaged the kernel with a number of libraries, utilities, and applications to make a distribution. The ODSLs data centre and carrier grade specifications help to outline the basic requirements and provide consistency for a distribution catering for these environments, along with the Linux Standards Base (LSB), which provides some guarantee of interoperability between distributions certified against it.
Open Source Projects

Project Apache.org KDE Project Gnome Project DDD GCC GDB Project Project Mozilla.org Project BinUtils LTT
Kernel.org
Xfree86.org
Red Hat
Yellow
SUSE
Monta
Dog
LINUX
Vista
Linux Distribution Projects

Figure 6.1.1: Make-up of Linux Distributions
(Source: MontaVista)
This collection of additional software, including hardware drivers, file systems, kernel improvements, and in many cases relevant Open Source applications, enables each distributor to tailor the distribution to meet specific requirements of the target market. For example, Red Hat and SUSE LINUX produce a distribution for the enterprise, which includes additional utilities and tuning particularly focused on the performance and reliability needs. Other distributions are available which concentrate on the desktop, embedded, and supercomputing markets.
Linux is very much a global phenomenon, with adoption growing strongly in the Americas, EMEA, and Asia.
The distribution suppliers tend to be small organisations that do not have the resources to provide global support and training to the enterprise market. It is important that the distributors utilise the service provider and Independent Software Vendor (ISV) channels to market. Novell has to some extent resolved this problem for SUSE LINUX by purchasing the business and giving it access to a worldwide marketing and support infrastructure.
September 2004
Section 6: Market Analysis
77
www.butlergroup.com
Linux is very much a global phenomenon, with adoption growing strongly in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia (EMEA), and Asia. In the enterprise Linux market the organisations with worldwide coverage are Red Hat and SUSE LINUX. In Asia there appears to be growing adoption in the market and a real interest in migrating to Linux. Due to political and local issues the Asian market has seen the emergence of Turbolinux and Asianux as strong contenders. In the early adoption phase of a technology there are vertical sectors that take to the technology before others. Linux has seen initial use in the public sector and financial services arena. This is now widening to all business sectors as the benefits of Linux become apparent. Linux use is also penetrating all areas of the IT infrastructure. Most large organisations are already utilising Linux to some extent and there are signs that the Small to Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) market is beginning to warm to Linux.
Travel & Transport

KIOSKS
Distribution Media
Retail
POS, KIOSK
Travel & Transport

Reservations, Scheduling Digital Content Creation
Retail, Travel
Branch server (e.g. in-store)
Media & Entertainment Petroleum
Media & Entertainment

Video streaming
Industrial
Petroleum
Seismic
Automotive Reservoir, Modelling & Rendering

Crash, CFD
Petroleum
Retail e-Station
Aerospace Electronics
Analysis Applications EDA
HPC/Government Public & Health

Modelling, Simulation, US Federal, AP
Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences

Research, Geneomiccs
S&TC/Gvnt. (EMEA)
Modelling, Simulation
Academic
Collaboration
Academic
e.g. Procurement, learning
Academic
Gov-funded Research
Financial Markets/Banking
Risk Management, Portfolio Analysis, Fund Management
Banking
Branch
Insurance
Policy, Actuarial
Banking
KIOSK, Web Banking
Banking
Corebanking, Payments
Finance
Financial Markets
Trading, Clearing, Mkt data
Telco
ISP
Access
Telco
PBX
Telco
IP Telephony, Softswitch
Telco, xSP
IDC Shared
Infrastructure Cross
Firewall, print/file, Web Non mission-critical
Infrastructure
Workload consolidation
ERP, CRM, Database

Workgroup, eCRM
General Tier-2
Enterprise
Infrastructure
Dynamic Web/e-business
Infrastructure Grid 2001 2002
1999/2000
2003
2004
Figure 6.1.2: Linux Sector Adoption
(Source: IBM)
Linux Markets
Server There are two main segments to the server Operating System (OS) market. The lower end, where a server is used to provide a specific service in the network, such as a firewall, gateway, router, an application server, or database server. At the high end are the OSs that control large multi-processor servers, or server clusters. Linux is well established at the lower end and the expectation is that it will further erode the market share of operating systems at the higher end, especially now that the 2.6 kernel has a number of scalability features added, enabling better memory management and support for more processors. The majority of customers in this market will not be considering an OS, and quite possibly not even a specific application, but on most occasions will be looking for a solution, ideally an end-to-end solution, to meet a business problem or requirement. The focus on a solution rather than point products makes the various distribution channels in the market very significant, be it hardware vendor, service provider, Value Added Reseller (VAR), or Systems Integrator (SI). To be successful it is imperative that Linux distributions build and maintain close relationships with these types of organisations.
78
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
The leading global distributions in the server market are without doubt Red Hat and Novell SUSE LINUX, who have both built partnerships with the major players in the IT market. There are now Linux reference architectures using these two distributions available from IBM, HP, Oracle, and others, providing integrated and tested server-based solutions including hardware, OS, and middleware.
The majority of customers in this market will not be considering an OS, and quite possibly not even a specific application, but on most occasions will be looking for a solution.
Another important element to the buying decision in the server OS market is the availability of support. Quite understandably, as these systems run critical business applications, there is a need to be able to access help 24x7. The distribution channel partners are again providing this. In some cases this can be third-level support with short-term fixes provided to the kernel if required. A further key influence on the market are the developers building applications on the server platform. One aspect is the developer community themselves who require tools to build applications for the environment and another is the support for the OS as a Tier 1 platform from the ISVs. Although, Linux initially suffered from a deficiency in these areas, it has in recent times, if not surpassing other more mature offerings, at least reached credibility. The expectation is that the market share of proprietary UNIX versions will decline, and that Linux with Microsoft Windows will be the main server OSs going forward. Client The desktop market is a global mass market both for hardware and software. Major players dominate this sector, with Microsoft holding a virtual monopoly on desktop software with upwards of 95% market share. Enterprise customers have similar requirements to the consumer with buying decisions based on interoperability, integration, and software features. Due to the number of users involved there can also be large migration costs where re-training is required. This gives the incumbent Microsoft a significant advantage over any new entrants to the market.
The emergence of Linux pre-installed on PCs in the market should also increase its adoption
Despite this the Linux desktop is beginning to gain ground with some early adopter organisations, especially in the public sector. The emergence of Linux pre-installed on PCs in the market should also increase its adoption. The belief is that over the next two years Linux on the desktop will increasingly become a viable option for some desktop users and its market share will increase, particularly in developing countries. There is an increase in the use of mobile clients including laptops, which are to all intents and purposes mobile desktops, and other devices such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and smart phones. There are isolated instances of Linux being used for these types of device but it is a market where Linux has been slow to penetrate and show any signs of gaining traction. However, HP has recently announced the availability of laptops with pre-installed Linux, and Motorola has launched Linux smart phones in Asia.
September 2004
79
www.butlergroup.com
In order to exploit the usefulness of mobile devices there needs to be seamless integration of communication technologies and a focus on ease of use due to the physical constraints of the device. The three incumbent industry standard OSs in this space are Symbian, PalmOS, and Microsoft Mobile. In the short term, Linux will find it very difficult to break into this market due to the support for Symbian by Nokia and others on the smart phone, and the dominance of Microsoft and PalmSource on PDAs. Embedded Linux is gaining in popularity within the embedded and appliance OS market. Whilst not being a true Real-Time OS (RTOS), the introduction of the 2.6 kernel, with a number of improvements very pertinent to the embedded market and the adaptability of Linux, make it a viable platform for embedded computing.
The Linux 2.6 kernel contains improvements to support the smallest microprocessors right up to the large multiple processor systems.
This market offers plenty of opportunity for the growth in Linux usage. Device types requiring an embedded OS span from the wristwatches of the future right through to switches in a network. The Linux 2.6 kernel contains improvements to support the smallest microprocessors right up to the large multiple processor systems. The extensive use of POSIX threads, signals, and timers in the kernel means that developers can easily port the application to a POSIX-compliant RTOS should the need arise. Other enhancements very relevant to embedded processing include better synchronisation, a more efficient scheduler, and pre-emption points in the kernel.
20.0% 18.0% 16.0% 14.0% 12.0% 10.0% 8.0% 6.0% 4.0% 2.0% 0.0% Sysgo (ElinOS) SUSE LINUX uClinux Debian Other MontaVista Metroworks Mandrake Home grown LinuxPPC TimeSys Red Hat Denx (ELDK) LinuxWorks FSMLabs Past 2 Years Next 2 Years
Figure 6.1.3: Embedded Linux Distributions
(Source: LinuxDevices.com)
In the embedded space no single distribution has gained the majority share of the market, as can be seen by the results of a survey conducted by LinuxDevices.com. When using embedded Linux there is still the propensity for developers to create their own Linux system from the source freely available. Leading distributions used in embedded systems include uClinux, Debian, Red Hat, and MontaVista.
80
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Supercomputing Linux has shown its adaptability by being used in a number of high performance supercomputers. The ability to build computers from commodity hardware by clustering together many Linux systems brings down the cost significantly. This has enabled Linux to become one of the main OSs in this market with IBM, HP, and Dell building Linux-based supercomputers.
6.2 CASE STUDIES

City of Bergen
Bergen is Norways second largest city, with a population of 237,430, and is located by the North Sea. As part of its strategic direction to migrate to Linux as the standard operating platform for servers, the City has decided to deploy Novell SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server (SLES) 9 on a series of HP Servers and IBM Blades, to replace the proprietary UNIX, and Microsoft Windows servers for the administrative and educational networks respectively. The original plan was to deploy SLES 8, but after testing the latest version 9, implementation will now be on the new release. The City already has an IBM Storage Area Network (SAN), and part of the selection of SLES 9 is that the Linux 2.6 kernel has better support for SANs. In selecting Linux as a strategic platform the City was seeking to attain a business model that did not tie it to a single vendors solution architecture. By migrating to Linux the City believes it has a business model that is open and democratic, and one that will ensure a greater degree of freedom of choice for the future, more efficient operation, and major cost savings that will benefit its citizens. As part of the Linux adoption strategy, the City undertook investigation and research into which distribution of Linux it wanted to standardise upon, either SUSE or Red Hat. At the time of selection (which was for SLES 8), the City considered that the SUSE distribution had better 64-bit support, and more tools for administration on larger server parks. Another consideration for the City, within a country where users first language is not English, was the language support in SLES 8. For the user interface to Linux, it was also considered that KDE supplied with SLES 8 was preferred to GNOME provided by Red Hat. Administrative Network and Servers The first major project is to migrate the Citys 30 existing Oracle database servers, 20 running on HP-UX and ten running on MS Windows 2000, to ten HP Integrity Itanium 64-bit servers. These will support a range of the Citys operational business applications, including core health and welfare services, and will be accessed by 15,000 employees. The requirement is for the severs to offer maximum uptime whilst being cost effective. The existing HP servers have to a large extent reached the end of their operational life, and need to be replaced. The replacements were selected following a competitive tender announced in the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC). The City had specified that the processors in the servers should support 64-bit computing and be non-proprietary. Through extensive testing, it was identified that the move from UNIX to Linux for the applications using Oracle databases was relatively simple. Some retraining of computing centre staff has been required, but this is a one-time cost. Database testing will continue until the end of August 2004 to choose high availability clustering technology, then test production will be undertaken through October, and it is intended that production deployment of the ten new servers will start mid-November 2004. The migration is being managed within existing staff costs, and the City believes that the ongoing support element of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of the servers will be lower than that for an equivalent solution based upon Microsoft Windows Servers, as problem solving in Linux is generally less complex.
September 2004
81
www.butlergroup.com
Educational Network and Servers The second project in the strategy will involve the migration and consolidation of 100 Microsoft NT Windows application servers, currently based in individual schools that support the Citys educational network, to a centralised IBM eServer BladeCenter with 20 blade servers. With 32,000 students and 4,000 teachers accessing the educational network, the existing server environment could not scale with the increasing demand. Centralisation and management were other key issues for the network, which is seen as a sinking ship using both outdated hardware and software. Operation of the network requires significant support, both from within the schools themselves and from the Citys central IT department. There has also been a growing problem with viruses and maintaining consistency of application access. Each school could deploy additional applications locally on its server, but the nature of the deployment meant that it was not generally backed up, and could cause conflicts with the other software. The IBM BladeCenter was also selected through competitive tender under OJEC procedures. Each Blade is a full server, with memory, processor and storage, but the City prefers utilising the IBM SAN to local storage, as it is faster, more secure, and involves less mechanical parts in the servers. The Linux Blades will supply user authentication, and file and print services with the Open Source SAMBA, using a load-balancing cluster of four blades. Other services supplied will be e-mail, Domain Name Server (DNS), Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Open Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory. The Blades are also to be used as terminal servers, running Tarantella Secure Global Desktop, a Linux-based alternative to Citrix software. Each server is scaled for 100 concurrent users, but the Citys tests have shown that each will support more users if necessary. The 4,000 teachers using the educational network also access the administrative network, but this is not permitted for the students, and the separate networks facilitate this security. Cost was an important factor in the decision to move the educational network to a centralised service, and no more staff will be required after the migration. With the move to the centralised service, the people in each school that had been supporting the servers will be redeployed into teaching and support roles within those schools. There has been no resistance to the planned migration as the design and layout for a centralised service has been planned for a long time, and the expected benefits are accepted by all involved. As part of the business case for the use of Linux, the city has calculated that the costs of the servers for the educational network would be only 60% of those for an equivalent installation using servers running Microsoft Windows 2000. The deployment will start after the Summer 2004 school holidays and will utilise the existing network infrastructure. The 85 schools on dedicated Wide Area Network (WAN) connections are to be migrated by the end of the year, and the roll-out to the remaining 15 schools that use Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Lines (ADSL) connections will be completed early in 2005. As always in the public sector, there was the requirement to get more from the same resources. The reductions in the cost of hardware and software support in the centre, as well as opportunity for the redeployment of the staff within schools, were key parts of the business case for this project. The Migration to Linux A major benefit of the two projects, and the adoption of Linux as the strategic server platform, is the consolidation of all the Citys systems into one computing centre, helping to address the issues (and costs) of management and security. A common skill set can support both networks, policies can be managed and enforced centrally, and support staff will spend less time travelling to the Citys 100 schools. The City thoroughly investigated the move to Linux in detail to identify any potential operational risks. The perceived risk of not being able to recruit support staff with Linux skills has proved unfounded, as there is a good supply of high quality candidates emerging from university with both UNIX and Linux skills.
82
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Next year (2005) the City will migrate other servers to Linux, such as various network services, and application and Web servers. The City will also be testing a Linux a desktop client on the Educational network, based on preliminary tests done in 2003, although those on the administrative network for the time being will have to remain as Microsoft Windows clients, because of specific integration of Microsoft Office with the back-end servers of the operational business applications. However, the City plans to start evaluation of alternatives to MS Windows on the administrative clients in 2006, with the hope of being able to move most or all clients to a Linux desktop. Based upon a conversation with Ole-Bjorn Tuftedal, Chief Technology Officer, City of Bergen, July 2004.
Rackspace Managed Hosting

Rackspace Managed Hosting (Rackspace) was founded in 1998, and is has its headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, US. It employs 400 people located in three data centres in the US and one in the UK. From its UK base in Uxbridge, London, it provides managed hosting services to a wide range of organisations including: Microsoft, Nikon, Renault, The Register, and three of the top 4 consultancy firms. The company offers its customers either Linux, or Microsoft Windows Server platforms for deployment, with a range of options including Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID), guaranteed Internet bandwidth, and back-up facilities. For its customers running Linux, there are three service level options with respective price tags: 1. Dedicated single server, running Linux, a control panel, and no firewall. 2. Managed multiple servers and a firewall. 3. Enterprise more servers and load balancing. Since 2000, Rackspace has seen a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 53%. As a dedicated managed hosting company, it cannot regard hosting as an add-on service or loss leader. It has to provide a better and more cost-effective service for its customers than they could provide themselves, or contract another organisation to do. Thus all its systems, and processes are built for delivering the most efficient and cost-effective managed hosting available. It is a mid-market player, and is not intending to compete in the low-price hosting arena. It will, however, offer short-term contracts, the minimum being for 30 days. Rackspaces managed hosting services commonly form the technical components of another service companys business offering. At the upper end of its services it is starting to develop the management of large-scale data farms with a couple of customers. Rackspace originally started providing hosting exclusively on Linux servers running Red Hat, but responding to its customers by expanding to support Microsoft Windows Server (2000 and 2003), and a small number of instances running FreeBSD, and the Debian distribution of Linux. To deliver its services Rackspace has four strategic partners: Microsoft, Red Hat, Dell, and Cisco. The Linux distributor, Red Hat, is an investor in Rackspace, and Rackspace has the largest number of servers running Red Hat in the world, along with being the only Advanced Hosting Partner in Europe. The closeness of the relationship is signified by the fact that Rackspace was the first hosting company to offer Red Hat Enterprise Server. Because of the close relationship with both Microsoft and Red Hat, Rackspace will receive bug fixes ahead of their general release. All four Rackspace sites are staffed on a 24x7 basis to provide support for its customers. In the US this is a fixed shift system, in the UK on a rotating basis. The company offers its customers a one-hour hardware guarantee, as it has found this is much more cost effective for customers than building redundancy into the servers it is hosting. To support this guarantee, Rackspace carries all of its own spares.
September 2004
83
www.butlergroup.com
All technical support staff in Rackspace can provide first-, second-, and third-level support as required. Only the most specialist tasks are passed out of Rackspace, for example the company use Microsofts Professional Services organisation as its final level of support to fix software bugs etc. Approximately 45% of Rackspace servers run Red Hat Linux, and there is an active migration of customers to the Enterprise Server edition. A similar number are on Microsoft Windows Server 2000/2003. As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, and a Red Hat Advanced Hosting Partner, Rackspace is well placed to assess the relative merits of each OS. Overall Rackspace regards Red Hat Enterprise Server and Microsoft Windows Server as comparable platforms from its own deployment and management experience. Technical support rates for both are priced at the outset on the same level. But careful monitoring of all activity on the accounts, and the cost of supporting each, are reviewed at contract renewal time. Anecdotal reports from Rackspace indicate that Microsoft Windows customers are more likely to contact the support desk than those with Linux implementations. But this may be a self-fulfilling prophecy, in that those deploying Linux are, in Rackspaces experience, more technically aware. As an early adopter of Linux, Rackspace has had to develop its own management tools for monitoring and controlling the infrastructures for its customers, and in fact has developed its own kernel, with optimised code for the managed hosting environment. The tools have matured with the business and Rackspace believes that its in-house CORE RackSpace management tools are still ahead of the emerging offerings from ISVs. Rackspace offers all its customers access to its own Web-based management information system called MyRackspace. This application runs on a Linux server and utilises a MySQL database. The customer has access to reporting, support history and billing information via the MyRackspace.com interface. The company is offering its customers on earlier versions of Red Hat a free migration to Red Hat Enterprise Server, and encouraging all new deployments to be hosted on the platform, as it believes to be major benefits and efficiencies that are gained through the improved, and advanced management features. Rackspace also advises its customers not to run MySQL or Apache, on Microsoft Windows Servers, recommending the more efficient combination of Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP (LAMP). Rackspace believes that the ability to hold stored procedures in the latest version of MySQL will make a number of organisations consider putting larger and more complex database applications onto this platform as a substitute for Microsoft SQL Server, where licensing costs are becoming increasingly evident. One of Rackspaces customers is xrefer, a company which combines reference books from the worlds leading publishers, digitising the content, and delivering 24x7 on-line reference services for libraries. xrefer utilises seven managed Linux servers, and provide its end customers with in excess of four million searches a day. Rackspace regards Linux, with the right tools, management, and methodology, as a robust and stable platform, from which it is running a successful business. Starting as a Linux-based company, it could be forgiven for having a bias, and at one time a number of Rackspace employees had tee-shirts emblazoned with the slogan: Apple for Interface. Palm for Portability. Linux for Security. Windows for Solitaire.
84
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Dundee City Council

Dundee is a city of 145,000 located on the east coast of Scotland in the UK. A unitary authority, it provides a wide range of services to its population including, housing, social services, refuse collection, and leisure facilities. Faced with the dual pressures of central government targets to modernise, and the increasing expectations of its citizens for better services, available at times that were convenient to them and not just the council, the authority realised that it had to provide a greater range of on-line services, both for the people of Dundee and the employees that served them. At the same time the councils IT department had a range of UNIX-based servers, several of which were reaching the end of their operational life. These servers were running a variety of internal applications such as housing systems, social work systems, and rent accounting services. Rather than undertake a like-for-like replacement, the IT department sought the opportunity to reduce floor space, heat output, and operational and licensing costs through consolidation. But this had to be done without increasing the risks of points of failure, both for the critical internal systems such as payroll, and for the councils developing interface for its citizens, its Web site www.dundeecity.gov.uk. After much consideration, and as part of an open procurement process, the council decided to replace the existing eleven UNIX-based servers with Linux virtual machines running on an IBM zSeries 800 mainframe, supported by an IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Storage Server (ESS) 800 acting as its Tier 1 high availability storage. The primary objectives are to reduce the long-term running costs, and to use the stability of the mainframe environment in order to maximise the availability. Running the Linux virtual machines on the zSeries was also calculated to have lower floor space and heat output requirements than individual physical servers. Interestingly, unlike a number of other Linux deployment examples, Dundee did not have an incumbent zSeries deployment and the existing skill sets for running a mainframe, but even with this additional effort in migration, the council could justify the project through both the benefits and the savings. IBM provided the hardware, the software, implementation and migration services, and all training/education for the project. The zSeries now provides a number of on-line services to the local population, which include using the councils Web site to settle outstanding bills, update personal records, alert council departments to issues, and enquire for information. The councils fully integrated Human Resources and payroll system, ResourceLink from Northgate Information Solutions, has also been deployed on the zSeries. The cost reductions following deployment of the mainframe are coming from a number of areas. Besides the administration, maintenance, and support costs, there is the reduced heat output. This is in fact a double saving for the electricity, from both that consumed by servers, and that to run the air conditioning systems to remove the heat generated. Further cost reductions will also come from the lower licensing costs of the Oracle databases, which are based on the number of processors used. The administration and management capability of the zSeries is also providing advantages for the IT department in terms of the time within which it can respond to changes in the councils requirements. Additional virtual machines can be created in minutes by cloning, the new virtual machine, inheriting all the security controls by default. The council, and its IT department, believe that with the zSeries running Linux virtual machines, they now have the provision of a highly flexible infrastructure for future use.
September 2004
85
www.butlergroup.com
SECTION 7: Tables
www.butlergroup.com
This section of the Report is made up of three main parts: 1. Butler Group Linux in the Enterprise Features Matrix (Section 7.1). 2. Butler Group Linux in the Enterprise Product Capability Diagrams (Section 7.2). 3. Butler Group Linux in the Enterprise Market Lifecycle Positions (Section 7.3). Butler Group invited vendors whose solutions it believed best fit the subject matter of this Report Linux in the Enterprise with an emphasis on the Linux distributions rather than just Linux kernel, to participate in an evaluation and comparison exercise. The selected vendors co-operated with Butler Group Analysts in the research for the Technology Audits, which appear in Section 9, and in compiling the Features Matrix, which appears in this section. In Butler Groups opinion these vendors and their products cover a significant portion of the market and are highly representative of what successful products and solutions should be capable of delivering in this sector. The Technology Audit process involved a Butler Group Analyst examining each solution under review, discussing its strengths and weaknesses with the vendors, and then, based on the analysis, producing an evaluation. The evaluation is performed in a comparative manner in the Features Matrix, where all the solutions capabilities are marked relative to each other; and in an absolute manner, where each solution is scored to see how well it delivers in each of the main functionality areas. These scores are then shown as Product Capability Diagrams in the second part of this section. Finally, the vendors are grouped in an overall manner according to how they perform in the market sector under consideration, and in how Butler Group believes their individual position will evolve in the market over the near to longer term. With any area such as this, there are a number of different approaches, and it is not always possible to make direct comparisons. For example, some of the vendors we spoke with provide solutions only, and others have a hardware legacy to continue to support. In any situation, the user must make their own evaluation of the vendors offering. The Features Matrix is based on an extremely rigorous and robust methodology, which took into account key areas of Reliability, Scalability, Security, Interoperability, and Management. The final analysis in the scoring and market positioning is an attempt by Butler Group Analysts to reach an objective view of the vendors solutions, taking into account the above main topics as well as how the vendor addresses the market.
September 2004
Section 7: Tables
89
www.butlergroup.com
7.1 BUTLER GROUP LINUX IN THE ENTERPRISE FEATURES MATRIX

Debian Debian GNU/Linux GENERAL FEATURES Kernel Processors supported With numerous Linux 2.6 features incorporated Linux 2.4.18 through 2.6.7 2.4.19 2.4.8 2.4.21 Mandrakesoft Mandrakelinux Corporate Server 2.1 Novell SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8.0 Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS
Intel-compatible x86 processors, Motorola m68k, SUN Sparc, Compaq Alpha, Pentium and IBM/Apple above(x86), PowerPC, Opteron (amd64) Hewlett-Packard PA-RISC, MIPS, Intel IA-64 (Itanium), IBM S/390, ARM Y SCSI FCAL Removable storage RAID hardware RAID software Tape libraries Near-line Distributed storage Power management UPS Local back-up Enterprise back-up Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y LSB-compatible, not LSB-certified Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y (mt-st) Y Y Y N Y Y Y
Various
16 (or 8 hyper threaded pairs)
64-bit support Device support
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Y (IBM, Intel, AMD) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Limited (hardware dependent) Y Y
Power management Environmental monitoring LSB Supported System accounting
Features listed are based upon Vendor responses to Butler Group Questionnaires. A does not necessarily indicate the absence of a feature.
90
Section 7: Tables
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Debian Debian GNU/Linux PERFORMANCE CPU and Multiprocessing SMP Suppoprted Maximum CPUs for SMP Y Limited only by Linux support and architecture Limited only by Linux support and architecture Y Y Maximum CPUs per node Maximum nodes per cluster Unlimited Memory and File System Maximum supported physical memory (addressable limits are 16 exabytes (16 architecturally defined and usually million terabytes) higher than supported limits) Standard file systems Maximum file size 8 exabytes (~8 million terabytes) Maximum file system size 8 exabytes (~8 million terabytes) Journaling support Additional file systems Network file system Distributed file system Clustered file system Performance Optimisation Threading Asynchronous I/O Raw I/O Event ports Memory expansion technology Y XFS, reiserfs, JFS NFS, Intermezzo, AFS Intermezzo ext2, ext3 Unlimited
Mandrakesoft Mandrakelinux Corporate Server 2.1
Novell SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8.0
Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS
Y 32 (x86), 64 (amd64) 32 (x86), 64 (amd64) N Separate Product (Mandrakeclustering)
Y 64 4 Supported Y 64 1024
Y 16 From TPC/C etc 16 physical/8 hyper threaded Limited (hardware dependent) Y As per SMP 8 with Cluster Suite; >100 with GFS 64GB (x86); 96GB (AMD64); 128GB (Itanium2) Y
SMP benchmark Maximum number processors
NUMA Clusters
4GB ext2, ext3, reiserfs, xfs, jfs depends on filesystem, as high as 2 terabytes depends on filesystem, as high as 16 terabytes Y vfat, ntfs(ro), hfs, ufs, udf, iso9660 nfs, smbfs coda, intermezzo, davfs Linux Threads N kernel patch untested N N
terabytes
2^64
4 terabytes
1 terabyte
8 terabytes
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
September 2004
Section 7: Tables
91
www.butlergroup.com
Debian Debian GNU/Linux PERFORMANCE cont. Performance Optimisation cont. Memory file system Dynamic page sizing Advanced job control system Additional features
Y (ramfs)
Y Y
Y Huge page support provided Numerous Linux 2.6 memory management & scheduler performance features Y
Clustering
High availability clusters Multiple instances of applications within a HA cluster Partitioning within a cluster TCP connection fail-over High availability of storage features Cluster file system Integrated cluster management application Globus toolkit
Separate Product (Mandrakeclustering) Y (MAUI, urpmi parallel) Y (LVS)
Y IP failover (requires reconnect) Y Y Y Available from third-parties
Custom partitioner, as well as cfdisk/fdisk/parted options Y Excellent Y Not automatic, but filesystems can be expanded at the admins request
N Y (PVFS) Y N
GFS Y Y Y
Partitioning
Partitioning
Faults isolated within a partition Granularity and flexibility of partitions Virtual resources used in a partition Dynamic reconfiguration of partitions Capacity on demand
Y (lvm)
Y Y Y Y
92
Section 7: Tables
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Debian Debian GNU/Linux RESILIENCE Resilience 99.999% systems availability guarantee On-line addition/removal of processors On-line addition/removal of memory On-line addition/removal of I/O adapters On-line replacement of hot disks Alternate kernel installations Y Dynamic kernel patching Dynamic application patching Disaster recovery features System resilience features Recovery Processors automatically reconfigured on-line Memory automatically reconfigured on-line Disk I/O adapters automatically reconfigured online Network adapters automatically reconfigured online Link aggregate protection File system recovery Fault tolerant file system Kernel dump analysis facilities Dynamic core file generation Multi-mode boots Vendor managed failure prediction Automatic hang detection and resolution facilities Automatic system recovery facilities Interactive system recovery facilities Configuration back-up/recovery Configuration back-up/recovery Data back-up/recovery software Other recovery features Not within Debians pervue Y
hardware dependent Y (no live changeover though) N Y Y Y (reiserfs, ext3, xfs, jfs) Y (ksymoops) Y (lilo) Y Y Y
N Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Kernel/user land separation Y Y Y Y N
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Package failsafe With Cluster Suite automatic fsck at bootup recovery system with fsck Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
September 2004
Section 7: Tables
93
www.butlergroup.com
Debian Debian GNU/Linux INTEROPERABILITY Internet and Web Application Services Integrated Web server Integrated proxy server Integrated time server Protocols supported HTTP SSL SMTP FTP NNTP POP IMAP XML JVM IPv6 VLAN IKE Advanced Socket API Internet Languages provided/supported (N / P / S / P+S) C/C++ PERL Python VB Java Java Servlets Server Hosted Scripts Java Script Active Server Pages FrontPage Extensions ODBC Support JDBC Support TCP optimisation features Mobile IP support RADIUS support Interworking Message queuing service Transaction management service Integrated File/Print server Microsoft Windows clients support Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y P+S P+S P+S N S S P+S P+S P+S P+S P+S S Y Y Y
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y ECN & Syncookies Y Y
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y P+S P+S P+S P+S P+S P+S P+S P+S P N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
94
Section 7: Tables
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Debian Debian GNU/Linux INTEROPERABILITY cont. Interworking cont. Apple Mac clients support Linux clients support Unix clients support Access to external file/print servers support Integrated Terminal Server Mail server Mail client Web application servers support MANAGEMENT Systems Management Interface Integrated systems management tool Command Line Interface GUI Interface Web Interface Tools accessible remotely Multiple systems managed from a single console Additional facilities added by means of an API Management tool published as a Web service Resource metrics Dynamic discovery of resources Event monitoring and alert management facilities Agents to/from third-party applications Administration of users/groups Administration of network Administration of printers Administration of file sharing Administration of services Administration of clusters Administration of partitions Administration of capacity on demand features Configuration replication management Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Y Y Y Over tcp or smb network Y Y Y Y
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y (harddrake, devfs, hotplug) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y N N N Y Y Y Y N Y
With Red Hat Network Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
September 2004
Section 7: Tables
95
www.butlergroup.com
Debian Debian GNU/Linux MANAGEMENT cont. Storage Management Storage configuration and monitoring tool Storage partitioning Hot spares configured and managed Hot blocks identified and redistributed to equalise load Tool integrated with the system management tool Software Management Package management tool Software registry/configuration database Version control and two-phase commit Multiple servers managed from a single point Client configurations be managed Tool integrated with the system management tool Workload Management Resource management tool Used in SMP and cluster environments Partitions supported Resource management tool entitlement or goal based Tool integrated with the system management tool Installation Options OS provided Pre-loaded option Pre-configuration option Installation automation Installation methods CDROM, Web
Y Y Y Y (RPM + URPMI) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y CDROM/DVD, Harddrive, Network, Web
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N CDs N Y AutoYaST2 CDROM, NFS Mounted Directory, Hard Disk, Network, Web
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Web download
SECURITY General Security Authentication services Encryption services Certificate-based authentication SSL encryption Access control IP based security System area networks VPN Y Y Y Y Y Y (ipsec, iptables) Y (ipsec, pptp) PAM ssh Yes POSIX Y iptables Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
96
Section 7: Tables
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Debian Debian GNU/Linux SECURITY cont. General Security cont. Integrated directory/authentication service Integrated directory/DNS Service Integrated Directory/File Security Service Smart Card Authentication Single sign on support Directory and Security Services (LDAP) LDAP authenticate users LDAP user/group authorisation Non-compliant LDAP schemas Printing integrated with LDAP Mail services utilise LDAP directories Kerberos integration with LDAP Additional integration with LDAP Secure Networking Distributed security application SOCKS5 protocol Secure shell/scripting environment Secure versions of network commands Intrusion detection and prevention features IP filtering tools Administrative role delegation Buffer overflow protection Encryption facilities Security compliance of the OS Integrated Firewall Anti-virus included Addional secure networking features CLIENT FEATURES General Client Product File Services Network Neighbourhood Integration Printing Active Directory Integration Calendar Functionality File Format Support Debian GNU/Linux Y (various) Y Y Y All major file formats Standard Linux management tools Supported Supported Supported Supported Supported Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y (snort, prelude, tripwire) Y N Y (libsafe) Y (GPG) N Y Y
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y saint, nessus Y Y Y Y
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y EAL3 & COE Y Ipsec
Mandrakelinux 10.0 Y Y Y Y
SUSE LINUX Desktop Y Y Y Y OpenOffice, Star Office, MS Office via Codeweaver Remote administration
Red Hat Desktop Y Y Y Y Private Y
Management Functionality
September 2004
Section 7: Tables
97
www.butlergroup.com
Debian Debian GNU/Linux CLIENT FEATURES cont. Security Authentication Services Encrypted File System LDAP, Kerberos, PAM, etc Yes (all filesystems can be encrypted) Y Multiple Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Y Y Y (GPG) Y (GPG) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
KDE desktop security system
Y Y Kernellevel Y Y Y Y Y Y
Key Management Encryption Interface Interfaces Bluetooth USB Infrared 1394 Synchronisation Streaming Video Mobile Wireless Connectivity Power Management
98
Section 7: Tables
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
7.2 BUTLER GROUP LINUX IN THE ENTERPRISE PRODUCT CAPABILITY DIAGRAMS

Debian
Debian GNU/Linux Performance
ENTERPRISE LINUX FEATURES
General Features
Resilience
Client Features
Interoperability
Product Rating Group Average Best in Group
Management Security

Performance
General Features
Resilience
Client Features
Interoperability
Management Security
September 2004
Section 7: Tables
99
www.butlergroup.com
Novell
SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8.0 Performance
General Features
Resilience
Client Features
Interoperability
Management Security

Performance
General Features
Resilience
Client Features
Interoperability
Management Security
100
Section 7: Tables
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
7.3 BUTLER GROUP LINUX IN THE ENTERPRISE MARKET LIFECYCLE POSITIONS

Linux Distributions
OUTPERFORM
PERFORM
Asianux* Turbolinux
Asianux Debian Turbolinux
Debian Mandrakesoft MIRACLE LINUX* Red Flag* Turbolinux
UNDERPERFORM
Debian Mandrakesoft
Mandrakesoft
* Asianux is an enterprise distribution jointly produced by Red Flag and MIRACLE LINUX. This will rapidly become the dominant distribution in the Asia/Pacific region.
Linux Services
OUTPERFORM
IBM
HP IBM
HP IBM
PERFORM
HP Oracle
UNDERPERFORM
Fujitsu Novell Sun Microsystems
September 2004
Section 7: Tables
101
www.butlergroup.com
About Butler Group Market Lifecycle Positions

The vertical Performance groups reflect the success of the vendors and the relevant products in a particular market. This is not a financial measure, but a measure of the success of the technology in taking market share. A financial measure would have to take into account financing, management skills, and economic conditions. Market performance, however, is more related to the marketing skills of the vendor, product positioning, timing, product excellence, and the success of the market. The vertical axis is divided into three groups, with each making a specific statement about the vendor and its product. Within each group, vendors are listed alphabetically, and the order and positioning of company names is not significant. Outperform: The vendor has established a commanding market position with a solution that is widely accepted as best-of-breed. Perform: The vendor has good market positioning and is marketing the solution well. The solution also offers competitive functionality and performance. Under-perform: The vendor has poor positioning, has exercised poor timing, and is failing to market effectively. The product may also be deficient or outside mainstream trends. The horizontal axis is similarly divided into three groups, with each depicting a phase in the market lifecycle. Early Adopter: Represents the early phases of the market when a new technology or standard, often promoted by new entrants, is finding adoption with innovative companies. Market Adoption: The phase when the majority of technology adoption takes place, which typically lasts for between three and four years. Market Maturity: After the market adoption phase, the maturity phase represents a time when the market can be reshaped by vendor acquisitions, new products, and concerted efforts to make an impact in the market. Some of the vendors may have been acquired by this stage, and clear leaders will have emerged.
Linux Distributions Early Adopter to 2005

Novell SUSE LINUX Having been recently acquired by its parent company, Novell, SUSE LINUX now has the back up of a global organisation for support and marketing, and is able to provide the complete ecosystem. Butler Group believes that this will aid its acceptance in a wider geography than its home territory of Germany and Western Europe. SUSE LINUX is able to simultaneously release its software on all platforms, which provides it with a competitive edge. Red Hat Red Hat is a leading Linux distributor, and was first to market with the offering of the levels of support and training that had previously only been expected of proprietary Operating Systems (OSs). It is endorsed by giants in the IT industry through partnerships, and offers a wide choice of services suppliers. With the addition of Red Hat Desktop v.3 to its Enterprise family of products, it provides a consistent platform across architectures. Debian The Debian Project is a non-commercial operation and has a relatively low profile. Organisations that use Debian need more in-house skills than those needed to deploy other major distributions. Debian is developing UserLinux, aimed at building a free, enterprise-stable Linux distribution that will include certifications, service, and support options. HP has undertaken a significant level of investment in Debian, but the fruits of this have yet to been seen. Mandrakesoft Mandrakesoft entered protection from bankruptcy in January 2003, and emerged from this status in March 2004. It is strong in its French home market, which has a history of focusing on home-grown offerings, and is concentrating on development of new and updated products.
102
Section 7: Tables
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
MIRACLE LINUX Is strong in its native Japanese market and is fully tested and supported by Oracle9i, and also includes clustering and a Journaling File System. Oracle owns 58.5% of the company and NEC 14%. It has recently joined with Red Flag to create Asianux, which is positioned to be the standard distribution for enterprise servers. Red Flag Was co-founded by Software Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and NewMargin Venture Capital in June 2000. The company joined with MIRACLE LINUX CORPORATION to announce in March 2004 the completion of the beta version of Asianux 1.0, the only standardised Linux operating environment developed specially for businesses in Asia. The sheer size of the emerging Chinese market ensures by volume alone that this will be a major distribution. Turbolinux Founded in 1992, Turbolinux is a Linux software company that is strong in Japan and is committed to providing the latest in Linux-based solutions. It is backed by some of the leading companies in the high technology world.

As one of the two key distributions in the Americas and Western Europe, Red Hat with its strong development team will be at the top of any shortlist, along with Novell SUSE LINUX. With Novells marketing strength and its broad geographical coverage, the SUSE LINUX distribution will be able to break out from its Western Europe base. Together with Novell services and support, it will provide a strong and attractive offering. From its roots in Miracle Linux and Red Flag, Asianux should become the dominant distribution in the Japanese and exploding Chinese markets, and building on its strong foundations, Turbolinux will also have a significant share in those markets. Although Debian has wide appeal amongst the Open Source community, and forms the core of a number of other distributions, we do not see Debian achieving mass enterprise popularity. We believe that Mandrakesoft will remain particularly strong in the French market, but will not achieve the global exposure necessary to take a significant world market share.
Maturity 2010-Onwards
In the longer term, we expect that Red Hat and Novell SUSE LINUX will continue to take the lions share of the distribution market. With the ever-growing Chinese market, we expect Turbolinux to still be supported and have a significant base, although Asianux will be the predominant distribution in the Asia/Pacific region. It is possible that Debian will have an appropriate partnership in place to build on its potential by this timescale. We do not anticipate that Mandrakesoft will find it possible to break out from its French background.
Linux Services Early Adopter to 2005

IBM IBM has probably the most comprehensive range of products and support for Linux. This is reinforced by its Global Services organisation. For organisations moving to Linux at the enterprise level, using IBM will minimise risks, perceived and real, although as always with IBM there will be a cost. HP HPs hardware and software agnostic approach, the indemnification programme, and its internal commitment to Linux internally offers those migrating to or deploying Linux a level of confidence. As a global company, with significant support services arm, HP will be potential partner for larger organisations. Oracle The Unbreakable Linux offering and the single company for support across the software stack, is very attractive, particularly for Oracles extensive customer base, especially those migrating from Microsoft Windows NT4 platforms.
September 2004
Section 7: Tables
103
www.butlergroup.com
Fujitsu Fujitsu regards Linux as another flavour of UNIX, and is in the initial stages of its Linux services programme, but as the worlds fourth largest IT company, with significant presence in the Asia/Pacific region, and large public sector contracts in the UK, it is positioned to be a major player in Linux Services. Novell After making sensible acquisitions in Ximian and SUSE LINUX, the company will be getting its offerings in place to attack the global market, leveraging its legacy applications, experience and presence. Sun Microsystems Its strategy seems to be confused as instanced by its recent attack on its business partner, Red Hat, and its announcement that it is considering the release of Solaris into the Open Source community.

We believe that HP will join IBM as a dominant player in the Linux services market in the medium term. By offering a complete ecosystem, and integrating its legacy applications, Novell should appeal to the wider Linux market providing the same risk averse argument as HP and IBM. Fujitsu will continue to provide comprehensive support for its customer base that has migrated to, or deployed, Linux. With Oracles strong commitment to Linux and its reference architecture for customers wishing to migrate to Linux, the company will retain a considerable share of the market. We believe that Sun Microsystems will have sorted out a coherent strategy by this stage, providing it with the opportunity to be a significant player in the Linux services market.
Maturity 2010-Onwards
We do not believe that it will be possible for a new entrant to make an impression in this market and that HP and IBM will continue to be dominant. Novell will continue to have a considerable share in the market, assisted by its ownership of one of the two major Linux distributions. Similarly, Fujitsu and Oracle, building on their strong customer bases will continue to have a share, and provided that Sun Microsystems succeeds in getting its strategy clarified, it could also have a significant share in the Linux services market, longer term.
104
Section 7: Tables
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
SECTION 8: Comparisons
www.butlergroup.com
Some people still have mixed feelings about the Open Source movement, mainly because Linux is offered by many distributions, each of which has a slightly different product. In this Report we have considered enterprise-class distributions, and therefore the number of offerings is drastically reduced. However, Linux is an industry phenomenon because of its rapid growth and adoption by enterprise customers as a mainstream technology. This has been driven by the significant support from the software and systems community that has made Linux much more relevant to prospective customers. All system suppliers seem to have agreed by their actions and words that Novell SUSE LINUX and Red Hat will become the primary source of the Linux operating environment, both for desktops and servers.
8.1 LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS

Debian GNU/Linux
The Debian Project is a worldwide association that produces the Debian distribution. Debian GNU/Linux was developed openly in the spirit of Linux and GNU, and it is a stable and complete Linux distribution. Debian began with a small, tightly knit group of Free Software hackers, and gradually grew to become a large, well-organised community of developers and users. The Debian Project is composed of about a 1,000 developers, each of whom take responsibility for some discrete portion of the distribution. These developers are assisted by a community of thousands of end-users who provide support to each other. It is an open system, and any user can participate and contribute to furthering Debian and its goals. The most active of these users can become Debian developers. The current stable release of Debian GNU/Linux is version 3.0, which was released in July 2002. Since the beginning of 2002, development has been proceeding on the next version of the entire distribution, codenamed `sarge, which will be released as Debian 3.1. Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 offers an alternative to organisations that wish to use and develop their own Linux skills, and avoids the costs of the major distributions of enterprise Linux. Debians Advanced Packaging Tool (APT) enables administrators to install and update software easily, and it possesses a user-friendly client that allows browsing through available software and also through applications installed. Debian has a low profile when compared to its major competitors, as it does not have the same level of hardware and software vendor certifications. The development of the UserLinux project, building a free enterprise-stable Linux distribution is key to Debians future growth. As a GNU/Linux distribution, Debian says that its strength is drawn from the organisation behind the distribution, and also how the software is presented to the end-user. Its primary attraction to many end-users is the community and organisation behind it, and its package management system is considered extremely strong. Its packages undergo routine audits and quality assurance procedures, and most Debian developers maintain only a few packages so that they are able to concentrate their efforts. Debian claims that it supports the widest variety of hardware of any GNU/Linux distribution, with official support for eleven hardware architectures. Debian regards its market as organisations that require general-purpose computer software. These organisations can be small to large in size. Debian sees its major market opportunity as the increasing awareness of the extremely high cost of using external resources. Whether these external resources are providing software or support services, Debian asserts that the costs are almost invariably an order of magnitude higher than what an organisation can provide for themselves when it uses the free Debian GNU/Linux distribution.
September 2004
Section 8: Comparisons
107
www.butlergroup.com
When considered in the enterprise market space, Debian suffers from a lack of Independent Software Vendor (ISV) support as, without partnerships with application providers, it will not be viewed as viable for the data centre by many prospective customers. However, Debian is used on a significant number of Web servers, and also by many in-house developers. In 2001, HP standardised on Debian as its internal Linux research and development environment. At the end of 2003, HP announced that it was enhancing Debian support as the number of customers wanting to run Debian was growing.
Mandrakesoft
Mandrakesoft, the French organisation, has recovered from its financial troubles of 2003, and is concentrating on the development of new and updated products. Mandrakesofts target markets include Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and large organisations. Mandrakesoft products are sold directly through its on-line store, as well as through a distributor network worldwide, and through Value Added Resellers (VARs), although it is strongest in its home French market. Mandrakesofts business model is founded on leveraging rapid worldwide development. It says that this makes Mandrakelinux the most international Linux distribution, which is available in more than 40 languages. Hundreds of independent developers all around the world are constantly contributing to and improving the product, code-named Cooker, and helping make it one of the most simple, complete, and powerful Linux solutions available. Mandrakesofts Mandrakelinux products provide a complete enterprise solution designed for ease of use with intuitive Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), and wizards for configuration to enable rapid deployment. Implementation is enabled by a point-and-click graphical installer, and easy-to-use wizards for configuring all the main features. Mandrakelinux Corporate Server 2.1, Multi Network Firewall, and Mandrakeclustering are currently offered, with Mandrakelinux Corporate Desktop to be released later in 2004 to complete the enterprise portfolio. New Mandrakelinux Corporate Server 3.0 is also to be released in September 2004 and will provide the latest Linux 2.6 kernel features and enhancements to the corporate environment. SMEs and larger organisations are targeted with the enterprise products, backed up with Personalised Solutions and Maintenance Programme (PSMP) to make it an organisation that is easy to do business with. Mandrakeclustering is supplied as a turnkey clustering environment, based on the Mandrakelinux Operating System (OS). It offers Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) drivers, several clustering messaging transit layers, graphical monitoring tools, parallelised tools, plus numerous mathematical libraries. Mandrakelinux provides a set of tools that allow easy remote updating of the system. It includes urpmi and Mandrakeupdate, package management utilities, and automatic security features that check the system integrity regularly. The company also offers additional services such as Mandrakeonline that warns system administrators of new security alerts and updates. It also offers a large choice of configuration utilities. Mandrakesoft S.A.s Mandrakelinux 10 PowerPack+ fits into the mainstream desktop and low-cost small business server role filling the void left by Red Hat. It is based on the Linux 2.6 kernel. As with SUSE LINUX 9.1, also based on the Linux 2.6 kernel, it provides a better out-of-the-box experience than Fedora Core. Mandrakelinux 10 runs on Pentium or better x86 machines and AMD-64. Through its concentration on ease of deployment and being a good business partner, Mandrakesoft is well positioned to consolidate its position in the enterprise Linux space. However, the company has only recently emerged from Chapter 11-type protection from bankruptcy, and is very much focused on the French market. Prospective customers will possibly question whether Mandrakesoft can successfully finance the expansion of its market coverage, and whether it can attract the ISVs that it needs to support such moves.
Novell SUSE LINUX

Butler Group believes that the acquisition of SUSE LINUX by Novell has had a significant effect on its market prospects. It can benefit from Novells geographical reach to grow from its primary European base, and from Novells global customer base and marketing visibility.
108
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Novells SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8 and SUSE LINUX Standard Server 8 provide enterprises with pre-configured, easy-to-administer applications that are stable and secure. These are a further development by Novell of its SUSE LINUX Server Family to provide professional deployments in heterogeneous IT environments of all sizes and sectors. The platform is optimised for stability and security, and integrates all server services relevant in Linux. The SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8 is suitable for small, medium, and large enterprises, and the SUSE LINUX Standard Server 8 is part of Novells efforts to provide cost effective Open Source solutions for SMEs and departments. Novell provides an extensive range of services supporting the SUSE LINUX server solutions. The SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8 (SLES8) is a leading, enterprise-ready, Open Source server OS for professional deployment in heterogeneous IT environments of all sizes and sectors, which also affords investment protection. Based on Linux and Open Source technology, Novell offers one single server OS with a uniform code base. Autobuild is a technological process developed by Novells SUSE LINUX business unit over four years ago. This is a development tool that ensures code and system consistency, and the ability to consistently reproduce the code across multiple platforms. The resultant customer benefits include consolidation into one universal platform, wide hardware choice, full compatibility, skill consolidation and therefore lower administration, and training and development costs. In the production environment, SUSE LINUX is able to compile SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server for many different hardware architectures directly from a single code base. It is available for all relevant hardware platforms, from 32-bit and 64-bit AMD/Intel processors up to the complete IBM eServer series including mainframes. The SUSE LINUX Standard Server is a more cost-effective solution for smaller organisations where the implementation scales up to a maximum of two CPUs only, as opposed to the Enterprise Server solution that can scale up to 32 processors for 32-bit platforms and 64 processors for 64-bit platforms. SUSE LINUX 9.1 fits into the mainstream desktop and low-cost small business server role. It is based on the Linux 2.6 kernel, featuring better software installation tools than either of Red Hats Linux distributions. Novells SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server family can be used as a flexible, reliable, and cost-effective IT infrastructure backbone in all sizes of organisation. With its new version of SUSE LINUX, based on the Linux Kernel 2.6 due out shortly, it will provide Novell with the opportunity to simultaneously release its new version on all platforms, demonstrating what it believes provides it with a competitive edge over other Linux distributions. Enhanced by a comprehensive ecosystem, Novell and its SUSE LINUX business is in a strong position to expand its influence in the Linux market.
Red Hat
The Red Hat Enterprise Linux family of operating systems provides Linux platforms for large organisations, SMEs, and technical workstation and High Performance Computing (HPC) requirements. These are backed up by the Red Hat Desktop that provides complementary technology and services. Red Hat also offers Red Hat Network, an enterprise systems management platform for the Linux infrastructure so that systems administrators have the tools to efficiently manage their networks. The contributions made by Red Hats partners are seen as important elements in providing the breadth of applications and services that are important for customers. Enterprises can have the confidence that through Red Hats training and professional services, backed up by its partners capabilities, efficient deployment can be successfully achieved. The products in Red Hats Enterprise family are: Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS that supports high-end and business-critical systems; Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES is aimed at small to mid-range systems; Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS is for all technical workstation and single unit desktop/client needs; and Red Hat Desktop, which is the newest member of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux family. Red Hat has graduated from provision of a Web server solution, via an application server solution and database server, to an enterprise architecture platform. Its performance features have been gradually upgraded to cater for graduation from desktop computing to Blade technology, and now to the data centre environment. It has been deployed in environments as diverse as embedded in a mobile device, mainframes, and x86, and Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) chips.
September 2004
109
www.butlergroup.com
The company is a leading supplier of Linux. It has an enviable history of endorsement by giants in the IT industry through partnerships, and a wide choice of services suppliers is available to customers. With the addition of Red Hat Desktop v.3 to its Enterprise family of products, it provides an open, secure, manageable, and consistent platform across architectures. Red Hats management tools, in the form of the companys Red Hat Network service, have had a few years to mature while serving as the management interface for Red Hats server products. With Red Hat Desktop, it is possible to handle some configuration tasks through a Red Hat Network module that lets administrators edit configuration files and push them to systems that they are managing. These configuration features require provisioning entitlements for each system to be managed. Red Hat Enterprise Linux will not be released with the full Linux 2.6 kernel until 2005. However, the companys Enterprise and Desktop family, built on a credible foundation, offers a strong combination that will persuade potential customers to seriously consider the move to a Linux platform.
Red Flag, MIRACLE LINUX, and Asianux

Red Flag Software Co., Ltd. (Red Flag Software) was co-founded by Software Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and NewMargin Venture Capital in June 2000, and acquired investment from CCID Capital Incorporated under the Ministry of Information Industry in March 2001. Its focus is on the development and promotion of Linux-based OSs and applications, and the provision of comprehensive IT solutions and professional technical support. The companys goal is to offer leading-edge technology and best services to its customers. It has strategic alliances with IBM, Intel, HP, Oracle, BEA, Lenovo, Founder, Langchao, Dawning, Tongfang, and TCL. It joins with its partners to promote Linux in the Chinese market. Red Flag Software has also built a complete nationwide customer service network, including over 100 training partners, Red Flag Certified Engineer Programme, sales channels, and ISV partners, to guarantee the availability of efficient customer support services. MIRACLE LINUX CORPORATION deals with development and sales of Linux OS, which is fine-tuned for Oracle, and the marketing of Oracles Linux Products, offering Linux-related support services such as consulting, education, and maintenance. Founded in June 2000, Oracle owns 58.5% of the company and NEC 14%. MIRACLE LINUX Standard Edition V2.1 is a server OS designed for the next-generation enterprise business environment. It is fully tested and supported by Oracle9i, and also includes clustering and a Journaling File System, to achieve high scalability and high availability. It also has graphical tools Install Navigator for Oracle, and Webmin for easy deployment and management. This simplifies the task of installing Oracle, and supports Oracle8i for Linux, Oracle9i Database for Linux, and Oracle9i Application Server. Webmin supplies system management and hardware management functions. Red Flag Software Co., Ltd. and MIRACLE LINUX CORPORATION announced in March 2004 the completion of the beta version of Asianux 1.0, the only standardised Linux operating environment developed specifically for businesses in Asia. Asianux is a Linux server OS aimed at creating a common-standard enterprise Linux platform for organisations in the Asia/Pacific region. It is intended to provide enterprise customers with high reliability, scalability, manageability, and better hardware and software compatibility. There is an Asianux certification partner programme, and 40 major ISVs and hardware vendors are having products certified on Asianux. Asianux certification will verify compatibility with both MIRACLE LINUX V3.0 and Red Flag DC4.1, which should result in reduced time and cost for certification, and enable partners to develop new products using Asianux. We believe that Asianux will become the leading Linux distribution in the Far East, riding particularly on the wave of take-up in China.
110
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Turbolinux
Turbolinux is a leading Linux software company, founded in 1992, which is committed to providing the latest in Linux-based solutions. Leading companies in the high technology world including BEA, HP, Dell, Fujitsu, Intel, NEC, Novell, NTT, and Toshiba backs it. The company has offices in Japan, China, and the United States, and it is well positioned to capitalise on the high growth of IT spending in China and it is helping the country transform its digital infrastructure. Turbolinux distributions are designed specifically for enterprise computing. Turbolinux 8 Server supports the Large File Support (LFS) standard for working with applications that manage or handle up to 4TB of data, which is a common requirement for infrastructures serving Fortune 500 and larger companies. Turbolinux Enterprise Server 8, powered by UnitedLinux, is a high quality business server platform integrating reliability, availability, and scalability features. At its core is UnitedLinux V.1.0, which provides a mission-critical system environment along with automated security and maintenance updates and is designed to be certified to support many commercial enterprise applications. Turbolinux says that it will continue to sell Turbolinux Enterprise Server 8 powered by UnitedLinux, and to provide maintenance updates and support to current and future customers throughout the lifecycle of version 1.0, up to December 2007. It is currently evaluating the succession of UnitedLinux in order to efficiently migrate to the next stage of enterprise-class products, and it says that it is working closely with its partners Conectiva and Novell to outline how the platform will evolve. Its Turbolinux 10 Desktop (10D) includes many enhancements and tools designed to make the migration from Windows to Linux easy and comfortable, and is also able to co-exist in Windows networks. The company says that it embraces the best of Open Source, industry standards, and commercial software with products that integrate into existing IT environments to leverage and protect an organisations computing investments. With the emergence of Asianux in its favoured markets of Japan and China, Turbolinux may well feel threatened over the next few years, although it may be that its already established base will enable it to retain a significant share of the market.
8.2 LINUX SERVICES

Fujitsu Services
Fujitsu Japan, the parent company of Fujitsu Services, has made a large investment in Linux, which should help its subsidiaries to maintain very strong positions with Open Source software into the future. The company regards Linux (technically) as another version of UNIX. Fujitsu Services in the UK has strength in depth in UNIX. It has several hundred technical staff that can develop and deploy UNIX solutions. With its current resources it has a much higher capability to deliver Linux solutions than its present customer demand. The company states that it monitors the demand continuously and has the capability to respond if the market requires it. Strategically, Fujitsu Services Chief Engineer, Dave Stewart, heads a unit, set up by Richard Christou, the (then Chief Executive) Chairman, to advise on Linux and Open Source, called the Linux Special Interest Group (Linux SIG). This co-ordinates Open Source related activity across the Business Units the people who own the customer relationships and sales, and the Capability Units the people who deliver the technology. Similar units exist in other parts of Fujitsus international business, such as Fujitsu Australia, and these units collaborate to develop best practice.
September 2004
111
www.butlergroup.com
The Linux SIG Unit has developed relationships with Novell and Red Hat to get closer to these key suppliers and indeed believes that Open Source suppliers will need to work more closely with major outsourcers such as Fujitsu Services, rather than the traditional hardware suppliers, as more and more technology decisions are taken by, or with, outsourcing partners.
HP
HP has an underlying concept of the Adaptive Enterprise. This is a vision of organisations that are using a standards-based technology infrastructure will be able to rapidly react to changes in the business environment. The vision includes exploiting the most appropriate combination of hardware and software to deliver a certified and tested solution whether the hardware is from HP or another vendor, and also whether the software is proprietary or Open Source. HPs intention is to provide business and IT managers with the reassurance that they can deploy an HP-delivered solution that is the most appropriate for their business needs, and that it can be supported in-depth from a single point. The company offers its range of Intel architecture products and services as Linux enabled. It has developed turnkey solutions with partners in target segments including database, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Mail and Messaging, High Performance, Technical, and Commercial computing, Internet infrastructure, and financial services. Its Linux strategy is central to its concept of the Adaptive Enterprise, giving business flexibility through the use of technologies that utilise open standards. Its strategy is to be both hardware and software agnostic, and to mix Open Source components with proprietary tools to offer a wide range of options for its customers. All HPs hardware products are tested to run Linux, and over 200 printer drivers are available. By its involvement with the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), and HPs partnerships with Red Hat and Novell SUSE, the company is seeking to give customers the confidence to install Linux for enterprise deployments. HP runs 4,500 Linux servers internally, and will offer its customers tested and certified end-to-end Linux-based solutions. Its indemnification programme offers enterprises a level of confidence about the SCO copyright issue, but it does require that HP supplies all components and services. Whilst HP believes that HP-UX will continue to be its dominant high-end offering, it sees Linux as presenting a major opportunity in the lower- to middle-market arena, positioning Linux-based solutions as cost-effective and viable alternatives to Microsoft Windows and low-end UNIX configurations. As organisations undertake technology refresh, and as hardware and OSs come to the end of their life, then Linux offers an alternative, which through open standards avoids future technology lock-in.
IBM
Apart from the Linux creator, Linus Torvalds, IBM is probably the biggest evangelist of Linux. It is core to the companys business strategy for hardware, software, and services, and Linux is fundamental to its concept of on demand computing. It is seen by many as the godparent of the Linux market, as it encouraged the development of two business-class distributions: Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, with the release cycles, support, and training that business customers expect. The penetration and profile of Linux and Open Source software would not be as great, and the development as fast, without the companys support, including the partnership with the likes of HP and Computer Associates (CA) in the OSDL. The creator, and notably trademark owner, of Linux, Linus Torvalds, is employed at OSDL. Linux is now at the centre of IBMs product offerings. It fits in with the computing on demand paradigm, and it also promises reduction in the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) through the consolidation of infrastructure and skills. The support for greater numbers of processors in the 2.6 kernel distributions will enable IBM to offer greater flexibility and power in the on demand model. It has undertaken aggressive recruitment programmes for customers and ISVs.
112
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
IBM has over 8,500 staff worldwide working on Linux development, research, services, and sales. Internally, it is currently running Linux on over 1,000 servers, including those supporting its Web site, ibm.com. It provides in excess of 275 software products from DB2, WebSphere, Lotus, Rational, and Tivoli lines that are currently available on Linux. In 2003, 17% of IBM mainframe sales were reportedly to handle Linux workloads, and the company estimates that 65% of its zSeries/S390 customers are in the process of implementing or evaluating Linux. Over 80 solutions have been announced by solution providers for Linux on IBM iSeries servers, and there are now more than 50,000 developers actively creating Linux-based applications that can run on the IBM xSeries Intel-based platform. In total, the developers have created more than 6,500 Linux-based applications for IBM software. In addition to all the IBM hardware that supports Linux, and all the software being migrated to the platform, with IBM Global Services, outsourcing, and consultancy services, the company can probably offer the widest range of products and services of any company in the Linux arena.
Novell
The acquisition strategy of Novell, incorporating Ximian and SUSE products and services within its range of offerings, can deliver immense benefits to the company. Novells aim is to provide services for Linux users, and to remove any inhibitors to the adoption of Linux systems by enterprises. It believes that the perceived lack of support available for Linux means that organisations are looking to a trusted partner that can supply the whole range of support and services. Novell has recognised the possible barriers that enterprises face when contemplating the adoption of Linux, and has designed its services and solutions to counter these objections. It aims to eliminate the risks associated with such a move, and this strategy should appeal to organisations considering Linux. When it completed its acquisition of SUSE LINUX, it brought together global technical support, consulting and training services, and industry-leading networking and security to Linux, and provided an attractive alternative for companies wishing to leverage the benefits of Open Source. SUSE LINUX became a product business unit within Novell with its sales and marketing handled by Novells existing geographic business units and SUSE LINUXs current sales and marketing staff. Novell has retained the strong SUSE LINUX brand. Novell has a major opportunity to integrate its product offerings such as its file, print, security, and directory applications into an expanding application server platform. Its growing range of services and solutions should ensure that Novell is well worth considering by organisations moving to a Linux platform, and its global experience and presence will appeal to organisations that require comprehensive service and support over diverse locations.
Oracle
Oracle first released products on Linux in 1998, adding to the proprietary UNIX and Microsoft Windows platforms. At that stage it recognised that the OS was not ready for the enterprise. The distributions were fragmented, with variable frequencies of release, and minimal backwards compatibility, all of which stopped it from being credible in a business environment. Oracle worked with both Red Hat and SUSE LINUX on the development of both additional functionality and, most importantly, the quality of support processes including a structured release plan. In 2002 the company, in conjunction with Red Hats Enterprise Linux, created the Unbreakable Linux concept and brand, offering a tightly integrated stack of OS and database, with a one stop shop for support and problems offered through Oracle staff, capable of providing fixes at code level if required. Oracle has since put all its offerings on the Linux platform. The company uses Linux as its internal development environment, and it is migrating all its company internal systems to Linux.
September 2004
113
www.butlergroup.com
As an early adopter, it has built a reference architecture with Dell and Red Hat, and the 10g database is well positioned to exploit the benefits of grid computing across Linux servers. Oracle can provide a one stop shop for the support of both its products and the Linux OS. It is the only ISV to provide code-level fixes to the Linux kernel if these are required. Oracles bundling of software, hardware, and OS, will provide a level of confidence that will be attractive to many organisations. Also, the opportunity to migrate applications from existing proprietary UNIX platforms to a relatively low-cost Intel based architecture will also appeal to many customers. Oracle committed has a solid track record of Linux deployments. As a result of the coupling of Oracle 10g with the grid computing paradigm, it is well placed to remain as a perceived leader in the Linux arena. The company says that there are more than 9,000 developers creating Oracle products on the Linux platform, and it intends to be the largest Linux-based development organisation in the world. The Linux Everywhere campaign continues the marketing strategy and reinforces the campaign for Unbreakable Linux, and these will play a key part in maintaining Oracles profile as a major supporter of the Linux platform. Its commitment to Linux has had a major impact upon raising awareness of the OS as a business-ready platform. Oracle is well placed to remain as a perceived leader in the arena of Linux products and services.
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems supplies educational, consulting, and integration support services for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server platforms. It is one of the largest contributors of intellectual property to the Open Source community and its involvement continues to expand. It provides one-stop Linux support by utilising the companys comprehensive global infrastructure. Organisations that seek an experienced global supplier to provide services and support, both centrally and locally, for their Linux platforms will view Sun as a capable partner. Recently, however, mixed messages have emanated from the company regarding Linux and one of its Linux partners, and potential customers may well require Sun to clarify its future strategy. On the face of it, Sun has apparently changed its attitude to Linux. The reason could be due to developments of Solaris UNIX products already announced and in the pipeline. However, Sun says that it is to release Solaris to the Open Source community, and only time will tell whether the company will continue its dual commitment to both UNIX and Linux. It offers its Linux services both directly and through its partners. It has key technology, distribution, and support agreements with Red Hat and Novell. However, the companys President, Jonathan Schwartz, recently said that Red Hat was a proprietary company, more so than Sun itself. Larry Singer, Senior Vice President, then followed this up by saying that the company thought Linux a huge movement that was good for the industry and that Linux made sense for some implementations. It also believed that a lot of people considered Red Hat for the wrong reasons. So Sun seems to have a split personality regarding Linux, and perhaps this is due to a conflict with new products for Solaris. Sun recently detailed plans to focus on Solaris, saying it is convinced that it can beat Linux on price and performance. It now recommends Solaris as the best choice for business-critical environments on SPARC, AMD Opteron, x86, and potentially Itanium and Power chips. In IT industry terms, Sun Microsystems has a relatively long history with solid experience that can be leveraged in its services and support for Linux. It also deploys powerful methodologies to deliver its services. The company also offers managed services to counter gaps in the customers in-house resources. With partnerships in place with Red Hat and Novell, the company should be attractive as a partner to any enterprise that is starting out in its use of Linux in the enterprise. However, its recent announcements may well deter prospective Linux customers.
114
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
SECTION 9: Technology Audits
www.butlergroup.com
COMPUTER ASSOCIATES: Linux Solutions
www.butlergroup.com
Computer Associates Linux Solutions

Abstract
CA provides a number of solutions that assist with the acceptance, deployment, and administration of Linux. This includes the integration with existing management solutions, and the provision of a unified user-interface for multiple platforms. It is important that Linux does not become another technology island and is fully integrated with the existing IT infrastructure. The main challenge is not so much the deployment of Linux, but the ability of organisations to successfully incorporate and manage Linux within the context of the whole IT infrastructure. CA provides a comprehensive range of solutions to assist with this issue, and to enable the benefits of Linux to be exploited. Existing CA management tool users are in a good position to make the most of the Linux-based solutions, as there are no new overheads, except for the new agents, or training requirements.
KEY FINDINGS
Active participant in the open source community. Ingres database released into open source. Comprehensive suite of Linux management solutions. Contributes to Linux code base.
Key:
Product Strength
Product Weakness
Point of Information
LOOK AHEAD
The new features of the 2.6 kernel including provisioning and performance enhancements are to be exploited, and more products will contain dynamic provisioning of resources.
FUNCTIONALITY
Solution Analysis
Linux is now a viable alternative for most businesses. Doing more with fewer resources through infrastructure optimisation and using on-demand computing are becoming the central focus for many IT managers. Linux offers the potential to consolidate platforms through its ability to run on numerous hardware platforms and has proven qualities in areas such as resilience and scalability. Horizontal and vertical scalability are possible when using Linux. Vertical scalability allows solutions and applications to run on platforms that offer a better performance, such as moving from a low-end Intel server to a high-end RISC based platform, or even a mainframe. Horizontal scalability enables the addition of processing power to an existing environment, such as blades running with virtualisation and provisioning. CAs product suite on Linux supports both types of scalability. The solutions can be moved from Intel, to mainframe seamlessly. The management tools are able to discover and administer both approaches.
September 2004
Section 9: Computer Associates Linux Solutions
119
www.butlergroup.com
Organisations must guard against Linux becoming another technology silo. It is important that Linux is fully integrated with the existing IT infrastructure. Enabling this visibility ensures that Linux resources can be fully utilised by the whole enterprise. The challenge is not so much with Linux itself, but to a certain extent the ability of organisations to successfully incorporate and manage Linux within the whole systems environment.
Organisations must guard against Linux becoming another technology silo.

A major portion of IT spending remains in the areas of training, implementation, and integration. The costs can be better controlled by using solutions that enable enterprises to mix and match Operating Systems (OSs), while still maintaining existing policies and the expertise of IT staff. This is particularly pertinent when companies start implementing Linux. The price of implementation, training, and integration will be significantly increased if Linux systems are managed using a new set of solutions. Using existing tools, the adoption of a modular approach can be achieved by installing one or more agents on the Linux platform. The new environment can be immediately part of the Enterprise Management environment, including Service Level Agreement (SLA) reporting.
CA has taken a leading role in the Linux community to foster greater understanding.
It is essential that vendors have a thorough understanding of the operating systems that their products utilise, and Linux is no exception. CA has taken a leading role in the Linux community to foster greater understanding. The company is a member of the kernel.org committee and a founder member of Open Source Development Labs (OSDL). Other memberships of key organisations include the Embedded Linux Consortium, the Open Group, and EMBLIX. CA also actively contributes to the Linux code base and uses Linux itself for a number of enterprise systems.
Solution Operation
CA offers a suite of solutions that allow companies to ease the acceptance, deployment, and administration of Linux. This includes the integration with existing management solutions, and a unified user-interface providing visibility across platforms. The suite offers products in four different areas: 1. Enterprise Management. 2. Storage and Resource Management. 3. Security Management. 4. Data Management.
120
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Workstations
Servers
Applications
Internet
Database
Enterprise Management Security Data Transport Embedded PDAs
Storage Scheduling and... Intel zSeries
Figure 1: CAs Integrated Solutions for Linux All the solutions use a common set of routines known as CA Common Services to enable platform communication and integration at the highest, as well as the lowest levels. Available management software for Linux includes: Enterprise Management Solutions for Linux enables the incorporation of Linux infrastructure with the existing environment. Regardless of whether the plan is to continue to utilise different operating systems in the IT environment or rationalise on Linux, CAs solutions enable support and maintenance using one centralised management function. Security Solutions for Linux assists administrators to protect Linux-based systems using policy-based control, user access, identity management, and anti-virus software. Storage Solutions for Linux for both distributed and mainframe Linux environments providing data availability and integrity. The solutions also facilitate the management of storage resources over multiple heterogeneous platforms. Life Cycle and Data Management Solutions for Linux enables enterprises to share, access, process, and manage information and applications in Linux environments. S/390 and zSeries Solutions for Linux enables the mainframe to operate many Linux images using z/VM or VM/ESA, and integrate Linux with mainframe data and applications.
Solution Emphasis
The Linux@CA philosophy encompasses discovering, managing, integrating, and securing Linux in the enterprise.
September 2004
121
www.butlergroup.com
DEPLOYMENT
The Linux@CA solutions suite contains a range of products, with every solution needing some specific product knowledge to install and implement. CA makes the out-of-the-box experience as seamless as possible. Each installation procedure can be accomplished with limited platform expertise. Specific proficiency is necessary to integrate the various products. In most cases this will be a mix of architectural and operational knowledge. Experts can be CA Services staff, external consultants, internal staff, or a combination of these. The average time of implementation varies by solution. Unicenter NSM typically takes six to twelve months to be fully implemented, whilst eTrust Admin can be implemented in a matter of weeks. It has always been CAs strategy to allow customers to utilise a heterogeneous environment without having to re-learn products, product features, or the need to go through major policy changes for each different OS. Since most Linux implementations are deployed in existing environments, where a mix of platforms will already be present, the only new overhead is additional agent reporting for the existing management server. If the administration part of the software is to be moved to a Linux server then consequently the resource overhead will be higher. In most cases this means running the data store, the management software that listens to and manages the agents, and the reporting component.
It is CAs experience that Linux is a very good platform on which to run management software because the OS scales well and has a better CPU utilisation than some of the other platforms available.
It is CAs experience that Linux is a very good platform on which to run management software because the OS scales well and has a better CPU utilisation than some of the other platforms available. The majority of customers provide and are responsible for the resources on which to run CAs software. CA has good relationships with managed service providers running CA management software, with customers able to utilise these services running low-impact agents on their systems that are monitored by the outsourcer. CA provides classroom product training, either on-site or externally at CA premises, for the various levels of expertise, including architects, operational staff, and service-desk staff. Due to the nature of these solutions, CA recommends frequent updates and hands-on training, and the use of one-day update sessions in the case of new releases. CA supports all solutions 24 hours a day by telephone, as well as giving customers access to on-line help systems. CAs Linux solutions are available for the Linux distributions of RedHat, Novell/SUSE LINUX, Red Flag, and TurboLinux, and on all platforms including Intel, and mainframe. Other distributions, such as Debian, Conectiva and Mandrake, are supported upon request. Most CA solutions require a data store. Customers can choose between CAs Ingres, which is bundled and free, Microsoft SQL Server, or in some cases Oracle. All of the products in the suite can be installed separately and have no dependencies with other CA software. However, when multiple products are installed they will integrate on the data and user-interface level to allow centralised administration.
122
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Legacy integration is one of the most important product features of CAs solutions. The different product suites all support interoperability where needed or appropriate. Again, nothing needs to change, everything remains in place, and additional components, either agents or managers are installed.
Legacy integration is one of the most important product features of CAs solutions.
Standard and optional elements for each solution area are: Unicenter standard: The Unicenter Management applications with all functionality needed to discover, display, and instrument various agents. This module includes various system agents to monitor all types of servers (Linux, Windows, UNIX, and Novell). The manager software also includes portal technology to set up role-based management consoles. Unicenter optional: The various agents required for managing and monitoring databases, assets, network performance, groupware like Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes, software distribution, and job scheduling. BrightStor standard: The BrightStor Manager applications with all functionality needed to discover, display, and instrument various agents. This module includes the software to back-up the management server. The manager software also includes portal technology to set up role-based storage management consoles, including the ability to use and monitor other third-party solutions. BrightStor optional: Various agents that back-up/restore hardware platforms (Linux, Novell, Windows, and UNIX), databases (Oracle, Ingres, MySQL, and SQL Server), Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes, Open File Agents, and options to support various storage technologies (RAID, NAS, SAN, and Tape Libraries). eTrust standard: The eTrust Manager applications with all functionality needed to discover, display, and instrument various agents. The manager software also includes portal technology to set up role-based security management consoles, including the ability to utilise other third-party solutions and an audit function for cross platform security monitoring. eTrust optional: Various agents that perform Authentication/Authorisation and Administration functions on various hardware and software platforms such as Linux, Novell, Windows, UNIX and Mainframe. Databases including Oracle and Microsoft SQLServer, Exchange, Lotus Notes, applications such as SAP and PeopleSoft, and interfaces to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) stores. The majority of CAs Enterprise Management products have fail-over facilities. In most cases this is done by continuously replicating data to a failover server by using the CA Common Services Datastore. The solutions that support this are Unicenter NSM and Autosys, eTrust Access-Control, Admin and Single Sign-on, AllFusion Harvest, and BrightStor Backup.
PRODUCT STRATEGY
The market opportunity for Linux Solutions presents itself most convincingly at existing CA customers, where the ability to do the same with the current solutions on a new platform is compelling, also where businesses require warrantees and liability from the companies they buy their software from. If an application fails enterprises require someone to be accountable. Another opening is the provision of a combined Open Source platform and commercial software wrapped and sold as one bundle, with guaranteed support from the Independent Software Vendor (ISV).
September 2004
123
www.butlergroup.com
CA has no specific target market for Linux Solutions, considering that the need for management software is universal. At the moment, CA is targeting Linux Solutions at its existing customers, the majority being the Fortune 5000 worldwide. However, CA sees potential growth in the Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) market for storage and security solutions, especially organisations with 100 to 2000 workstations, and more than five servers. Return On Investment (ROI) differs from solution to solution; even within specific areas the various products have different ROIs. eTrust Admin for security administration can have a short ROI, four to six weeks, when a new platform is installed and all user-accounts can be migrated with one click of a button. Unicenter ServicePlus ServiceDesk typically needs longer to implement and will take anywhere from 8 to 24 months before ROI is achieved. CAs route to market is different for each solution area. eTrust and BrightStor are only sold through partners and channels. Unicenter and AllFusion solutions are sold directly, as well as through partners. Service companies, such as CSC, EDS, Fujitsu, Atos Origin, and IBM, support all of the management solutions. CA has partnerships with Red Hat, Novell/SUSE LINUX, TurboLinux, Red Flag, and other distributions. CA also works with companies such as Oracle, IBM, HP, Dell, Sun, and Intel to ensure product releases are coordinated for joint development and testing, and agreements on new standards. All major Linux distributions will be supported shortly after they are released. New features of the 2.6 kernel will be exploited before the end of 2004, including provisioning and performance enhancements. More products will contain dynamic provisioning of resources in 2005, including eTrust and Unicenter. The OSDL has accepted CA technology, known as Kernel Generalised Event Management (KGEM), which will be included in future Linux kernel builds. This enables the intercept of more system events without the need to rebuild the kernel for every specific product. CA has adopted a new licensing model for the release of Ingres into the open source community. A major alliance between CA and JBOSS will combine and integrate technologies and release an integrated open source platform for Java. CA is also collaborating closely with open source content management communities Zope and Plone.
COMPANY PROFILE
Computer Associates International, Inc. (NYSE:CA), positions itself as the worlds largest management software company. It delivers software and services across operations, security, storage, life cycle, and service management to help organisations optimise the performance, reliability, and efficiency of their enterprise IT environments. Founded in 1976, CA is headquartered in Islandia, N.Y., has 15,000+ employees, operates in more than 100 countries, and has achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification. Revenues and operating income for the last three fiscal years (ending 31 March) were as follows: 2004 (US$ million) 3,276 8.23% 25 2003 (US$ million) 3,027 4.89% (267) 2002 (US$ million) 2,886 (38.10%) (1,102)
Revenue Change on previous year Total Net Income/(Loss)
124
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
CA has a stated policy to enhance and protect its clients IT investments by integrating a wide range of systems in heterogeneous environments. To maintain this stance it has a wide range of partnerships with technology vendors, systems integrators, and IT consultancies. Key alliance partners include: Microsoft. HP. SAP AG. BearingPoint Inc. Intel. Oracle. PeopleSoft. Ernst & Young LLP.
CA counts 95% of the Fortune 500 amongst its customers.
SUMMARY
For many reasons the trend is for Linux to become more prevalent in the enterprise IT environment. It is important that Linux is able to be treated in the same way as existing OSs found in the infrastructure, enabling the benefits of Linux to be exploited through easy integration and administration. CAs active involvement with the Linux community and provision of management software ensures that this is made possible.
CONTACT DETAILS
US Headquarters Computer Associates International Inc. One Computer Associates Plaza Islandia New York 11749 USA Tel: +1 631 342-6000 Fax: +1 631 342-6800 www.ca.com UK Headquarters Computer Associates Plc Ditton Park Riding Court Road Datchet, Slough Berkshire, SL3 9LL UK Tel: +44 (0)1753 577733 Fax: +44 (0)1753 825464
September 2004
125
www.butlergroup.com
DEBIAN: Debian GNU/Linux 3.0
www.butlergroup.com
Debian Debian GNU/Linux 3.0

Abstract
Debian GNU/Linux was developed openly in the spirit of Linux and GNU, and it is a stable and complete Linux distribution. Debian began with a small, tightly knit group of Free Software hackers, and gradually grew to become a large, well-organised community of developers and users. Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 offers an alternative to organisations that wish to use and develop their own Linux skills, and avoids the costs of the major distributions of enterprise Linux. Debians Advanced Packaging Tool (APT) enables administrators to install and update software easily, and has a user-friendly client that allows browsing through available software and also through applications installed on an organisations platforms.
KEY FINDINGS
Debian GNU/Linux has stability through its use of a mature release of the Linux kernel. Upcoming releases by Debian are available in test formats. Range of consultants and some companies, such as, HP provide support. Key: Product Strength Product Weakness APT provides a strong software installation and update system. Other Linux distributions are based on Debian. Minimal independent vendor certifications.
LOOK AHEAD
The Debian GNU/Linux distribution has been growing fast among Linux Web servers over the past year. However, it has a low profile when compared to its major competitors, as it does not have the same level of hardware and software vendor certifications. The development of the UserLinux project, building a free enterprise-stable Linux distribution is key to future growth.
FUNCTIONALITY
In principle, if users chose to do so they could obtain the Linux kernel via the Internet or from elsewhere, and compile it themselves. They could then obtain source code for applications in the same way, compile the programs, and then install them on their systems. This process can be time-consuming and error-prone, and to avoid these problems, users often choose to obtain the operating system and the application packages from one of the Linux distributors. The various Linux distributors are distinguished, one from another, by the software, protocols, and practices that they use for packaging, installing, and tracking applications packages on users systems, combined with installation and maintenance tools, documentation, and other services. Debian GNU/Linux was the result of a volunteer effort to create a free, high-quality UNIX-compatible operating system, complete with a suite of applications. The idea of a free UNIX-like system originates from the GNU project, and many of the applications that make Debian GNU/Linux so attractive were developed by the GNU project. Free software means that users have the freedom to distribute copies of software, receive source code, can change the software, or use pieces of it in new free programs.
September 2004
Section 9: Debian Debian GNU/Linux 3.0
129
www.butlergroup.com
Debian is a one-size-fits-all GNU/Linux software distribution. It has been designed from the ground up to be applicable to entire ranges of computing needs. These include the 128-way supercomputer right down to the consumer PDA. The Debian distribution comprises approximately 10,000 separate components, which can be added or removed as required by the user. The dependencies between components are tracked and satisfied automatically. Debians users deploy it in servers, clients, PDAs, embedded applications, and in many other situations that the Debian organisation is not aware of. Debian GNU/Linux is a different type of Linux distribution. Unlike other distributions of Linux, it is not developed by one isolated individual or group. Debian is developed openly in the spirit of Linux and GNU, and the primary purpose of the Debian project is to create a distribution that lives up to the Linux name. The project says that Debian is carefully and conscientiously put together and will be maintained and supported with similar care. It is an attempt to create a non-commercial distribution that can effectively compete in the commercial market. Debian GNU/Linux is a particular distribution of the Linux operating system, and numerous packages that run on it.
Debian is developed openly in the spirit of Linux and GNU, and the primary purpose of the Debian project is to create a distribution that lives up to the Linux name.
As a GNU/Linux distribution, Debian says that its strengths are not in the software itself as almost every GNU/Linux distribution has the same pool of software to draw upon. Its strength is drawn from the organisation behind the distribution, and also how the software is presented to the end-user. Its primary attraction to many end-users is the community and organisation behind it. The Debian Project is composed of about a thousand worldwide developers, each of whom take responsibility for some discrete portion of the distribution. Surrounding these developers is a community of thousands of end-users who provide support to each other. It is an open system, and any user can participate and contribute to furthering Debian and its goals. The most active of these users can become Debian developers. Debian claims that on the software integration front, its package management system is considered extremely strong, due to the extremely high quality of the packages themselves. Its packages undergo routine audits and quality assurance procedures, and most Debian developers maintain only a few packages so that they are able to concentrate their efforts. As a result, Debian has a large pre-packaged software archive with over 10,000 software projects packaged and available to users. It also says that it supports the widest variety of hardware of any GNU/Linux distribution, with official support for eleven hardware architectures. It says that end-users can be confident that if they can buy a general-purpose computer Debian can be installed on it. As it is a generalised solution, Debian users are responsible for the performance and scalability of solutions, which are mainly in the realm of the Linux kernel. It provides a number of various high-availability technologies, from which the end-user can choose. The most common high-availability technologies used by Debian end-users are Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol Daemon (VRRPD), heartbeat that is part of the High-Availability Linux project, and the Linux Virtual Server project (ipvs). For manageability and usability, Debian offers a number of solutions to meet end-user needs. As it is a GNU/Linux distribution, the method for management is the extremely flexible and reliable shell interface, typically accessed through the Secure Shell protocol. The system shell is a tried and tested proven management interface.
130
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
For security, Debian provides integrated firewall capabilities using iptables, intrusion detection via samhain and snort, and confidentiality support via grsecurity, SELinux, and LIDS. Debian says that these are above and beyond the standard requirements for Linux security.
For manageability and usability, Debian offers a number of solutions to meet end-user needs.
Debian currently includes more than 8250 software packages, and users can select which packages to install with a tool supplied for this purpose. A list and descriptions of the software packages are available at any of the Debian mirror sites. There is no consortium membership or payment required to participate in its distribution and development. All the software packages that are formally part of Debian GNU/Linux are free to redistribute, usually under terms specified by the GNU General Public License. The Debian FTP archives also include approximately 350 software packages, which are distributable under specific terms included with each package. Although Debian GNU/Linux itself is free software, it is a base upon which value-added Linux distributions can be built. Debian says that by providing a reliable, full-featured base system, it provides Linux users with increased compatibility, and allows Linux distribution creators to eliminate duplication of effort and focus on the things that make their distribution special. Debian says that it is the only distribution that is open for every developer and user to contribute his or her work. It is the only significant distributor of Linux that is not a commercial entity. It is the only large project with a constitution, social contract, and policy documents to organise the project. Debian is also the only distribution which is micro packaged using detailed dependency information regarding inter-package relationships to ensure system consistency across upgrades. Like most Linux distributions, Debian GNU/Linux provides: The major GNU applications for software development, file manipulation, and text processing, including gcc, g++, make, texinfo, Emacs, the Bash shell, and numerous upgraded UNIX utilities. Perl, Python, Tcl/Tk, and various related programs, modules and libraries for each of them. TeX (LaTeX) and Lyx, dvips, and Ghostscript. The X Window System, which provides a networked graphical user interface for Linux, and countless X applications including GNOME. A full suite of networking applications, including servers for Internet protocols such as HTTP (WWW), FTP, NNTP (news), SMTP and POP (mail) and name server; also provided are Web browsers and development tools. More than 8000 packages, ranging from news servers and readers to sound support, FAX programs, database and spreadsheet programs, image processing programs, communications, net, and mail utilities, Web servers, and even ham-radio programs are included in the distribution. The Debian GNU/Linux distribution has a bug tracking system that details bugs reported by users and developers. Due to the geographical dispersion of Debian developers, sophisticated tools and quick communication of bugs and bug fixes were required to accelerate the development of the system. Each bug is allocated a number, and is kept on file until it is recorded as having been dealt with. Debian provides bug-tracking system Web pages.
September 2004
131
www.butlergroup.com
DEPLOYMENT
Skilled Debian administrators are required for the deployment of Debian. It runs on virtually every mainstream hardware architecture so no special hardware is required. The number of skilled Debian administrators required for a rollout of, or migration to Debian, depends very much on the needs of the end-user. Debian GNU/Linux is highly scalable in terms of administrative overhead, and a single Debian administrator can easily roll out a thousand servers and workstations in a month with the aid of some unskilled labour. On the other hand, if the end-user has extensive custom software applications which must be ported to Debian, the burden can quickly expand dependent on the previous platform used. A single Debian server installation is typically completed within 20 to 30 minutes. Using standard GNU/Linux tools, a full-scale rollout to a thousand pre-existing workstations can take as little as an hour or two if they are all identical. Debian does not offer paid support solutions for end-users, and they are expected to hire appropriately skilled administrators to care for their IT infrastructure. Many end-users approach Debian for recommendations of suitable administrators, and Debian believes that the business case for using skilled in-house support is compelling.
Debian does not offer paid support solutions for end-users, and they are expected to hire appropriately skilled administrators to care for their IT infrastructure.
Debian says that training is best provided by skilled Debian administrators, and the requirements will depend on the experience of the end-users support staff. Debian is a GNU/Linux distribution, and much of the knowledge applicable to one GNU/Linux distribution is portable to another. Ongoing technical support is provided by the end-user, although a large Debian community can often augment or entirely replace internal support requirements in the case of a small installed base. Hardware must be purchased separately from a third party, and there are many hardware vendors who provide hardware that is Debian-compatible. Debian is a community-developed GNU/Linux distribution. All parts of the distribution are both standard and optional, and the purchase price on all components is zero Debian is a free GNU/Linux distribution. Debian GNU/Linux 3 is available in the following architectures: IA-64 S/390 Alpha ARM HP PA-RISC Intel i386 Sun SPARC MIPS (DEC) MIPS Motorola 68000 series PowerPC
PRODUCT STRATEGY
Debian regards its market as organisations that require general-purpose computer software. These organisations can be small to large in size. Debian sees its major market opportunity as the increasing awareness of the extremely high cost of using external resources. Whether these external resources are providing software or support services, Debian asserts that the costs are almost invariably an order of magnitude higher than what an organisation can provide for themselves when it uses the free Debian GNU/Linux distribution.
132
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Debian is provided directly to end-users as well as sold through a number of channel partners. It sees its key competitors as Red Hat, SUSE, and Microsoft. Debian says that a single skilled Debian administrator can generally manage 30 servers and 500 workstations. Debian is evolving rapidly. The organisation provides two major release schedule options from which end-users can choose, both stable and Sid release cycles. The stable release cycle is slow, and upgrades only occur approximately every year or two. The Sid release cycle provides updates on a daily basis, but the administrator can choose whether or not to apply those updates. Some administrators choose to update every six months, others every other week, and others every day.
Debian will continue to integrate features provided by the larger Free Software/Open Source communities, as they are made available.
Debian will continue to integrate features provided by the larger Free Software/Open Source communities, as they are made available. It sees the main threats to its market share as poor education, and misleading marketing material from its competition.
COMPANY PROFILE
Debian is a community of developers who create the distribution. Debians legal umbrella, Software in the Public Interest, a not-for-profit corporation is incorporated in New York, United States. Debian began in 1993 when Ian Murdock wished to create a binary-based distribution for GNU/Linux. Prior to this, end-users had been responsible for downloading and compiling the source code to Free Software/Open Source Software manually. Throughout the 1990s, Debian grew in both size and complexity, and made eight releases. It continues to grow and provide end-users with an alternative to high licensing and support costs. There are approximately 1,000 Debian developers, and up to 10,000 end-users who actively participate in the community. Debian is concentrated most heavily in the United States, Europe, Australia, and Brazil. Most Debian developers can be classed as in the R&D category, although approximately 3-4% also serve duty as administrators. Debian developers are also responsible for supporting the packages that they maintain, and Debian end-users that are active in the community often serve sales and marketing functions, as well as providing support to other end-users. Debian expects to gain an additional 50 Debian developers within the next 12 months. Debian has end-users in educational, commercial, and government organisations. While Debian does not have numbers of its users available, it believes that these can be in the millions. Debian has had several leaders since its beginnings in 1993. Following Ian Murdock, Bruce Perens led Debian from April 1996 until December 1997, Ian Jackson followed from January 1998 until December 1998, Wichert Akkerman from January 1999 until March 2001, Ben Collins from April 2001 until April 2002, Bdale Garbee from April 2002 until April 2003, and Martin Michlmayr was elected in Mach 2003 and currently leads Debian.
September 2004
133
www.butlergroup.com
SUMMARY
The Debian Project is a non-commercial operation. The development of Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 was founded on volunteer effort to create a free, high quality operating system, complete with a suite of applications. It is a one-size-fits-all software distribution that has been designed to be applicable to the entire range of computing needs. We believe that organisations that use Debian will need to have more in-house skills than those needed to deploy its main competitor distributions, as currently support is provided by the Debian developers dispersed throughout the world. To improve its competitiveness, Debian is developing UserLinux, aimed at building a free, enterprise-stable Linux distribution that will include certifications, service, and support options. This will be eagerly awaited by organisations considering the move to enterprise-class Linux.
CONTACT DETAILS
Software in the Public Interest, Inc. P.O. Box 502761 Indianapolis IN 46250-7761 USA www.debian.org
134
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
HP: Linux Services and Support
www.butlergroup.com
HP Linux Services and Support

Abstract
HPs Linux strategy is central to the concept of the Adaptive Enterprise, giving business flexibility through the use of technologies that utilise open standards. Its strategy is to be both hardware and software agnostic, and to mix Open Source components with proprietary tools to offer a wide range of options for its customers. All HP hardware is tested to run Linux, and over 200 printer drivers are available. Through its involvement with the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), and partnerships with both Red Hat and SUSE, HP is seeking to give customers the confidence to install Linux for enterprise deployments. It runs over 5,000 Linux servers internally, and offers its customers tested and certified end-to-end Linux-based solutions. The much publicised indemnification programme should offer businesses a level of confidence about the SCO copyright issue, but it does require that all component, and services be from HP. Butler Group believes that HP is a notably strong visionary and advocate for Linux, and Open Source in general.
KEY FINDINGS
All HP hardware supports Linux. HP will offer tested, and certified end-to-end Linux-based solutions. Indemnification requires all components, and support to be sourced through HP. Key: Product Strength Product Weakness Vendor hardware, and software agnostic services. 200 printer drivers available. Proven reference architecture, with multi-vendor Linux solutions stack. Point of Information
LOOK AHEAD
The strength of HPs position is that it is agnostic of hardware, and software. Whilst its proprietary HP-UX will still dominate its high-end business deployments, Linux will increasingly take the lower and middle layers. HPs respected Services function, and management tools, can capitalise on this.
FUNCTIONALITY
HP has an underlying concept of the Adaptive Enterprise the vision of organisations that are using a standards-based technology infrastructure to be able to rapidly react to changes in the business environment. This vision includes exploiting the most appropriate combination of hardware and software to deliver a certified and tested solution, whether the hardware is from HP, or another vendor, and whether the software is proprietary or Open Source. HP wishes to give business and IT managers the reassurance that they can deploy an HP delivered solution, with the confidence that it is the most appropriate for their business need, and that it can be supported in-depth from a single point.
September 2004
Section 9: HP Linux Services and Support
137
www.butlergroup.com
HP has four pillars that underpin its Linux strategy: 1. Breadth of Hardware Platforms All servers, desktops, and PDAs will run Linux, and there are drivers available for the full range of HP printers. Linux can be downloaded to an HP iPAQ if required. HP staff will provide up to third-level support on all devices, across the major Linux distributions, including Red Hat and SUSE. 2. Deploy with Confidence This is HPs response to the concerns raised by business users regarding the business readiness of the Linux platform, and its supporting services. HP has recognised the wide concern expressed by the business community by the action of SCO Group stating that Linux was its copyright. In response, HP has created an indemnification programme for those organisations purchasing hardware, software, and support from HP. If such organisations are sued by SCO Group, then HP, under the programme, will support the case with a legal team. HP uses itself to demonstrate confidence in Linux. It uses Linux internally running on over 5,000 servers throughout the organisation worldwide, and all e-mail for HP is delivered by Linux-based servers. The company also cites its close relationship with the wider Linux Community, and is a major supporter of the Open Systems Development Labs (OSDL). 3. End-to-End Solutions HP offers a complete solution of certified and tested, hardware and software. HP re-sells the operating system, whether Red Hat or SUSE, and provides both first and second level support, only escalating third level calls to Red Hat or SUSE as required. HP uses a series of tools for rapid deployment, including its complementary system management tool, HP Systems Insight Manager, which runs natively on Linux, and HP OpenView. Because HPs Adaptive Management platform addresses multiple platforms, data centre staff can use the same tools to manage the Linux infrastructure as they do for Microsoft Windows or other environments. 4. Deliver Best Return On Investment (ROI) HP believes that through the freedom, and flexibility offered by its industry-standard hardware, as well as its software agnostic approach, that its customers get solutions that are a better fit to their business needs, and thus derive greater value. HP has partnered with major Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) including BEA, SAP, Oracle, along with content providers such as Reuters and Bloomberg, with whom it tests all new releases and tweaks performance as required. HP has also partnered with Open Source software providers MySQL and JBOS, and includes their offerings in the HP Linux Reference Architectures. The HP Linux Reference Architectures cover: Hardware. Linux distribution. Management Features. High availability functionality. Workload specific software. HP tests the complete solution stack, and offers advice on the components to be used within the stack for a specific business, but always leaves the choice to the customer. Once installed, HP Services provides a suite of consulting and integration, customer support, and services for the complete solutions stack.
138
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
HP Services, Customer Support, Consulting & Integration
Partners
Workload-specific Workload-specific Software Software Workload-specific Solution Application Software
Apache/ Tomcat
OpenLDAP
Jabber XML
Ping Identity Management
Value-add/ Completers
Management Tools Availability Tools Backup Tools
HP OpenView & Systems Insight Manager HP Serviceguard Veritas Netbackup
Foundation
System Software
Agents Drivers Kernel Features
Distribution Hardware Platform HP ProLiant/HP Integrity Servers StorageWorks
Figure 1: HP Linux Reference Architecture In HPs opinion, Linux deployments can now confidently span the enterprise. From the original deployments at the network edge and the associated infrastructure such as: proxy servers, caching, Firewalls, directories, Web servers, and e-mail, the operating system has developed and matured to offer a platform for demonstrable business applications such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Supply Chain Management (SCM). The development of the 2.6 Kernel and its support for 16 CPUs, HP believes, now provides a scalable and robust environment upon which to run database and Content Servers.
HP Services
HPs Services division can provide a complete range of assistance and support for organisations deploying or migrating to Linux: Architecting Designing, and implementing the solution, based upon the HP Linux Reference Architectures. Consulting Providing advice and support on: Clustering. E-mail services. Web services. Project Management Offering a single point of accountability. Migration Supporting customers throughout the process.
September 2004
139
www.butlergroup.com
Deployment Providing: Integration services. On-site installation. Data Centre Services. Training Through an extensive portfolio of classes and delivery methods. Support Including: Mission Critical Support. Proactive planning and assistance. Reactive hardware and software support. HPs Services division are also notable for the fact that they can be contracted to support any Linux installation, irrespective of whether any HP hardware or software is involved.
DEPLOYMENT
As previously discussed, all HP hardware platforms including the iPAQ have been tested with and support Linux. This includes HPs high-end Integrity Servers with Linux shipping on Integrity Superdome. Linux support is also available across HPs StorageWorks portfolio. The StorageWorks Scalable File System can utilise the Lustre Open Source protocol to provide 100 times the bandwidth for Linux clusters. Linux drivers are available for over 200 HP printers, and Linux environments can be deployed and managed using HP Systems Insight Manager and HP OpenView.
Deployment Example
Fiat is the largest industrial group in Italy and is based in Turin. It operates in more than 120 countries, and has produced more than 85 million cars and light vehicles since its start in 1899. The company recognised that with the era of global competition, and particularly the large single market within Europe, it was facing multiple challenges: 1. Its competitors were increasingly pushing the vehicle market to a commodity style environment. 2. Fiat had a costly distribution infrastructure. 3. There were many inefficiencies, and thus cost overheads, in its channel. 4. Fiat wished to differentiate itself for service as well as its cars. HP Services consultants worked with Fiat Auto to develop the Fiat Link Infrastructure to streamline the distribution, and to enhance Fiats CRM system. During the engagement, HP provided services that included: Systems integration. Planning and design of a three-tiered architecture. Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) consulting. Implementation, testing, and installation.
140
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
The resultant three-tiered Fiat Link infrastructure deployed by HP for Fiat composes of: Oracle9i Real Application Clusters and Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS operating system on clustered configuration of HP Integrity rx5670 (2) and rx2600 (2) servers, each equipped with dual Intel Itanium 2 processors, and an HP StorageWorks Virtual Array 7410 system configured into Fibre Channel SAN (RAID 5) with one-terabyte capacity. Oracle9i Application Server software on HP ProLiant DL380 servers, each equipped with Intel Xeon processors running Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 2.1. Apache Web Server software on HP ProLiant ML370 servers, each equipped with Intel Xeon processors, also running Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 2.1. The Apache-driven front end provides Fiat retailers with Wi-Fi access to Fiat Link through HP Tablet PC TC1100 systems running Web browser software. The reported results, and benefits of the deployment include: The dealers, and Fiat Auto have gained a tool to build customer relationships and loyalty. The solution has enhanced and streamlined buying process, whilst lowering the cost of sales. There is now a customer-centric distribution, which should fuel growth in sales, and market share. The integration of processes across 5,800 retailers in 17 countries has trimmed inventory costs. Eastman Chemical Company is a global company, with its headquarters in the US that manufactures, and markets more than 1,200 chemicals, fibres, and plastics products, which are, in turn, used in thousands of consumer products worldwide. When Eastman upgraded its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) SAP R/2 environment to SAP R/3, the company included plans to both centralise the ERP output management, and to implement a robust, and flexible output solution. Eastman selected HP Output Server to simplify and optimise all of the output from its Linux, VMS, and UNIX application environments. HP Output Server was chosen to provide a reliable document delivery solution across the company to various output destinations such as print, fax, e-mail and ftp. The Output Servers core delivery services, which include delivery management, job and queue management, and destination management, are used to ensure that business critical documents are delivered to the appropriate output destination in the proper form. HP Output Server also includes support services to facilitate smooth delivery processes, which include the management of events, privileges, configuration, accounting, and inventory. HP Output Server runs on Linux and is deployed on the companys IBM AIX platform, which enabled the options necessary for 3,900 remote print, fax, e-mail and ftp queues from Linux, VMS, and UNIX. Currently 500 people utilise it directly, and a further 1,000 are using it indirectly. The output from SAP R/3 constitutes about 65% of the current print volume, and 95% of the fax and e-mail load. Within Eastman, 300 users utilise the HP Output Server desktop printing solution as well. The companys VMS servers utilise HP Output Server through remote fax queues, and several eBusiness applications use the HP Output Server client interface for Microsoft Windows 2000. Eastman reports that it averages around 35,000 jobs per day 1,100 faxes, 2,000 e-mails, 3,000 reports sent to archive, and the remaining to print destinations. One of the most significant benefits Eastman has gained from HP Output Server is the simplicity of the centralised management through the definition, and maintenance of queues. Users no longer need to understand device dependant formatting of their output, because the HP Output Server provides it transparently, with an assurance of timely delivery.
September 2004
141
www.butlergroup.com
PRODUCT STRATEGY
Despite its clear commitment to and vision for Linux as an enterprise operating system, it is just one of three strategic Operating Systems (OSs) for HP, the other two being: 1. Microsoft Windows Server. 2. HP-UX. HP has a close partnership with Microsoft and regards the Linux / Microsoft Server offerings as complementary, in line with its belief that heterogeneous IT environments will continue well into the future, and its philosophy of letting the customer choose which environments best address its particular needs. Whilst HP believes that HP-UX will continue to be its dominant high-end offering, it regards Linux as having a major opportunity in the lower to middle market arena, positioning Linux-based solutions as cost-effective and viable alternatives to Microsoft Windows NT Servers, and low-end UNIX configurations. Here, HP believes, as organisations undertake technology refresh, and as hardware and operating systems become life-expired, Linux will offer an appropriate alternative, which through open standards and industry standard architectures, will avoid future technology lock-in.
Whilst HP believes that HP-UX will continue to be its dominant high-end offering, it regards Linux as having a major opportunity in the lower to middle market arena.
The company is closely involved with the OSDL, and is positioning itself to be recognised as a leader in Linux and Open Source technologies. It believes that the major problem delaying adoption of Linux upon enterprise desktops is in relation to the transfer and compatibility of documents from Microsoft Windows desktops. But with the high-profile case of the City of Munich and many insurance companies planning to roll-out Linux desktops with Open Office or just Web browsers to those that do not require high-end Microsoft Office functionality, HP states that the perceptions are changing. It believes that we will start to see a more defined and even segregated, use of desktop functionality. All HP desktops are already certified to run both Red Hat or SUSE distributions, and HP has stated that it will ship certified PCs in Q4 2004 with Linux preinstalled, based upon SUSE LINUX and the KDE desktop environment.
COMPANY PROFILE
HP was founded in a garage behind Bill Hewletts house in Palo Alto, California, in 1939. Today, its corporate headquarters remain in Palo Alto and the company has more than 540 sales and support offices and distributorships worldwide. It has been at the forefront of technical innovation over the past six decades. It has become one of the giants of the IT industry, with recognition of its name and stature by a wider audience due to its broad product base. Carly Fiorina, President, and Chief Executive Officer has led the company, since July 1999. In September 2001, HP, and Compaq announced a definitive merger agreement to create a US$87 billion global technology leader, and this came to fruition in 2002. HP (NYSE, NASDAQ: HPQ) serves customers across 162 countries, with an employee base of 150,000.
142
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
HP believes that the future technology landscape will be dominated by service-centric computing, in which information technologies are delivered, managed, and purchased as services. Over the past few years, it has reorganised its business into three product-generation divisions, and three customer-facing organisations. In the 1990s, HP achieved growth rates of 20% in most years. The company is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses, and institutions globally. Its offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing, and access devices, global services, and imaging and printing. For the fiscal year ending on 31 October 2003, HP revenues totalled US$73.1 billion. HP states that Linux-related revenues for this period were US$2.5 billion.
SUMMARY
Despite its hardware legacy and focus, HP is both hardware and software agnostic when it comes to Linux deployments, and offers support across all vendors platforms. Its Services staff will even undertake support contracts for organisations that do not have any HP hardware or software. HP aims to offer complete end-to-end solutions, using tested, and certified configurations of industry standard hardware, and the most appropriate software, whether proprietary or Open Source, based upon its HP Linux Reference Architectures. Through the example of its own internal deployments, the testing and certification, and the indemnification programme, HP intends to give organisations the confidence to deploy or migrate to a Linux-based infrastructure. This is a solid vision, which aligns closely with HPs concept of the Adaptive Enterprise. The strategy has been backed by considerable investment, and a commitment to the Open Source community. It is notable that both JBoss and MySQL are included in HPs Linux Reference Architectures. Butler Group believes that HPs Linux portfolio should offer organisations the confidence they require to invest in Linux as a core part of the corporate IT infrastructure.
CONTACT DETAILS
Corporate Headquarters Hewlett-Packard 3000 Hanover Street Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185 USA Tel: +1 650 857 1501 Fax: +1 650 857 5518 www.hp.com UK Headquarters Hewlett-Packard (UK) Ltd. Cain Road, Amen Corner Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1HN, UK Tel: +44 (0)1344 360000 Fax: +44 (0)1344 363344
September 2004
143
www.butlergroup.com
IBM: Linux Products, Services, and Support
www.butlergroup.com
IBM Linux Products, Services, and Support

Abstract
IBM probably has the widest range of products and services associated with Linux than any other vendor. There are over 10,000 Linux engagements for IBM around the world, including many in central and local government. The strength of IBMs approach is having a whole company perspective with strategic leads for Linux in each geographical region, to ensure that customers have a complete package of products and services. Case studies and reference deployments have demonstrable Returns On Investment (ROI), and IBM sees the pressures for better management, consolidation, and technology refresh, as key drivers for organisations adopting or migrating to Linux. As the godparent of Linux, IBMs commitment to the continuing development as a business platform and making it mainstream cannot be doubted. IBM will continue to be seen as an evangelist and leader in the Linux arena.
KEY FINDINGS
Linux support on all hardware platforms. Tight integration of all IBM offerings with Linux operating system. IBM is a strong supporter of the two major Linux distributions. Key: Product Strength Product Weakness Full support, services, and consulting available. High-end reference sites are normally using Linux as a partition on an IBM zSeries. Obvious bias towards IBM hardware and software. Point of Information
LOOK AHEAD
Apart from the platforms creator Linus Torvalds, IBM as a company is probably the biggest Linux evangelist. Linux is core to the companys business strategy for hardware, software, and services, and Linux is fundamental to the concept of on-demand computing.
FUNCTIONALITY
IBM has a whole company philosophy behind the adoption and migration to Linux, with its whole software stack being ported to run on either Red Hat or SUSE platforms, and all IBM hardware already enabled to run Linux, and Linux-based applications.
September 2004
Section 9: IBM Linux Products, Services, and Support
147
www.butlergroup.com
Applications Custom, Packaged

DEPLOYMENT Software Design Rational ClearCase eCommerce WebSphere Commerce Industry WebSphere Branch Transformation E-mail Lotus Workplace Content DB2 Content Manager INTEGRATION Integration DB2 Information Integrator DB2 Connect Software Build Web Application Server WebSphere Studio WebSphere Application Server Collaboration /E-mail Lotus Domino Lotus Domino Web Access Database DB2 UDB DB2 Integrated Cluster Environment Informix IDS Integration WebSphere Portal Lotus Workplace Family Integration WebSphere Business Integration WebSphere MQ MANAGEMENT Systems Management Tivoli Orchestration System Automn Enterprise Cons Access Manager Monitoring Config Manager Storage Manager Directory IBM Directory
Java JRE/JVM 1.3, 1.4
Linux Hardware Processor/Virtualisation Intel, POWER, zSeries, Clusters, ... Figure 1: IBM Software Stack on Linux IBM probably offers the widest range of products and services associated with Linux. In addition, all its hardware platforms support Linux. The company has been committed to Linux since 1997 and reportedly invested over US$1 billion in Linux, and related products and services in 2001, including ensuring that every key IBM hardware and software product was enabled for Linux. The company reports that it has over 8,500 staff worldwide working on Linux development, research, services, and sales. Internally, IBM is currently running Linux on over 1,000 servers, including those supporting its Web site, ibm.com. Over 275 software products from DB2, WebSphere, Lotus, Rational, and Tivoli lines are currently available on Linux and 17% of IBM mainframe sales in 2003 were reportedly to handle Linux workloads. IBM estimates that 65% of its zSeries/S390 customers are in some stage of implementing or evaluating Linux. In excess of 80 solutions have been announced by Solution Providers for Linux on IBM iSeries servers, and there are now more than 50,000 developers actively creating Linux-based applications that can run on the IBM xSeries Intel-based platform. In total the developers have created more than 6,500 Linux-based applications for IBM software. Interestingly IBM reports that only one third of the new Linux-based applications are being created by Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), the majority are being developed by businesses in-house, a statistic that IBM believes is a major mark of adoption. IBM believes the basis for the business adoption of Linux has been two-fold: 1. The Business drivers: Cost. Reliability. Security. Flexibility. Requirement for On Demand capacity and services.
148
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
2. The Technology Enablers: Open Standards. Linux maturity. Hardware standards. Middleware standards. Support and services. Together these have created the environment for the development of applications and solutions. IBM believes that the availability of the Linux 2.6 kernel, with its support for 16-way processing and 64 bit processors, makes Linux highly suitable to displace lower-end proprietary UNIX platforms. The Globus toolkit for Linux allows Linux servers to be utilised as a Grid, a key concept within IBMs vision for On Demand computing. IBM regards Linux as a reliable, secure, operating system, which offers heterogeneous hardware support. It believes the use of Open Standards on the Linux platform, should deliver flexibility and avoid lock-in, enable easier integration, and encourage the portability of applications. The use of Linux also enables the protection of exiting IT investments, for example, by connecting legacy applications to new Open Source applications such as Apache and SAMBA.
IBM regards Linux as a reliable, secure, operating system, which offers heterogeneous hardware support.
Linux and the Open Source movement are, IBM believes, now central to the IT industry and to IBMs e-business On Demand strategy. For its part IBM has created a Linux Technology Center, made up of more than 600 engineers, and programmers worldwide who work full-time on Linux, and other open source projects as part of the open source community. IBM is committed to using Linux inside IBM with in excess of 3,500 of its servers capable of running Linux. Mission critical applications that run Linux include the IBM Web site (ibm.com), support of IBMs US$2.5 billion 300mm chip manufacturing facility, and applications that support more than 300,000 IBM employees worldwide. In addition, IBM has been hosting Web sites for many of its customers on Linux, including Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open, and other sporting events. IBM has opened a variety of Linux-based centres around the world that are intended to help customers, Business Partners, and developers migrate to Linux. Linux Centers of Competence around the world, including Wall Street, New York, US, South Bank, London, and the Government Solutions Center in Washington, DC, US, give developers a place to test new Linux-based applications and solutions.
IBM Global Services (IGS)

To support its customers, IBM has an extensive services capability to add value at all stages of a Linux project lifecycle. This is underpinned by a comprehensive portfolio of services offerings, ranging from the initial workshops to quantify the business benefits from adopting Linux to a comprehensive post delivery support capability. This portfolio is shown in Figure 2.
September 2004
149
www.butlergroup.com
Assess
Linux strategy workshop Linux discussions Linux presentations Linux demonstrations Reference visits
Plan
TCO study Grid computing workshop Enterprise architecture study Capacity planning study Infrastructure readiness/ transformation and planning Consolidation ALIGN study
Design/ Develop
Linux cluster services Infrastructure design services Application and design services Custom application development Technical solution & architecture
Implement/ Roll out

Implementation services Migration services general/specific Server optimisation Site services Application porting services Testing services Rollout services
Run
Support line services Linux virtual services capacity on demand e-Business hosting services Application management services Strategic outsourcing services
Project/Programme Management and methodology (IBM Global Services Method) IBM Learning Services Linux education roadmap
Figure 2: IBMs Linux Services Portfolio IGS assigns consultants with deep industry aligned skills in the early project phases to ensure that the recommended solutions add sustainable business benefit. These solutions are then designed, integrated, and supported by practitioners with deep technology skills. Although most early customer projects undertaken by IGS related to server side Linux solutions, IBM has recently launched portfolio extensions to cover the client side solutions, and has had significant customer success in this area including projects with Banca Popolare di Milano (Italy) and Schwaebische Hall (Germany).
DEPLOYMENT
Red Hat and SUSE distributions of Linux can be deployed on the complete range of IBM hardware, from xSeries (x86-based) desktops, notebooks, and servers, through iSeries, and pSeries servers, to zSeries mainframes. IBM states that the platform used would be the one that best fits the customers business needs. For example High performance Applications would be run on Linux clusters, those require high Input/Output (I/O) on zSeries/iSeries, or high availability xSeries/pSeries clusters. Linux is also actively supported by IBMs Global Services division (IGS). IBM, and its partners, can offer a complete range of services for implementing Linux, from the Linux-based centres to project management, bespoke training and development, and ongoing support. Because of the range of IBM hardware and software, IBM could be for many organisations a single source of Linux hardware, software, consultancy, and support. The large scale reference sites, for example, Austrian OMVs SAP R/3 deployment, and the UKs Waitroses customer service solutions, are using Linux as partitions on a zSeries mainframe. This offers those companies the extensive range of management and support tools that have been developed over a long period to use and support the Linux-based applications most effectively.
Deployment Examples
West Yorkshire Police has used the Linux platform and a range of IBM software to create a consistent national system for police video identity parades. The solution known as Video Identity Parade Electronically Recorded (VIPER) contains a database of more than 10,000 images.
150
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
The IBM Linux infrastructure includes: IBM General Parallel File System (GPFS), IBM TotalStorage FAStT500 Storage Servers, IBM SAN and LTO Ultrium Tape Library, and Tivoli Storage Manager. The solution was designed, implemented, and supported by IBM TotalStorage Solutions Center, and IBM Business Partner, Sagitta. The system allows identity parades to be assembled within two hours rather than weeks and the cost of each parade, reducing the cost of each parade from UK720 UK1,200, to UK150. Total benefits are expected to be UK6.6 million savings in year one. The solution is based on 1.4TB of storage space built around industry-standard hardware configured as a Linux cluster, using IBM GPFS for rapid access to individual image files. The use of a Linux foundation was seen as essential to enable the sharing of bandwidth needed for dealing with large video files. It also fitted with West Yorkshire Polices existing Linux infrastructure, reducing the management overhead and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The National VIPER Bureau now conducts an average of 82 parades a day, with 61 individual ID suites on-line across 15 police forces, and an additional 20 ID suites becoming operational. The next development will be to link the video technology of VIPER with other identification systems, such as facial/iris recognition and digital fingerprints. The City of Bergen is Norways second largest city, with a population of 237, 430, and is centrally located by the North Sea. As part of its strategic direction to migrate to Linux as the standard operating platform for servers, the City has decided to deploy Novell SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server (SLES) 9 on a number of HP Servers, and IBM Blades, to replace the proprietary UNIX, and Microsoft Windows servers for the administrative and educational networks respectively. In selecting Linux as a strategic platform the City was seeking to attain a business model that did not tie it to a single vendors solution architecture. By migrating to Linux the City believes it has a business model that is open, and democratic, and one that will ensure a greater degree of freedom of choice for the future, more efficient operation, and major cost savings that will benefit its citizens. The first project is to migrate the citys 20-30 existing Oracle database servers running on HP-UX and MS Windows 2000, to ten HP Integrity Itanium 64-bit servers. These will support a range of the Citys operational business applications, including core health and welfare services, and will be accessed by 15,000 employees. The second project in the strategy will involve the migration, and consolidation of 100 Microsoft NT Windows application servers, currently based in individual schools that support the Citys educational network, to a centralised IBM eServer BladeCenter with 20 blade servers. The migration is being managed within existing staff costs, and the City believes that the on-going support element of the TCO of the HP servers will be lower than that for an equivalent solution based upon Microsoft Windows Servers, as problem solving in Linux is generally less complex. As part of the business case for the use of Linux, the city has calculated that the costs of the servers for the educational network would be only 60% of those for an equivalent installation using servers running Microsoft Windows 2000.
PRODUCT STRATEGY
IBM is seen by many as the godparent of the Linux market, encouraging as it did the development of two business-class distributions in the shape of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SUSE (now part of Novell) Linux Enterprise Server, with the disciplined release cycles, support, and training that business customers expect. Undoubtedly the penetration and profile of Linux and Open Source software in general, would not be as high, and the development so fast, without the companys support, including the partnership with the likes of HP and CA in the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL). The creator, and notably trademark owner, of Linux, Linus Torvalds, is employed at OSDL.
September 2004
151
www.butlergroup.com
Linux is now at the centre of IBMs product offerings, not only does it fit with the computing on demand paradigm; it also plays to the issues of reduction in the TCO through the consolidation of infrastructure and skills. The support for greater numbers of processors in the 2.6 kernel will enable IBM to offer greater flexibility and power in the On Demand model.
Linux is now at the centre of IBMs product offerings, not only does it fit with the computing on demand paradigm; it also plays to the issues of reduction in the TCO through the consolidation of infrastructure and skills.
IBM sees banking, government, and retail as the key markets for Linux adoption, with other industries, particularly in the Small to Medium-sized Business (SMB) arena, being drawn by specific IBM Industry Solutions, and the creation of Linux versions of existing enterprise applications by ISVs. Geographically IBM has seen Europe and the US as being the early adopters, but has identified China, India, Russia, and Brazil as being markets where Linux adoption could be very rapid. IBM regards Linux as the ideal operating system for thin-client and pervasive computing devices, but recognises that 64-bit support and performance will be required to gain further traction to displace proprietary UNIX servers. In 2004 IBM will be pushing Linux through solutions under the Linux optimised IBM solutions tag. It has already implemented horizontal clustering to create very large DB2 databases with DB2 ICE, and has demonstrated technology previews of 64-bit DB2 on Linux on its POWER processors (iSeries and pSeries servers). Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) Application servers will be migrated to WebSphere on Linux from UNIX. E-mail Servers will be migrated to Lotus Domino for Linux on zSeries and xSeries.
COMPANY PROFILE
International Business Machines (IBM) is one of the worlds largest technology companies, with operations in 164 countries. The company was incorporated in the State of New York on 15 June 1911, as the Computing Tabulating Recording Co. (C-T-R), a consolidation of the Computing Scale Co. of America, The Tabulating Machine Co., and The International Time Recording Co. of New York. In 1924, C-T-R adopted the name International Business Machines. The corporate headquarters are in Armonk, New York, US. IBM makes a broad range of computers, including PCs, mainframes, network servers, peripherals, and produces a comprehensive range of software. It has a consultancy services arm. Nearly 60% of the companys sales are to non-US customers. IBM continues to focus on the Internet and e-business. The company has over 300,000 employees worldwide. IBM common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: IBM), on other exchanges in the United States, and around the world.
152
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Financial results for the last three years (ending 31 December) are shown in the table below: 2003 (US$ millions) 89,131 9.79% 7613 42.73% 2002 (US$ millions) 81,186 -2.30% 5,334 -34.50% 2001 (US$ millions) 83,067 -2.40% 8,146 3.50%
Revenues Increase/Decrease on previous year Net Income Increase/Decrease on previous year
In 2003, Global Services accounted for 48% of revenue, Hardware contributed 32%, and Software represented 16%, with the balance coming from other activities. IBM is a big company, with a wide product portfolio, but it is reported that in 2003 Linux related sales and services delivered US$2 billion in revenues. IBM customers that have deployed solutions on a Linux platform include: Charles Schwab. Dundee City Council. Italian Foreign Ministry. Lawson Products Inc. Northern Territory Schools in Australia. Princetown University. Swisscom. West Yorkshire Police.
IBM claims over 10,000 Linux customer engagements worldwide, and some 275 of these are now referenceable accounts.
SUMMARY
Whilst Linus was the father of Linux, IBM is undoubtedly the godparent and has made a major corporate commitment to the platform. IBM has numerous business and technology partnerships that help support its operations, and has invested heavily in the Linux arena with these partnerships. In addition to all IBM hardware supporting Linux, and all software being migrated to the platform, with its Global Services, outsourcing, and consultancy arm IBM can probably offer the widest range of products and services of any company in the Linux arena.
CONTACT DETAILS
Corporate Headquarters IBM Corporate Headquarters New Orchard Road Armonk, NY 10504 USA Tel: +1 (914) 499 4100 www.ibm.com IBM (UK) Ltd. PO Box 41 North Harbour Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 3AU, UK Tel: +44 (0)23 9256 1000 Fax: +44 (0)23 9238 8914 www.ibm.co.uk
September 2004
153
www.butlergroup.com
MANDRAKESOFT: MANDRAKESOFT: Mandrakelinux
www.butlergroup.com
Mandrakesoft Mandrakelinux
Abstract
Mandrakesofts Mandrakelinux products provide a complete enterprise solution designed for ease-of-use with intuitive Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), and Wizards for configuration to enable rapid deployment. Implementation can be carried out with the point-and-click graphical installer, and easy-to-use wizards for configuring all the main features. Mandrakelinux Corporate Server 2.1, Multi Network Firewall and Mandrakeclustering are currently offered with Mandrakelinux Corporate Desktop to be released later in 2004 to complete the enterprise portfolio. New Mandrakelinux Corporate Server 3.0 is also to be released in September 2004 and will provide latest Linux 2.6 features and enhancements to the corporate environment. Mandrakesoft targets SMEs and larger organisations with its enterprise products, backed up with its Personalised Solutions and Maintenance Programme (PSMP) to make it an organisation with whom it is easy to do business.
KEY FINDINGS
Mandrakesoft concentrates on making the products easy to use and deploy. The company has a strong enterprise customer base in France. Key: Product Strength Product Weakness PSMP provides a cost-effective way to do business. Corporate Server 2.1 is currently based on Linux 2.4 kernel. Point of Information
LOOK AHEAD
Mandrakesoft has recovered from its financial troubles of 2003, and is concentrating on the development of new and updated products. Through its concentration on ease-of-deployment and being a good business partner, it is ideally positioned to consolidate its position in the enterprise Linux space.
FUNCTIONALITY
Mandrakesoft offers businesses a set of GNU Linux and Open-Source software and related services. The products for the enterprise include Mandrakelinux Corporate Server 2.1, Multi Network Firewall, and Mandrakeclustering.
Mandrakelinux Corporate Server 2.1

Mandrakelinux Corporate Server 2.1 is a server solution for AMD OPTERON or x86 architectures that is suitable for medium and large organisations. Mandrakesoft says that it is a versatile solution that provides enterprises with critical business server functions, with the companys user friendly touch. The product is available on a subscription basis that includes support and direct access to software updates. The Standard support option is valid for five incidents within a one-year period, and the unlimited option is valid for unlimited incidents during a year.
September 2004
Section 9: Mandrakesoft Mandrakelinux
157
www.butlergroup.com
Mandrakesoft says that it offers a complete enterprise solution that includes everything needed to rapidly deploy world-class Linux server applications in the enterprise. The Mandrakelinux Corporate Server 2.1 is based on the award-winning Mandrakelinux operating system to provide all the tools required to rapidly deploy world-class Linux server applications. Installation of the product can be easily carried out through the use of Mandrakesofts famous point and click graphical installer. Easy to use Wizards for configuring all the main features ensure that customers can have a system up and running in quick time. Key features include: Easy to install with intuitive graphical interface. Configure services with easy to use Wizards. Administer with any secure Web browser. Linux kernel 2.4. Choice of several journalised file systems. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. Apache Web Server, which is pre-configured with PHP (scripting language) and MySQL (database) for dynamic, easy to maintain Web sites. Postfix E-mail Server providing a secure replacement for Sendmail. ProFTP FTP Server. Squid Proxy Server. Samba File and Print Server for sharing resources with networked computers running Microsoft operating systems. LDAP mail directory that contacts directory server. Firewall and router providing security and Internet sharing. POP3, IMAP, and Webmail E-mail offering a reliable and robust corporate messaging system.
Multi Network Firewall

Mandrakesofts integrated network security solution, Multi Network Firewall (MNF), combines firewall, Virtual Private Network (VPN), intrusion detection, and traffic management functions into an easy-to-use product. Through a secure Web interface, utilising finely-tuned wizards, network administrators can easily build a network, define access rules, filter and monitor Internet content, and perform administration tasks. Multi Network Firewall integrates seamlessly into existing networks and works with a wide variety of operating systems, including MicroSoft Windows. This high performance security solution offers savings by eliminating add-on costs such as 3DES VPN licenses and VPN clients. MNF supports an unlimited number of VPN clients. Through the use of finely-tuned Wizards and a secure Web interface, network administrators are able to easily deploy a professional network with high-level features such as: Filtering rules for blocking advertising banners and controlling information flow. Custom Internet access rules for clients on a local network. Easy-to-use monitoring tools for detailed information about network and system activity. User-friendly utilities for performing a wide variety of administration tasks.
158
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Mandrakeclustering HPC solution

Mandrakeclustering is an easy-to-deploy clustering solution for simulation applications that need intensive computing. It is a solution based on research project CLIC, and it has been designed to offer organisations and research laboratories an affordable, fast to deploy, easy-to-use, heavy-calculation system based on clustering. It is aimed at bringing together a unique combination of the best free-software cluster-oriented tools and Mandrakesofts proven experience in design and accessibility to merge into an easy-to-use Linux distribution for clusters. Typical applications for Mandrakeclustering include: Crash simulations. Acoustics. Seismic modelling. MonteCarlo simulations. Risk analysis. Low latency and high-bandwidth are made possible by the use of the SCI connections between nodes. The Pentium version also benefits from CPU optimisations made with the Intel compiler (for Pentium IV Xeon). Utilising Preboot EXecution Environment (PXE) technology, Mandrakeclustering can be quickly installed. Mandrakesoft says that deployment is possible in a few minutes with the help of Cluster auto setup and Kadeploy utilities. The Mandrake package management system and dependency solver, URPMI has been parallelised to allow the automated software update of all nodes simultaneously. To guarantee an optimal user experience, Mandrakeclustering provides a graphical environment plus numerous administration tools that allow the Cluster administrator to add and remove nodes, create virtual partitions, assign users to partitions, and graphically configure the entire system. Graphical monitoring of the system is performed using a dedicated tool named Ganglia. In addition, Mandrakeclustering offers the ability to use two separate network interfaces, thereby allowing the ability to differentiate between the administration network and the computing network. Mandrakeclustering benefits from a superior range of hardware support. Each node automatically adapts itself depending on the hardware used, such as SCSI, network, and file system, thus allowing superior support for heterogeneous environments. Additionally, Mandrakeclustering supports up to 4 GB of RAM for each node (16 GB for Opteron). Mandrakeclustering is supplied as a turnkey clustering environment, and it is based on the Mandrakelinux operating system. It offers SCI drivers, several clustering messaging transit layers, graphical monitoring tools, parallelised tools plus numerous mathematical libraries. Mandrakelinux provides a set of tools that allow easy remote updating of the system. It includes URPMI and Mandrakeupdate, and automatic security features that check the system integrity regularly. The company also offers additional services such as Mandrakeonline that warns system administrators of new security alerts and updates. It also offers a large choice of configuration utilities. Mandrakelinux provides several security features as default including: Different security levels that can be set by the system administrator, depending on how the system is used. A service that scans the systems security regularly. The MNF.
September 2004
159
www.butlergroup.com
DEPLOYMENT
Mandrakesoft says that a typical full installation of Mandrakelinux is mainly automated and takes approximately 30 minutes. It says that as a minimum any PC of the Pentium class with at least 1GB of free space on hard drive, and 128 MB of RAM. Most of the resources required are supplied with the product, but additional services and resources can be located on its Web site under Mandrakeclub, and through different services such as Mandrakesoft support and Mandrakeonline. Mandrakeclustering can be fully installed on the customer site by Mandrakesoft or by the customer, who can then provide test results to Mandrakesoft who will then provide support and answers to incidents that occur on the running configuration. Mandrakesoft products are designed to require the minimum training. It says that most Microsoft Windows users with basic knowledge can handle Mandrakelinux without too much trouble. The company provides electronic and printed documentation with its products, and a knowledge base is also available on Mandrakeclub. Additionally, Mandrakelinux training programmes are available on demand in many training centres.
Mandrakesoft products are designed to require the minimum training.

Basic Web and e-mail-based support is provided with the boxed products. Telephone support is also provided form customers with Corporate Server and other products. Customers may also purchase separate incidents through the companys on-line store at http://www.mandrakestore.com. Mandrakesofts PSMP is an easy-to-use, cost-effective programme designed to meet the needs of businesses of all size. PSMP allows customers to purchase Mandrakesoft solutions at volume prices. It reduces the costs associated with the evaluation, the acquisition, implementation, and maintenance of eBusiness software. It provides streamlined purchasing and centralised solution management through an Internet-based graphic interface. PSMP is a highly personalised and customised programme aimed at providing customers with an enhanced experience compared to their competitors. PSMP is a perfect example of a modern Web-based solution that is designed to provide customers with a one-stop-shop for complete open source solutions, including products, support, software updates, and services. Mandrakesoft claims that PSMP provides customers with maximum savings, minimum hassle, with no minimum purchase requirement. The user-friendly Web design architecture of PSMP enables customers to purchase their desired solution for provisioning, managing, migrating, and updating their systems, giving them complete flexibility at minimal cost. The company says that it can help get the most value from up-to-date technology with benefits that can save time and money. Mandrakesoft says that PSMP pricing lowers software costs when compared to retail purchase options. PSMP is aimed at organisations of all sizes, academic institutions, government agencies, global partners, bulk buyers, SMEs, non-profit organisations, VARs, and resellers.
160
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
PRODUCT STRATEGY
Mandrakesofts business model is founded on leveraging rapid worldwide development. It says that this makes Mandrakelinux the most international Linux distribution, which is available in more than 40 languages. Hundreds of independent developers all around the world are constantly contributing and improving the product, code-named Cooker, and helping make it one of the most simple, complete and powerful Linux solutions available. Mandrakesoft products have been recognised with having technological excellence. Mandrakelinux was named Product of the Year and Best Linux Distribution/Server at the 1999 LinuxWorld Expo, and it has received awards from publications in both the UK and the US. Mandrakesofts target markets include Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and large organisations. Mandrakesoft products are sold directly through its on-line store, as well as through a distributor network worldwide, and through Value Added Resellers (VARs).
Mandrakesofts target markets include Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and large organisations.
The company maintains internally an IA-64 version of Mandrakelinux that it deploys on demand for large corporates when they request a customised Linux distribution, such as that deployed at TotalFinaElf. Most of the companys products come under an Open Source licensing scheme, but hardware vendors pay it royalties to ship the product, after a certification or adaptation process. There is no licensing cost as is normally understood in the traditional proprietary meaning. Mandrakesofts products are Open Source, and the majority of the added value comes from consulting, project management, integration, adaptation, and support. The Mandrakelinux Corporate Server is a server solution for medium and large organisations available at a price of US$799.90 including one year standard support. It is available including one year unlimited support at US$1649.90. The MNF product is a multi-VPN/Infrastructure and security solution for SMEs that is available at US$549.90. Mandrakeclustering is an easy-to-deploy clustering solution for simulation applications that need intensive computing (High Performance Computing) and is priced at US$2190.90. The company has key business partnerships with HP and Shuttle Computer. It also has key technology partnerships with AMD, INTEL, HP, Shuttle Computer, NVIDIA, ATI, and many others. Many of Mandrakesofts products are aimed at individuals and small enterprises, such as Discovery and PowerPack providing the most up-to-date innovation. These products are usually released on a 6-monthly basis. The enterprise products are normally released on a yearly basis.
September 2004
161
www.butlergroup.com
The company continues to develop new products and plans to release a new corporate server and the first Mandrakelinux Corporate Desktop, a solution for large deployments later in 2004. It also plans to introduce further vertical products in the near future. Mandrakesoft regards proposed software patent legislation as a major threat to all Linux vendors. The company is fighting hard in Europe to avoid the adoption of this legislation. Mandrakesoft regards the main competitor in its market as Microsoft.
COMPANY PROFILE
Mandrakesoft is an initiator of projects and an organiser of skills in the Open Source arena. Its ambition is to help users benefit from innovations by offering a powerful, stable, and recognised operating system together with a full range of solutions for client computers. It comprises a Windows-type graphical user interface, compatible office suite, and Internet browser, and for Web server, e-mail server, and print server. The company was created in November 1998 by several young Linux enthusiasts who met on the Internet and created Mandrakesoft. This start-up has since become an international reference in Open Source software and Linux with its Linux-Mandrake distribution. Mandrakesofts strategy is based on promoting Linux for users, from beginners to experts, from individuals to corporate users, by creating a comprehensive and customisable range of services developed around its Linux product line. The company expanded rapidly, starting with three employees and currently has about 55 people. Its products currently include more than 2300 applications. Linux-Mandrake provides a distribution that is easy to install and use as well as being fast and reliable. Today, Linux-Mandrake is an international Linux distribution and its installation is supported in more than 40 languages. Mandrakesoft is publicly listed on the Euronext market (Reuters ticker symbol is MAKE.PA) and currently on the US OTC market (stock symbol MDKFF). Investors include AXA Placement Innovation, Viventures (Groupe Vivendi), Iliad Group, BBS Finance, France Innovation (ABN AMRO), and Azeo Ventures (Lazard Group). Revenues over the past three years were in 2001, 3.6 million, 4.7 million in 2002, and in 2003, 3.9 million. Forecast for the current year is 5.4 million. Mandrakelinux distributors worldwide include: AMAZIS.NET BYTEK Editions Profil GEEKONLINE Heavy Industrials ITALSEL Kudzu Distribution LINUX CENTRAL LINUXPUSHER Linux Store Sweden MCD2 Diffusion BAR & BELL CO.LTD DLL Press Everything Linux GT Enterprises Interactive ideas IXSOFT LINDIST LXPN LINUXSHOP Linux Technology MENSYS
162
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
OpenWay QCM Software Sources Software Station Techworx Solutions Trustation Argentina
OReilly ShopNet Corporation Modusys Systems Ltd Techno-Sol TESLA TUXENERGY
Support services for the Linux-Mandrake distribution are handled by Mandrakesoft and by Alcve, EMC, Hewlett Packard, IBM Global Services, IdealX, Savoir Faire Linux, and Sun Microsystems. Technical alliances are in place with Alpha Processor Inc., Arkeia, AR Systmes, ASL, Aurora, Hewlett Packard, Matra Datavision (subsidiary of Arospatiale Matra), MaxSpeed, Quadratec, Solsoft, and Sun Microsystems. Higher education partnerships are currently being developed, including one with the ENSTA engineering school in France, as part of a teaching project and to develop Open Source software. The Mandrakelinux user base is estimated to be 4 million users worldwide. Major customers include TotalFinaElf deploying scientific high-performance 64-bit workstations, France Telecom utilising development workstations, and several French Government Ministries with thousands of servers.
SUMMARY
Mandrakesoft entered protection from bankruptcy, with the French equivalent of US Chapter 11 protection, in January 2003, and emerged from this status in March 2004. The company is focused on ease-of-use and innovation and this is reflected in the tools that it has available for remote updating of the system, automatic checking of system integrity, and warning to system administrators of security alerts and updates. Butler Group is impressed by PSMP, a highly personalised and customised programme aimed at providing customers with an enhanced experience compared to their competitors. PSMP is an example of a modern Web-based solution that is designed to provide customers with a one-stop-shop for complete open source solutions, including products, support, software updates, and services. This level of support is important to enterprises that are initially embarking on a Linux environment.
CONTACT DETAILS
Mandrakesoft 11875 Pigeon Pass Road D-1 #117 Moreno Valley, CA 92557 USA Tel: +1 909 341 6937 www.mandrakesoft.com Mandrakesoft S.A. 43, rue dAboukir 75002 Paris France Tel: +33 (0) 1 40 41 00 41
September 2004
163
www.butlergroup.com
NOVELL: Linux Services
www.butlergroup.com
Novell Linux Services

Abstract
Novells aim is to provide services for Linux users that remove the inhibitors from the enterprise adoption of Linux systems. It believes that the perceived lack of support available for Linux means that organisations are looking to a trusted partner that can supply the whole range of support and services. Over the past year, the company has acquired SUSE and Ximian to complement its existing Linux services, and offer a complete range of Linux-related services, products, and solutions. Novell has recognised the possible barriers that enterprises face when contemplating the adoption of Linux, and designed its services and solutions to counter these objections. It aims to eliminate the risks associated with such a move, and this strategy should appeal to organisations considering Linux.
KEY FINDINGS
Novell offers a complete ecosystem for using Linux. The company has global reach, and an extensive partner network. Key: Product Strength Product Weakness Its services and solutions will appeal to both its existing customer base and prospective customers. Novell is committed to the open source community. Point of Information
LOOK AHEAD
Novells strategy through the incorporation of Ximian and SUSE products and services within its range of offerings, promises to bear fruit for the company. Novells global experience and presence will appeal to organisations that require comprehensive service and support over diverse locations.
FUNCTIONALITY
Linux is developed under the GNU General Public License and its source code is freely available to everyone. This however, does not mean that Linux and its assorted distributions are free companies and developers may charge for it as long as the source code remains available. Linux is increasingly being considered as an alternative to other operating systems. Due to the very nature of Linuxs functionality and availability, it is becoming more and more popular worldwide, and a vast number of software programmers have taken Linuxs source code and adapted it to meet their individual needs. The Novell Linux strategy, announced in early 2003, is rooted in a commitment to deliver a complete range of Linux-related services, products, and solutions to the market. A key benefit of the strategy is the availability of Novell software and services to new, prospective customers running Linux. All the services associated with the NetWare operating system will migrate to Linux resulting in a network service environment from Novell that supports Linux or NetWare.
September 2004
Section 9: Novell Linux Services
167
www.butlergroup.com
Novell aims to remove any inhibitors to the adoption of Linux by its customers through the provision of a comprehensive range of services. These include a comprehensive set of professional services, including support, consulting and implementation, and a full range of products and solutions designed to enhance the Linux environment. It also provides quality training and certification processes, and has a strong commitment to the open source industry.
Novell aims to remove any inhibitors to the adoption of Linux by its customers through the provision of a comprehensive range of services.
Professional Services
Novell provides its understanding of the entire network ecosystem to customers through services that support Linux in the same manner as it has to NetWare and its other products. The company has many experienced consultants around the world who are able to deliver a comprehensive, objective portfolio of service offerings designed for the transition to Linux, at a pace that is appropriate to customers ability to absorb change. Novells services are based on a robust, mature consulting methodology and its industry expertise, which was enhanced by its acquisition of Cambridge Technology Partners in 2001. Novell believes in structuring projects in phases with clearly defined deliverables, so that its clients can easily disengage at any stage, and proceed independently with confidence that they have a solid, business-oriented plan. Its phased approach to identifying and implementing solutions combined with its project management skills can help clients achieve a faster return on investment and achieve tangible results within a short time frame. Some of Novells key Linux service offerings are: Discovery is designed to help CIOs and other stakeholders understand the ramifications of implementing Linux in their specific environment. It includes a summary of business and tactical goals, a high-level conceptual technical architecture, and a high-level business justification with recommended next steps. Strategy provides a deeper assessment of the business justification for implementing Linux and its impact on a companys specific IT infrastructure. Implementation and Deployment encompassing architecture, software design and development, migration, deployment, integration, testing, and consolidation. Application-Related providing the skill sets required to effectively implement a wide variety of applications on a Linux platform.
Products and Solutions

Following its announcement in 2003, Novell has demonstrated to its large customer base that it can provide a future path with a choice of NetWare or Linux kernels. Customers wishing to move to Linux can do so with Novell support and guidance, without sacrificing the NetWare network and network-based services they depend on to keep their businesses running. However, importantly Novell is also dedicated to delivering products that enhance and augment Linux to non-NetWare customers, including:
168
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 is an open source server operating platform incorporating new features: The latest Linux kernel 2.6. Multi-hardware architecture support based on a single source code. High performance Linux server operating system. New levels of system management utilising an improved management framework. Novell Open Enterprise Server, a secure, available platform combining Netware and SUSE Linux to deliver proven file, print, and application services in an open environment. It enables the customer to choose the correct foundation for their environment. It incorporates the best solutions from open source and proprietary networking leaders, and unites them with common management tools, directory-enabled services for security, high-availability solutions, and an entire support ecosystem, backed by Novell. It comprises: NetWare 6.5 services and kernel and planned enhancements. SUSE LINUX Server 9 Enterprise Edition services running on the 2.6 Linux kernel. Nterprise! Linux Services 1.0 and planned enhancements. Integrated common management tools (iManager for Linux and NetWare). Novell Storage Services on Linux. Migration tools and upgrade utilities for Linux, Microsoft, and NetWare. Standards-based package management (RPM) for NetWare. Virtual Office management enhancements. Shared iFolder capabilities between Microsoft Windows and Linux clients. Mapped drive support for Linux from a Novell client. Common Information Model (CIM) instrumentation. Clustering on either Linux or NetWare. iPrint client for Linux desktop. Novell ZENworks 6.5 provides reliable identity-based systems management across multiple platforms. It allows organisations to consolidate the management of their IT resources and reduce the costs of managing their environment throughout the entire business lifecycle. ZENworks 6.5 provides secure, identity-based, Policy-Driven Automation for efficient application management, patch management, asset management and OS migration to deliver and maintain a trusted and stable environment with minimal administrator effort. It now incorporates ZENworks Linux Management, which was formerly Ximian Red Carpet Enterprise. This provides secure, scalable, and centralised management of SUSE LINUX and Red Hat Linux server and desktop systems. It also delivers dependency and conflict resolution for software packages and updates from a broad range of public and private sources, including those from Novell, SUSE LINUX, Red Hat, and third-party solutions. ZENworks Patch Management helps enterprises defend their networks against intrusion while minimising the load on IT administrators. Information is provided for each patch to enable administrators to select those needed and most critical, and then automatic deployment ensures that organisations have the latest protection on all systems.
September 2004
169
www.butlergroup.com
DEPLOYMENT
Novells enterprise-level support services go beyond providing a hotline that customers can call when a problem appears. When a large enterprise implements a new operating system, its IT organisation needs to consider many issues, including enterprise architecture, network infrastructure, training for both technicians and end-users, application support and availability, and data conversion and integration. In order to be successful, IT organisations also need to plan carefully for pre-implementation and post-implementation considerations, including configuration management, availability, backup and recovery procedures, and functional and performance testing, before they can put new servers into production. Although some organisations may possess some of the necessary skills, they will recognise the value of their skills being complemented and supported by a large vendor with extensive and deep experience in operating systems, networks, and IT infrastructure providing them with support. In common with some others in the industry, Novell has solid experience of providing worldwide, round-the-clock support services to large companies. The company has two decades of experience delivering enterprise-level support to its customers. Novell Technical Support has been supporting a variety of products on Linux for some time. Its global support teams can provide 7x24x365 support for its Linux customers, covering the network services layer down to the internals of the operating system. The company offers both free and paid support for Novell products running on Linux. Free support services include a searchable KnowledgeBase, on-line product support forums, downloadable technical documents and patch information, and Cool Solutions communities that exchange tips, tricks, and free tools (http://support.novell.com/).
The company has two decades of experience delivering enterprise-level support to its customers.
Customers can purchase Premium Support, providing a broad range of service levels designed to meet the needs of all customers who run Novell software on various platforms, including Linux, NetWare, Microsoft, and others. Customers can opt for per-incident support, via telephone or electronically. Novell Training and Certification Services help customers who deploy Linux-based solutions obtain the greatest value through a range of free and paid support services, as well as comprehensive training and certification programs that enable organisations to obtain the maximum benefit from their Linux platforms. Novell has responded to this demand by introducing the Novell Certified Linux Engineer training as the latest in its certifications. Novell Training Services pioneered IT certification with the release of its Certified NetWare (later changed to Novell) Engineer (CNE ) programme. The CNE was followed by the release of several more industry recognised certifications, including the Certified Novell Administration SM (CNASM), the Certified Directory Engineer (CDE ) and the Master Certified Novell Engineer (MCNESM). Novell says that there are more than 350,000 IT professionals who carry Novell certification credentials.
170
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
PRODUCT STRATEGY
Over the past year, Novell has made two significant acquisitions to consolidate its Linux offerings, Ximian and SUSE. Since it was founded, Ximian had moved rapidly to spur industry adoption of the Linux platform and the GNOME desktop. In August 2000, Ximian helped drive the formation of the GNOME Foundation, which today includes industry leaders such as Sun Microsystems, IBM, Red Hat, HP, and SUSE. Novell acquired Ximian in August 2003, and became a fundamental component of Novells Linux strategy. On 13 January 2004 Novell completed its acquisition of SUSE LINUX, a combination that brought together global technical support, consulting and training services and industry-leading networking and security to Linux, and provides a compelling alternative for companies wishing to leverage the many benefits of open source. SUSE LINUX became a product business unit within Novell with its sales and marketing handled by Novells existing geographic business units and SUSE LINUXs current sales and marketing staff. Novell has retained the strong SUSE LINUX brand. In conjunction with the completion of the SUSE LINUX deal, Novell introduced a new indemnification program for its SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server customers, to provide an additional measure of protection against certain intellectual property challenges to Linux. Novells indemnification programme is designed for enterprise customers of Linux. Under the programme, indemnification is offered for copyright infringement claims made by third parties against registered Novell customers who obtain SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server Linux 8 and who, after 12 January 2004, obtain upgrade protection and a qualifying technical support contract from Novell or a participating Novell or SUSE LINUX channel partner. Customers must accept the programme terms and conditions including caps and other limitations. Novell has a number of partners including: Dell Computer. EMC Corporation. Fujitsu Siemens. Hewlett-Packard (HP). Computer Associates (CA). IBM. Red Hat.
COMPANY PROFILE
The company began life in 1979 as Novell Data Systems, making computers and disk operating systems. In January 1983, it was reincorporated as Novell, Inc., to design and market software and hardware used for data networks, and introduced NetWare, the first LAN software based on file-server technology. By the early 1990s, NetWare had been updated to add features for distributed enterprises and led its market with a share of almost 70%. Having later focussed on directory-based management of customers heterogeneous platforms, Novell released NDS eDirectory in 1999 as an identity-driven service that offered open standards and interoperability.
September 2004
171
www.butlergroup.com
In 2001, Novell acquired Cambridge Technology Partners, a leading eSolutions consulting firm, to strengthen its ability to deliver both services and products to customers, in the context of their e-business requirements. This was further advanced in 2002 by the acquisition of SilverStream Software, a leader in Web services-based application development, finally positioning Novell with business expertise, a Web services application platform (in Novell exteNd, developed from SilverStream products), and a networking and identity management infrastructure on which to run Web services-based applications. The companys growing commitment towards Linux was the background of its acquisition of Ximian (a provider of Linux-based tools), and the acquisition of SuSE, completed in 2004. Novell plans to establish very firmly its presence in operating system, networking technology, and development activities in the Linux and open source arenas, building on its position in infrastructure management and identity-driven services. Novell (NASDAQ:NOVL) has some 5,600 employees, and 96 offices in 37 countries. Of its global revenues, 51% are gained in the USA, 35% in EMEA, and 14% elsewhere: financials for the three most recently completed years are listed in the following table: 2003 (US$ millions) Revenue Gross Profit Income (Loss) from Operations 1,105 667 (28) 2002 (US$ millions) 1,134 685 (68) 2001 (US$ millions) 1,051 712 (121)
Globally, the company has over 5000 customers, with more than 250 of these licensing more than one Novell product. The following are some of its key customers: BT. Lufthansa. Grundig, Germany. UPS, The Netherlands. Belgian Railroad. DGI (French Tax Authority). ABN Amro (GTS), UK and The Netherlands. BNP Paribas, France. Norwich Union.
SUMMARY
When enterprises are considering a move to Linux, they are looking for a business partner who will provide them with the confidence to make that step into the unknown. Over the past year, Novell has concentrated on developing its Linux strategy through the acquisition of Ximian and SUSE. It has a global reach that only a few of its competitors can match, and it also has a strong and loyal customer base. Linux offers Novell the opportunity to integrate its product offerings such as its file, print, and directory applications into an expanding application server platform. Its growing range of services and solutions should ensure that Novell is well worth considering by organisations moving to a Linux platform.
172
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
CONTACT DETAILS
Novell Inc. 1800 South Novell Place Provo Utah 84606 USA Tel: +1 888 321 4272 E-mail: crc@novell.com www.novell.com Novell UK Headquarters 1 Arlington Square Downshire Way, Bracknell Berkshire, TW14 8HD UK Tel: +44 (0)1344 742000 Fax: +44 (0)1344 742001 E-mail: ukresponse@novell.com
September 2004
173
www.butlergroup.com
NOVELL: SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8
www.butlergroup.com
Novell SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8

Abstract
SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8 and SUSE LINUX Standard Server 8 provide enterprises with pre-configured, easy to administer applications that are stable and secure. These are a further development by Novell of its SUSE LINUX Server Family to provide professional deployments in heterogeneous IT environments of all sizes and sectors. The platform is optimised for stability and security, and integrates all server services relevant in LINUX. The SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8 is suitable for small, medium, and large enterprises, and the SUSE LINUX Standard Server 8 is part of Novells efforts to provide cost-effective Open Source solutions for smaller to medium sized businesses and departments. Novell provides an extensive range of services supporting the SUSE LINUX server solutions.
KEY FINDINGS
Easy-to-use centralised GUI tools for set up, installation, and administration. Novell, and its channel partners are now able to provide customers with enviable support and services. Key: Product Strength Product Weakness Enterprise-class Linux built on solid real-world experience. Stable single code base supplied on six hardware environments enabling simultaneous releases. Point of Information
LOOK AHEAD
Butler Group believes that the acquisition of SUSE LINUX by Novell has had a significant effect on its market prospects. It can benefit from Novells geographical reach to grow from its primary European base, and from Novells global customer base and marketing visibility.
FUNCTIONALITY
The SUSE LINUX Server Family is made up of the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8 and SUSE LINUX Standard Server 8.
September 2004
Section 9: Novell SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8
177
www.butlergroup.com
SUSE LINUX 8 SUSE LINUX 8 standard server enterprise server

Technology Comparison
Features Maximum number of 32-bit processors per server Maximum number of 64-bit processors per server Maximum RAM (32-bit version) Maximum RAM (64-bit version) Services Web-based configuration and administration management for server services LDAP directory service Windows/Samba domain controller Utilisation as Windows and UNIX file and print server Integrated mail server Utilisation as DNS server Utilisation as DHCP server Utilisation as Internet gateway Utilisation as HA server Clustering System Requirements Recommended CPU speed Recommended RAM Multiprocessor support Required storage space for the installation Supported Hardware Platforms AMD/Intel x86 AMD 64 Intel Itanium 2 processor family IBM iSeries IBM pSeries IBM S/390 IBMz Series

2 not supported 4 GB not supported yes optional yes optional yes yes yes yes yes yes no no 700 Mhz 256 MB up to 2 about 1GB yes no no no no no no
32 64 64 GB 512 TB yes optional yes optional yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes 800 Mhz 256 MB 32 (on x86 systems) about 1.2 GB yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Figure 1: SUSE LINUX Server Family Comparison The SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8 (SLES8) is a leading enterprise-ready open source server operating system for professional deployment in heterogeneous IT environments of all sizes and sectors, which also affords investment protection. Based on LINUX and Open Source Technology, Novell offers one single server operating system with a uniform code base. Autobuild is a technological process, which was developed by Novells SUSE LINUX business unit over four years ago. This is a development tool that ensures code and system consistency and the ability to consistently reproduce the code across multiple platforms. The resultant customer benefits include consolidation into one universal platform, wide hardware choice, full compatibility, skill consolidation and therefore lower administration, training, and development costs.
178
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
In the production environment, SUSE LINUX is able to compile SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server for many different hardware architectures directly from a single code base. It is available for all relevant hardware platforms, from 32-bit and 64-bit AMD/Intel processors up to the complete IBM eServer series including mainframes. Based on the same technology as the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server, a more recent product offering for the SMB market is the SUSE LINUX Standard Server, which is designed for small organisations and departments that wish to implement Internet access, as well as e-mail, print, and file services in a reliable and secure way. It is a more cost effective solution for smaller organisations where the implementation scales up to a maximum of two CPUs only, as opposed to the Enterprise Server solution that can scale up to 32 processors for 32-bit platforms and 64 processors for 64-bit platforms. SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8 is flexible and versatile, and delivers security, reliability, availability, scalability, and automated administration for business-critical server and network services, including: File and print servers. Integration of Windows, Apple, Novell, and UNIX in heterogeneous networks. Web servers and Web application servers. Mail servers. Web content filters and proxy servers. Dial-in and dial-out servers for analogue, ISDN, and DSL connections. DNS, DHCP, and WINS. Application servers. Integrated support for high availability through failover. High-performance computing. Over 800 patches from the 2.6 Linux Kernel base have already been back-ported and incorporated into SUSE LINUX Server Family. These include the new Order 1 scheduler, new memory management, asynchronous I/O, multi-path disk access, support for over 2000 hard drives and access control lists all of which provide a faster, more flexible, and controllable environment. Through an Open Source and uniform code base, which provides for easy integration, with development and maintenance skills available worldwide, solutions can be integrated in existing IT environments with minimal changes. The platform is based on the industry standard UnitedLinux, which is a standards-based Linux operating platform targeted at the business user, covering standards such as LSB (1.1+), FHS (2.2+), OpenI18N (1.0+) standards and GB18030 Chinese standards. SUSE has expanded and revised the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server kernel for enterprise deployment, and the components and modules have been optimised for the implementation and operation of server services. The range of SUSE LINUX Business Solutions provide medium sized enterprises that do not have LINUX expertise with the ability to benefit from the advantages of the Open Source operating system. Solutions are mainly pre-configured, easy to administer, and provide stability, performance, and IT security. Novell says that migration from other operating systems to SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server is easy, efficient, and inexpensive. The SUSE LINUX Server Family includes a range of user interfaces/desktop environments, of which the most popular are KDE 3.0 and Gnome 2.0 libraries. SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8 optional services include Web-based configuration and administration management for server services, and LDAP directory service. Core development and debugging tools are included in the SUSE LINUX Server Family, including all compilers, software libraries and sources, such as C (GCC), C++ (G++), JAVA, Pearl, and GDB.
September 2004
179
www.butlergroup.com
Novell maintains that by the use of Open Source Tools and Standards such as LDAP, TCP/IP, Java, and Samba, integration into existing IT infrastructures is not a problem. An example of this is that by using Samba, a SUSE LINUX Server can be integrated in an existing Windows environment. The SUSE LINUX Server family can be part of a basic IT Architecture for a wide range of additional services including security, connectivity, and system management. SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8 has achieved the worlds first Common Criteria certification for an Open Source operating system. It has been successfully evaluated under the Common Criteria for IT Security Evaluation, Version 2.1, and has reached Evaluation Assurance Level (EAL) 2 and are currently preparing for EAL 3. This means the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server is a certified basis for a secure and stable IT environment.
The SUSE LINUX Server family can be part of a basic IT Architecture for a wide range of additional services including security, connectivity, and system management.
For system management, customers have available SUSE LINUX tools such as YaST2, AutoYaSt, and Alice. These tools set up, install, and administer all servers and user data in a central and easy-to-configure manner. They can be used with a GUI interface as well as with the command line interface, and specialist LINUX knowledge is no longer required in order to carry out these tasks. For System Monitoring, the powerful Open Source tool Nagios is included. The SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server includes the most popular and well-known open source tools for Web services, including Apache and Tomcat. The SUSE LINUX Server family works with common IT standards. It is available for a wide range of architectures and includes strong co-operation with all native operating systems on host and mainframe systems. Novell asserts that its LINUX Enterprise Server is an ideal platform to facilitate optimised connectivity in a heterogeneous IT environment. To complement the consulting and support services available from the company, Novells business partners provide services to set up complex IT infrastructures. Consulting for named accounts and pilot customers, support for additional support contracts is available through SUSE Business Partner.
DEPLOYMENT
Dependent upon the complexity of a planned IT Infrastructure, the required resources vary from one system administrator to a large number of external consultants. Only basic IT knowledge is necessary for an initial installation and set up of a single infrastructure server. Implementation times depend on the complexity of the planned IT Infrastructure, and can take a few hours for setting up a SUSE LINUX Standard Server as an Infrastructure Server in a small network with Windows clients. Setting up a complex IT infrastructure with numerous Application and Database Servers in a distributed environment obviously takes longer. The SUSE LINUX Server family can be used in a distributed environment, as server services can be dispersed on a number of different servers. Clustering of the servers is also possible, as is the implementation of this as a high availability solution. For a basic set up, only basic IT server knowledge is required. Novell works with its training partners all over the world for further training options. Training courses facilitate and support the Linux Professional Institute (LPI), UnitedLinux Certified Professional (ULCP), and UnitedLinux Certified Expert (ULCE) certifications, in addition to Novells own CLP (Certified Linux Professional) qualification. All of these courses can be attended at various locations around the world.
180
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Novell provides a two-stage support model. Customers with the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server get a 12-month Maintenance Programme, including maintenance and support, with yearly renewal. Additionally, SUSE offers standardised support contracts with two different support levels to support the system in a production environment.
Novell provides a two-stage support model.

Novell provides support for SUSE LINUX and other Novell solutions via Premium Service a tiered model of support based on service levels from occasional telephone support to dedicated service engineers. For SME customers who require a SUSE LINUX only support solution, Novell offers SUSE LINUX Small Business Support and SUSE LINUX Server Support packages. The Maintenance Programme also covers security updates and bug fixes together with functional updates and release upgrades. Patches and upgrades are installed with the help of YaST Online Update (YOU). Maintenance support also covers any problems that arise in the process of applying patches. It also offers support for the basic installation of the product. The SUSE LINUX Maintenance Web provides users of the SUSE LINUX Maintenance Programme with the latest information, tips and tricks, enhancements, and bug fixes for all current SUSE LINUX products in an organised, comprehensive, and topical form. Customers are informed by e-mail about new bug fixes, functional enhancements, or product innovations. Functional enhancements can be downloaded via the SUSE LINUX Maintenance Web. By using the graphical update tool YOU, functional enhancements and bug fixes can easily be installed. Optionally, additional installation kits (CDs and manuals) for current and new product versions can be purchased. On request, the installation kit will be delivered whenever a new product version is released. The effective SUSE LINUX Maintenance Programme automatically applies to all product versions. SUSE LINUX Standard Support is available on business days from 9am to 6pm. SUSE LINUX Premium Support is available 365 days around the clock. It also includes support for business application products as a certified basis for LINUX applications of other software manufacturers such as IBM, SAP, and others. Premium Services from Novell include: Priority access to expert resources 24x7 and 365 days a year. Fast and predicable response times. Dedicated resources for personalised support. Access to industry leading support tools. With multiple levels of service, plus many options, customers can choose a programme that best suits their business needs. Novell SUSE LINUX Small Business Support offers: 10 service requests. 24 x 7 access. Maximum four-hour response. Novell TechCenter. Support is available for current and future versions of SUSE LINUX Desktop, Red Carpet Enterprise, SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server, SUSE LINUX Open Exchange Server, Ximian Desktop, and Evolution Connector for Microsoft Exchange.
September 2004
181
www.butlergroup.com
Novell SUSE LINUX Server Support offers: Unlimited electronic service requests (by server). 24x7 access. Maximum four hour response. Access to Novell TechCenter. Support is available foe current and future versions of SUSE LINUX Standard Server and SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server.
PRODUCT STRATEGY
SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server family can be used as a flexible, reliable, and cost-effective IT infrastructure backbone in all sizes of organisation. As products within the SUSE LINUX Server family are available for a wide range of hardware architectures, it fits in small companies with a few 32-bit Intel/AMD based Servers as well as in a corporate group with a heterogeneous infrastructure. SUSE LINUX Servers can be used for a wide variety of applications and provide solutions for small and medium companies as well as for large enterprises. The company believes that there is a great momentum behind Linux in the market, as it is a capable, stable, flexible, reliable, secure and cost-effective platform for IT Infrastructure. Novell believes that the SUSE LINUX Server family combines the power and dynamics of the open source community, with the credibility and the support of a professional software vendor. It sees itself as an enabler for proprietary and open source development architectures, and to provide a de facto standard interface for all major hardware and software applications to co-operate professionally. Novell feels it has the technological expertise, required partner eco-system, and commercial maturity to make the most of the expanding market potential. The company operates a PartnerNet program which incorporates SUSE LINUX partners and will enable more effective synergies between Novells solutions provider, hardware, software, and training partners, enhance recruitment of independent software and hardware vendors (ISV/IHVs), help drive new business for partners, and provide new options for customers to engage with Novell. Novell has strong partnerships with all the leading hardware and software vendors in the IT market, including IBM, HP, Fujitsu-Siemens Computing, Sun Microsystems, AMD, Intel, Oracle, and SAP. Customers have to license the use of the Maintenance Programme for the SUSE LINUX Server family. There is an annual fee per Server, and no client access licenses are necessary. The initial years maintenance is included in the purchase price of a SUSE LINUX Server, and renewal after expiration of the first year is voluntary. As the products in the SUSE LINUX Server family are Open Source and mostly GNU General Public Licence (GPL), there is no license fee for the use of the software. Novell charges only for the use of the Maintenance Programme and to cover support and comprehensive documentation. Pricing is available for Standard Support for the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server for a year on one x86 server and Premium Support for the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server, details are available upon request. Novell plans to release a new version of the SUSE LINUX Server every two years, and all versions will be maintained under the SUSE LINUX Maintenance Programme for at least five years after general availability. The next major release for the SUSE LINUX Server family will be based on the LINUX Kernel 2.6 and which include the newest LINUX technology such as NPTL, newest Apache release, and the newest Samba release. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server version 9 is due for release in September 2004.
182
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Novell says that perceived inhibitors to the adoption of Linux include lack of support, training, and commercial applications. It believes that there is generally a lack of awareness, that professional Linux companies offer not only their own commercial support but also provide additional support cover with partners. SUSE has support agreements with IGS and HP Global Services to provide third-level support to their partners customers. As more VARs adopt Linux as part of their strategic portfolio of commercial offerings, their skills increase to match the growing demand and they are better able to support their customers with any Linux implementations. As the market for Linux grows, more training companies recognise the business justification for providing Linux training. The company believes that as more training is available, a greater number of individuals will be able to master Linux technology. The adoption of Linux had to reach a critical mass before several key software vendors invested in porting their software to a Linux platform. Among the first to embrace Linux were SAP, Oracle, and Sage, and others are joining these ranks. The next momentum in Linux adoption is dependent on the availability of a wide range of specialist applications that are deemed relevant to businesses of today.
COMPANY PROFILE
SUSE LINUX is a Novell business, with headquarters in Nuremberg, Germany. It is one of the worlds leading providers of Linux software and services, with a large dedicated Linux research and development team. It delivers enterprise-ready software and services that harness the innovation, speed-to-market, and independence of the open source community. With its global business partners, the company supports customers throughout the world. The Gesellschaft fr Software- und Systementwicklung mbH (SUSE) was established in 1992 by a team of four university students who saw the opportunity of Open Source solutions. It has grown to become one of the worlds leading providers of the Open Source operating system, Linux. SUSE LINUX is the oldest commercial LINUX vendor and the largest LINUX distribution organisation in Europe. The SUSE LINUX business has almost 400 employees, of which 300 are based in Germany, and the rest throughout the world. 40% of its personnel are involved in research and development. It expects that the number of employees will continue to increase. SUSE LINUX estimates it has over 300,000 customers, and SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server is deployed by at least 30,000 business customers in a variety of key vertical industry sectors, including banking and finance, telecommunications, public sector and education, retail, and automotive. Customers include: Siemens Business Services. Swisscom IT Services. Klner Bank (Finance). Schaper & Brmmer (Pharmaceutical industry). MTU Aero Engines (Mechanical engineering). Telia Connect (Telecommunications and Internet services). DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung (German Air Traffic Control). European Space Agency (ESA).
September 2004
183
www.butlergroup.com
SUMMARY
The new version of SUSE LINUX, based on the Linux Kernel 2.6, due out shortly, will provide Novell with the opportunity to simultaneously release its new version on all platforms. This will demonstrate what Novell believes to be a competitive edge over other Linux distributions. Enhanced by a comprehensive ecosystem, Novell and its SUSE LINUX business is in a strong position to expand its influence in the Linux market.
CONTACT DETAILS
SUSE LINUX Maxfeldstr. 5 D-90409 Nrnberg, Germany Tel: +49 911 740 53 0 Fax: +49 911 741 77 55 Novell UK Novell House 1 Arlington Square Downshire Way Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1WA UK Tel: +44 (0)1344 724000 Fax: +44 (0)1344 724001 Novell GmbH Noerdlicher Zubringer 9-11 Duesseldorf Germany 40470 Tel: +49 211 56 31 0 Fax: +49 211 56 31 250 Novell France 8 Rue de lHotel de Ville 92200 Neuilly France 92200 Tel: +33 (0)1 55 62 50 00 Fax: +33 (0)1 55 62 51 99
For other office or company information please visit www.novell.com
184
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
ORACLE: Linux Products, Services, and Support
www.butlergroup.com
Oracle Linux Products, Services, and Support

Abstract
Oracle has put all its offerings on the Linux platform, uses Linux as its development environment, and is migrating all internal systems to Linux. As an early adopter it has built a reference architecture with Dell and Red Hat, and the 10g database is well positioned to exploit the benefits of Grid computing across Linux servers. It can provide a one-stop-shop for support of both its products and Linux operating system, being the only Independent Software Vendor (ISV) to provide code-level fixes to the Linux kernel if required. The bundled concept of software, hardware, and operating system, will provide a level of confidence that will be attractive to many businesses, as will the opportunity to migrate applications from existing proprietary UNIX platforms to a relatively low-cost Intel-based architecture. Oracle is well placed to remain as a perceived leader in the arena of Linux products and services.
KEY FINDINGS
All Oracle products support Linux. Oracle can provide code level patches to Linux Kernel. First-class deployment examples, including Amazon.com. Unbreakable Linux offering is a one-stopshop for support. Oracle/Dell bundles available. Support only applies to Oracle applications on Linux.
Key:
Product Strength
Product Weakness
LOOK AHEAD
Oracle committed itself to Linux at the early adoption phase, and has a solid track record of deployments. As a result of the coupling of Oracle 10g with the Grid computing paradigm, Oracle is well placed to remain as a perceived leader in the Linux arena.
FUNCTIONALITY
Oracles Linux commitment began in 1998 with the first commercial database on Linux. Today, Oracle is the only major software vendor to collaborate with and provide code-level support for Red Hat, and Novell/SUSE, and all Oracle products are available on Linux. In 1998 when Oracle first released its products on Linux, in addition to the proprietary UNIX and Microsoft Windows platforms, it recognised that the operating system at that stage was not enterprise ready. The distributions were fragmented, with varying speed of release, and there was often little backward compatibility, all of which stopped the operating system from being credible in a business environment. Oracle worked with both Red Hat and SUSE on development of both additional functionality, and, most importantly, the quality of support processes including a structured release plan.
September 2004
Section 9: Oracle Linux Products, Services, and Support
187
www.butlergroup.com
In 2002 Oracle, with Red Hats Enterprise Linux, created the Unbreakable Linux concept and brand, offering a tightly integrated stack of operating system and database, with a one-stop-shop for support and problems offered through Oracle staff capable of providing fixes at code level if required. The entire Oracle portfolio is now available for deployment on Linux, including: Database 9i and 10g. Applications E-Business Suite. Application Server. Collaboration Suite. Oracle is an Independent Software Vendor (ISV), and the company has migrated all base development of Oracle software from Sun Solaris to Linux platforms, and most of the companys internal business software has also been migrated to Linux. The migration to Linux as the development platform has also facilitated a change in the development and Quality Assurance (QA) process. Back in the 1990s, when base development was on Solaris, software build was undertaken separately to QA. A standard platform has allowed Oracle to now undertake these tasks simultaneously, with simultaneous development, porting, and QA on all platforms. This has both reduced the time of the product development life cycle and increased the quality of the build, as feedback from QA is faster. The company is currently building a test lab for Linux software releases, and working with partners to develop a standard Linux test plan. Again this is to reduce timescale and to improve quality and assurance. Oracles OnDemand Services offers end-to-end hosting and maintenance of Oracle Products on the Linux platform, with the option of deploying these systems at Oracles data centre at the customer site. Oracle has a server-based approach to software, and has the objective of abstracting applications to the browser level. In January 2004, it announced a Linux everywhere campaign, with the objective of all Oracle applications being accessible through the Mozilla Open Source browser. Oracle believes that the development of the 2.6 kernel, with its support for the 64-bit architecture, will give a new impetus, and level of development. The company is committed to working openly with the wider Linux community, and contributes code back to the Linux community, for example, the code for Oracles cluster file system.
9,000 developers at Oracle use Linux to Develop Products
Dedicated Linux Kernel Team; Contributions to Open Source
Oracle On Demand 600+ Linux Systems Deployed
Unbreakable Linux
Global Linux Support in 100+ Countries Oracle Runs Its Business on Linux All Oracle Products Available on Linux
Figure 1: The Components of Oracles Linux Strategy
188
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Oracle states that it does not want to own the operating system or to become a distributor. It sees its value as providing the databases and applications to run on the platform, and the ability to offer up to third-level support from a single company. The company regarded the Novell acquisition of SUSE as providing significant credibility for the operating system and confidence for business customers. Being a worldwide organisation and a Linux distributor with worldwide marketing and distribution complements Oracles global support strategy for Linux.
Oracle recognises the potential of Linux systems as building blocks for grid computing.
Oracle recognises the potential of Linux systems as building blocks for grid computing. The features of the Oracle 10g database, which as the g indicates is designed for distributed storage and processing across a Grid of servers, coupled with low-cost commodity Linux-based servers, are the foundation for enterprise grid deployments.
DEPLOYMENT
All Oracle software can be deployed upon either Red Hat or SUSE distributions of Linux. Oracle Standard Edition One, on Red Hat Linux is even available preinstalled on a Dell server, and can be ordered directly from Dell. Despite this partnership with Dell, Oracle software running on Linux is agnostic of the underlying hardware platform. For example, Oracles widely reported TPC-C record for non-clustered Linux was made on an NEC Express 5800. Oracle collaborates directly with both Red Hat and SUSE to provide first-to-third line support for its customers, and its consultancy arm will assist customers on evaluation, testing, and implementation as required. Oracle will provide a wide range of training, and certification to meet respective customer needs. This includes a special accreditation for Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) on Linux.
Deployment Examples
Schools in Fairfax County, Virginia, US are now starting to utilise Business Objects Crystal Enterprise 10 for Linux, and an Oracle database running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, to provide on-line analysis of students attendance data, their grades, and test scores. The previous in-house education Decision Support System (DSS) was adequate for the 2,000 administrators, but could not economically scale to 20,000 persons, for the teachers to use. The new system provides Web-based access for all teachers and administrators. It had been estimated that a similar deployment using a Microsoft Windows platform would have required four times the number of Intel-based servers to deliver the required service. The school district is also planning to standardise all of its databases on Linux servers, migrating from existing HP-UX and Sun Solaris deployments, with the objective of moving towards a single operating system environment. Amazon.com and its sellers list millions of new and used items in categories including: electronics, computers, kitchen products, house wares, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, cell phones and service, tools and hardware, travel services, magazine subscriptions, and outdoor living items. Amazon.com runs its Oracle data warehouse on Oracle9i Database Enterprise Edition with Oracle Partitioning. The database contains 10 terabytes of data and continues to double each year in both size and query volume. The database is updated six times per day, as daily operating cycles run through the subsidiary Web sites in France, Germany, Japan, the UK, Canada and the US.
September 2004
189
www.butlergroup.com
The high-level Project Goals for the data warehouse were: A flexible, scalable, highly available data warehouse. Improve site performance and improved customer service. A single view of the business. The Oracle data warehouse is now Amazons most important source for business intelligence driven processes, such as campaign management, supply-chain optimisation, and Web site personalisation. Individual consumers gain benefit from the use of the data warehouse through features, such as product recommendations, and personalised storefronts. About 800 Amazon.com users from every department in the company input into the Oracle data warehouse. Users submit over 4,000 queries daily, with the number of queries doubling annually. In addition, the Oracle9i Database features for Extraction, Transformation, and Loading (ETL) of data has enabled Amazon.com to move from doing those processes using a third-party tool to performing all tasks within the Oracle/Linux environment. Amazon.com believes that Oracle data warehouse has made the on-going changes to partners and products less time consuming than before. Amazon.com reports that the data warehouse paid for itself in about six months. Western Gas Resources is an independent natural gas producer, gatherer, processor, transporter, and energy marketer based in Denver, Colorado, US. The company owns 17 processing plants connected to more than 9,300 miles of pipeline in the Rocky Mountains, mid-continent, and West Texas regions of the United States. For 2003, its revenues were US $2.5 billion. Western Gas utilises Dell Intel Servers running Oracle databases on Linux and storage from Network Appliance (NetApp). Having previously used Oracle Financials on proprietary UNIX platforms in 2002, Western Gas began to migrate its Oracle databases from UNIX and Windows servers to Oracle on Intel servers running Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The company had determined the migration would lower costs and ensure the scalability needed to handle anticipated growth in the volume of data. The high-Level Project Goals for the migration to Linux and NetApp storage were: The ability to deliver reliable performance. Provision of high availability and scalability. Meeting the storage demand for managing the 50% growth in data per year. To provide fast, safe, easy back up, and recovery of the Oracle databases. Conformance to the companys disaster recovery plan. To deploy a cost effective, enterprise-class application infrastructure. The NetApp storage gives Western Gas the ability to allocate data storage cost-effectively. As the NetApp storage is clustered, Western Gas can scale on demand to meet an anticipated 50% annual growth in the volume of stored data. NetApp has also provided Western Gas with a reliable disaster recovery solution for its Oracle Database and data. Tests have shown that a production server can be back up and running in less than one hour. As part of the business case for the migration, Western Gass own cost-benefit analysis demonstrated that it could purchase four times the server power by using Dell servers and Linux, than by upgrading its existing hardware.
190
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
PRODUCT STRATEGY
At the end of the day, Oracle sells very good databases, which are utilised by its own applications and business solutions, and those of other ISVs. To offer the database as hardware platform agnostic is nothing but good business sense. To ensure that it can offer its products on relatively cheaper hardware platforms is necessary if it does not want to be penalised in selection as organisations scrutinise, in great detail, the Total Cost of Ownership of their IT facilities. Oracle states that there are more than 9,000 developers creating Oracle products on the Linux platform, and intends to be the largest Linux-based development organisation in the world. The Linux Everywhere campaign continues the marketing strategy, and reinforces the campaign for Unbreakable Linux, these will play a key part in maintaining Oracles profile as a major supporter of the Linux platform.
COMPANY PROFILE
Oracle Corporation (NASDAQ:ORCL), headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, with offices worldwide, is the worlds second largest independent software company, specialising in information management. Product lines cover database, tools, and application products. Larry Ellison, Robert Milner, Edward Oates, and Bruce Scott originally founded the Oracle Corporation in 1977 as Software Development Laboratories Inc. (SDLI). In the early days, the company built a commercial database management system for IBM, in a project commissioned by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with a code-name ORACLE. In 1982, this became the new name for SDLI, and the company pursued the development and distribution of database software, with Milner, Oates, and Scott concentrating on the database development side, whilst Ellison was, and still is, responsible for the vision of the organisation and for bringing clients on board. The company also offers consulting, education, and support services. Of the 40,650 full-time employees, 9,429 are involved in research and development. Oracle technology can be found in nearly every industry worldwide and in 98% of the Fortune 100 company offices. Oracle is most well known for its relational database management system, now in version 10g, ushering in the first Oracle grid-enabled clustering technology. The company also offers an Application Server, Collaboration Suite, Developer Suite, and E-Business Suite. Research and development expenditure was 12% of total revenues in 2003, or 36% of new software license revenues in 2003. Revenues and Net Income for the last three financial years ending 31 May were as follows: 2003 (US$ billion) Revenue % Change Total Net Income/(Loss) 9.475 (2.0%) 2.307 2002 (US$ billion) 9.673 (11.8%) 2.224 2001 (US$ billion) 10.961 7.1% 2.561
September 2004
191
www.butlergroup.com
A sample of key clients includes US Navy, CalPERS, TAM, Israeli Army, Phillips Electronics, Ventureforth, and ACCO Brands. Over 200,000 customers worldwide are using the Oracle Database. Oracle customers that have deployed solutions on a Linux platform include: Amazon.com. bluecycle.com. CERN. Precision Response Corporation. Merrill Lynch. Texas Tech University. Cairns City Council. Dell.
SUMMARY
Oracle can provide a complete range of support and services for its products deployed on Linux. Unbreakable Linux, and the partnership with Red Hat and Dell, has provided a credible reference architecture for organisations wishing to migrate with confidence to a Linux platform. The fact that the company is the only ISV that can provide code-level patches to the Linux kernel, that all development is undertaken on Linux platforms, and that all the companys internal systems are migrating to a Linux platform, is a further boost to others who are thinking of migrating. Oracles commitment to Linux has had a major impact upon raising awareness of the operating system as a business-ready platform.
CONTACT DETAILS
World Headquarters Redwood Shores Oracle Corporation 500 Oracle Parkway Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA Tel: +1 650 506 7000 E-mail: oraclesales_us@oracle.com www.oracle.com Oracle Corporation UK Ltd. Oracle Parkway Thames Valley Park Reading, Berkshire RG1 1RA UK Tel: +44 (0)1189 240000 www.oracle.co.uk
192
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
RED HAT: Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Red Hat Desktop v. 3
www.butlergroup.com
Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Red Hat Desktop v. 3
Abstract
The Red Hat Enterprise Linux family of operating systems provides Linux platforms for large organisations, Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and technical workstation and High Performance Computing (HPC) requirements. These are backed up by the Red Hat Desktop that provides complementary technology and services. Red Hat also offers Red Hat Network, an enterprise systems management platform for the Linux infrastructure so that systems administrators have the tools to efficiently manage their networks. The contributions of Red Hats partnerships are seen as important elements in providing the breadth of applications and services that are important for customers. Enterprises can have the confidence that through Red Hats training and professional services, backed up by its partners capabilities, efficient deployment of Red Hat Enterprise Linux can be successfully achieved.
KEY FINDINGS
Based on open standards and open source development methods. Scalability and management features for business critical deployments. Key: Product Strength Product Weakness Wide endorsement by leaders in the IT industry. Red Hat upset its fans by discontinuing its low-end Linux distribution. Point of Information
LOOK AHEAD
Red Hat Enterprise Linux will not be released with the full Linux 2.6 kernel until 2005. However, the companys Enterprise and Desktop family, built on a credible foundation, offers a strong combination that will persuade potential customers to seriously consider the move to a Linux platform.
FUNCTIONALITY
Red Hat offers four products in its Enterprise family: Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS that supports high-end and business-critical systems, and is available with the highest levels of support. Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES is aimed at small to mid-range systems. Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS is for all technical workstation and single unit desktop/client needs. Red Hat Desktop is the newest member of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux family. It provides a high-quality, full-featured client system that is suitable for use in a wide range of desktop deployments.
September 2004
Section 9: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Red Hat Desktop v. 3
195
www.butlergroup.com
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS

This is Red Hats top-of-the-line Enterprise Linux that supports high-end and business-critical systems, and is available with the highest levels of support. Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS is the core operating system and infrastructure enterprise Linux solution. It can support the largest commodity-architecture servers with up to 16 CPUs and 64GB of main memory. This solution is designed for large departmental and data centre servers. Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS is supported by an extensive range of applications from leading ISVs, and is certified on systems provided by Dell, HP, IBM, Sun, Bull, Fujitsu-Siemens, and Hitachi. It has achieved impressive industry-standard benchmark results.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES

This solution is for small to mid-range servers used for the majority of todays business computing needs. Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES provides the core operating system and networking infrastructure for a wide range of entry-level and departmental server applications. It is ideally suited for network, file, print, mail, Web, and custom or packaged business applications. It is fully compatible with the Red Hat Enterprise Linux family, and it provides the stability, performance, and support needed for critical application deployments. Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES provides the same core capabilities as Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS, but it supports small and mid-size X86-based systems with up to two CPUs and 8GB of main memory.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS

This is the solution for all technical workstation and single unit desktop and client needs, including software development, power desktop, targeted client applications, and High Performance Computing (HPC). Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS is the technical and design workstation partner for Enterprise Linux AS and Enterprise Linux ES. It is ideal for all engineering desktop deployments, including design workstations, software development environments, and targeted engineering ISV client applications. When configured as a headless workstation, Enterprise Linux WS is also ideally suited for use as a compute node in an HPC environment. Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS is fully compatible with other members of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux product family and provides complementary technology and services. It provides support for workstation systems with up to two CPUs, and is designed with the client environment in mind. Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS does not include a number of server applications found in Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS and Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES.
Red Hat Desktop

For volume client system deployments, Red Hat Desktop is available in 10 and 50 unit packs and bundled with Red Hat Network Proxy or Satellite Server. The company says that Red Hat Desktop enables users to be productive immediately in a secure and easily managed environment. It is the newest member of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux family, and provides a high-quality, full-featured client system that is suitable for use in a wide range of desktop deployments. While primarily focused on enterprise and commercial markets, the features and stability of Red Hat Desktop also make it attractive for use in small and medium business environments. It is available in configurations that include Red Hat Network Proxy or Satellite Server, ensuring the complete deployment delivers the highest levels of manageability and security. Red Hat Desktop supports single CPU systems with up to 4GB of main memory. Red Hat Desktop is available in packages of either 10 or 50 units for mass deployments of consistently configured clients. It is fully compatible with other members of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux product family and provides complementary technology and services.
196
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Red Hat Open Source Architecture

The solutions fit within Red Hat Open Source Architecture, which is Red Hats technical strategy for the next five years. The company plans to create a hierarchy of common software components and provide a completely standards-based open source infrastructure.
Developer Programs Consulting Training
Update Management Management Backplane Partner Applications (Oracle, BEA, VERITAS, SAP, CA, IBM) Inventory Management Provisioning/ Configuration Storage Management Client Management Workflow Management
Developer Programs
Clustering
Developer Tools
United Directory
Consulting
Training
Middleware Security Core Operating System
Computer Node Virtualisation and Storage Virtualisation
Hardware Partners
Figure 1: Red Hat Open Source Architecture Red Hat claims to be the only pure-play open source solution on the market. The company also says that it has advantages over its competitors in this market, including: Regular technology innovation and maintenance. Hardware and software certification and integration. Integrated maintenance and management. Worldwide services and support. Direct relationships with the thought leaders in Linux. Optimised and predictable Linux. Red Hat is actively working with ISV and OEM partners to provide audited industry-standard benchmark results, and numerous Enterprise Linux v 2.1 benchmarks have been published. The company published the first Enterprise Linux v.3 benchmark prior to the announcement of the product release. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is supported for a full five years from product release, and this is delivered by Red Hats selected partners, such as Oracle, Dell, and IBM. There are three types of support available: Full support that includes hardware updates, bug fixes, and security. Deployment, which includes security bug fixes. Maintenance incorporating security and selected bug fixes.
September 2004
197
www.butlergroup.com
For managing the Linux infrastructure, Red Hat provides Red Hat Network, which is an easy-to-use systems management platform. It is built on open standards and uses an Internet-based graphical interface. Red Hat Network provides administrators with the tools to efficiently manage the systems on their network. It also features a modular design so that as networks expand, administrators can add enhanced capabilities for system updates, management, and provisioning of their entire infrastructure. Red Hat Network can provide savings, increase productivity, and enhance security.
For managing the Linux infrastructure, Red Hat provides Red Hat Network, which is an easy-to-use systems management platform.
Red Hat ensures that all systems are secure and up-to-date by automatically pushing updates and patches through to the desktop. It also provides security for its enterprise products through the continual assessment of threats and vulnerabilities that affect its users, and the provision of a single point of contact for security issues. It also works with its competitors, and organisations such as CERT Co-ordination Centre (CERT/CC), National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre (NISCC), and Mitre Corporation.
DEPLOYMENT
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is sold in three implementations, suitable for the following specialist roles: AS providing a foundation for enterprise applications and capabilities such as database serving, in a data centre environment. ES providing Web-related networking capabilities such as DNS, Web server, and FTP, or serving the needs of a restricted user base (with database, or Java application, needs). WS serving desktops, file/print serving, and providing intensive computing capability. These are supplemented by the newest member of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux family, the Red Hat Desktop. All products are deployed via the Linux standard RPM method, which provides a package management approach. Red Hat states that a typical size of deployment would be to 100 or more servers, performing a range of task types. Deployment timescales can range from days to months, depending upon the size and complexity of the deployment. For simple file and print servers, the start-up time can be less than a week. For complex database environments, the planning, deployment, and validation time can be months. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is frequently deployed in heterogeneous environments in which several operating systems are used simultaneously. Linux systems are able to exchange data with UNIX and Windows systems quite easily and therefore can be deployed modularly. The resource overhead for ongoing maintenance is similar to that for a UNIX deployment of the same scale. In terms of resources, there are several possibilities for implementation: The customers own resources install, with help from the Red Hat Service team when needed. Customer IT administration staff are trained by Red Hat, and then complete installation independently. Red Hat consultants, or System Integrators, can develop a migration plan, and assist with deployment.
198
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Red Hat offers a variety of training alternatives and has trained over 70,000 customer staff. These provide advanced training in development and security skills, and applications. The company provides performance-based certifications: Red Hat Certified Engineer. Red Hat Certified Technician. Courses can be based in Red Hats own training centres, or can be tailored to customer needs and made available on-site. Training courses are available globally in 85 cities worldwide, 35 of them in North America. Red Hat also has a number of partners that provide training services, throughout the world, and via the Internet. Red Hat Professional Services provides global support services in eight languages available on a 24x7 basis. Customers purchasing premium service packages can receive support for priority 1 problems within one hour. Support is also available through Red Hats OEM partners. Customers purchasing preloaded hardware may call their hardware provider for level 1 and 2 support issues. The hardware providers work with Red Hat for level 3 escalations. Product support and development includes use of Red Hat Community, with a global membership of more than 10,000 certified engineers, of whom many are employed by other leading software vendors. Where services resources are required for work relating to a specific customers requirements, this constitutes an extra purchase. The core product offering, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, is sold under a subscription model in which the product is delivered with one year of support services and connection to Red Hat Network. Red Hat Cluster Suite is available only as a layered product for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, version 3. Red Hat Cluster Suite technologies were originally delivered as part of Enterprise Linux AS, version 2.1. Customers who purchased Enterprise Linux AS, version 2.1, prior to 15 October 2003 are automatically entitled to a no-charge subscription to Red Hat Cluster Suite when they upgrade to Enterprise Linux, version 3 for the duration of their Enterprise Linux AS subscription. Of the services described, those that are optional include training, consulting, technical account management, developer support, custom engineering, and systems monitoring through Red Hat Network. Cluster Suite, Portal Server, CMS, and RHDS are all products purchased additionally to Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
PRODUCT STRATEGY
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a distribution of Linux. The company does not own the code for the product (which was developed by the open source development community), hence does not sell the product but provides a subscription service. This service packages Red Hat Enterprise Linux as a stable platform, with regular releases of enhancements, along with a framework for development and deployment of applications, and product support. Red Hat claims the development model to be superior to proprietary development methodology due to the following factors: The size, quality, and motivation through excellence of the engineering pool, and test teams, from both the open source community and the company. The processes that are used to ensure coherence and quality, including a completely standards-based approach. Collaboration between independent software and hardware vendors, the open source communities, and Red Hat pools the maximum available expertise.
September 2004
199
www.butlergroup.com
In terms of progress of the product, Red Hat has graduated from provision of a Web server solution, via an Application Server solution and database server, to an enterprise architecture platform. Its performance features have been gradually upgraded to cater for graduation from desktop computing to blade technology, and now to the data centre environment. It has been deployed in environments as diverse as embedded in a mobile device, mainframes, and x86, and Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) chips.
Red Hat has graduated from provision of a Web server solution to an enterprise architecture platform.
Its attractions to customers extend beyond the commonly understood benefit of low cost. Scalability and reliability are strong enough to ensure sales in conservative organisations, as the basis for many important business applications. The open source model encourages competition between vendors, due to a comparatively low cost of entry, thereby driving down the cost of participation for end-users. Red Hat has gained particular strength in the following vertical and technology sectors: Government/Public Sector. Financial Services. Telecommunications. Embedded Device applications. High-performance computing. Point Of Sale. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is sold directly, through OEM partners and the Web. The company has key business partnerships with HP, IBM Global Services, and a distributor, Interactive Ideas. Its key technology partners include: AMD. EMC. Fujitsu Siemens. Intel. Hewlett-Packard (HP). The companys direct competitor as a specialist Linux vendor is Novell with its SUSE subsidiary, although it sees Microsoft and Sun Microsystems as long-term competitors on the basis of future marketplace success of Linux. Red Hats Enterprise Linux family of operating systems is available on a per-system, annual subscription basis. The subscriptions are offered in three editions: Basic, Standard, and Premium. Each edition has varying support levels and delivery options so that customers can choose the subscription combination that best meets the needs of their business: Dell. Dot Hill. Sun Microsystems. IBM.
200
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Basic Editions Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS Intel x86 Intel Itanium2 and EM64T, AMD64, IBM iSeries & pSeries IBM zSeries & s/390 Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES Intel x86 Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS Intel x86 Intel Itanium2 and EM64T, AMD64 US$179 US$792 Proxy Starter Pack Red Hat Desktop Intel Itanium2 and EM64T, AMD64 US$2500 US$349
Standard Editions US$1499 US$1992 US$15000 US$799 US$299
Premium Editions US$2499 US$2988 US$18000
Satellite Starter Pack US$3500
Extension Pack US$13500
Red Hat Enterprise Linux has an 18-month release cycle to mirror the release cycle of its major ISV partners, thereby ensuring full interoperability. Red Hats Open Source Architecture outlines a technical strategy for the next four to five years. Its next release will be Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 that is due in early 2005. Red Hat plans to continue driving the Open Source Architecture through: A scalable, universal Open Source OS distribution. OSS layered products through Applications Server, Development Suite, and Clustering. A management infrastructure with Red Hat Network.
COMPANY PROFILE
Red Hat Inc, (NASDAQ:RHAT), has its headquarters in Raleigh, NC, USA. It has major offices in the UK, Australia, and Japan. Entrepreneurs Bob Young and Marc Ewing founded Red Hat in 1994, and the business model is completely around using and developing Open Source software. Red Hat provides Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating platforms (sold through a subscription model), distribution, integration, enhancements, technical services, support, and training to generate its revenue, as well as Red Hat Network. All code developments are placed in the Open Source community, and are available for others to copy and improve. The companys global training programme operates in more than 60 locations worldwide and features RHCE, the global standard Linux certification.
September 2004
201
www.butlergroup.com
Figures for Financial years ending in February are: 2003 (US$ million) 90.9 15.2% (6.6) 2002 (US$ million) 78.9 (2.4%) (140.2) 2001 (US$ million) 80.8 90.6% (86.7)
Revenue Increase (decrease) on previous year Total Net Income/(Loss)
Key customers that have deployed Red Hat Linux include: Le Figaro. Morgan Stanley. Credit Suisse First Boston. Merrill Lynch. Amazon. Oracle. BP. Dreamworks.
SUMMARY
Red Hat is a leading supplier of Linux. It has an enviable history of endorsement by giants in the IT industry through partnerships, and a wide choice of services suppliers is available to customers. With the addition of Red Hat Desktop v.3 to its Enterprise family of products, it provides an open, secure, manageable, and consistent platform across architectures. Butler Group believes that all sizes of organisations considering the move to a Linux platform will be impressed by the scale of Red Hats offering.
CONTACT DETAILS
Red Hat, Inc. 1801 Varsity Dr. Raleigh, NC 27606 USA Tel: +1 919 754 3700 Fax: +1 919 754 3701 E-mail: info@redhat.com www.redhat.com Red Hat Europe 10 Alan Turing Road Surrey Research Park Guildford, Surrey GU2 7YF, UK Tel: +44 (0)1483 300169 Fax: +44 (0)1483 574944 E-mail: solutions-eu@redhat.com www.europe.redhat.com
202
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
SUN MICROSYSTEMS: Linux Services
www.butlergroup.com
Sun Microsystems Linux Services

Abstract
Sun Microsystems supplies educational, consulting, and integration support services for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server platforms. The company is one of the largest contributors of intellectual property to the open source community and continues to expand its participation. It provides one-stop Linux support by utilising its comprehensive global infrastructure. Organisations that seek an experienced global supplier to provide services and support, both centrally and locally, for their Linux platforms will see Sun as an ideal partner. Recently, however, mixed messages have emanated from the company regarding Linux and its Linux partners, and potential customers may well require Sun to clarify its future strategy.
KEY FINDINGS
Suns lengthy experience with Solaris gives it an edge in providing Linux support. Although Sun has worked closely with its partners it has recently criticised Red Hat. Key: Product Strength Product Weakness Global enterprises can be supported with local language capability. The company is a major contributor to the Open Source community. Point of Information
LOOK AHEAD
On the face of it, Sun seems to be in the process of changing its attitude to Linux. This could be due to developments of Solaris UNIX products already announced and in the pipeline. However, Sun says that it is to release Solaris to the open source community, and only time will tell whether the company continues its dual commitment to both UNIX and Linux.
FUNCTIONALITY
Sun Microsystems provides its customers with the freedom to choose the solution that best meets their business needs. It brings a comprehensive systems approach to Linux through: Provision of Java technology support, including Java Desktop System and Java Enterprise System. x86-based hardware. Support services for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, with Suns Java Enterprise System. These include educational services for these platforms and related consulting and integration services. Supplying everything that the Linux customer needs.
September 2004
Section 9: Sun Microsystems Linux Services
205
www.butlergroup.com
Sun provides standard Linux offerings that are best suited for organisations that are looking for the broadest x86 platform support and horizontal scalability. They are also aimed at organisations that have standardised on Linux or commercial Linux applications. The companys standard Linux solutions are also available for customers who want to draw on the resources of the open source community or who desire free access to source code. Sun Microsystems believes that it has a competitive advantage over other vendors through its global support in local languages, building on its experience in UNIX support and educational services. It also provides a single point of contact for Sun Microsystems hardware and Linux offerings. Its support services are designed to be ongoing for the life of the product, and its managed services are designed to be ongoing throughout the customer relationship. Other services can be supplied on demand, such as large-scale integration of customer-ready systems, and it supplies one-off services such as classroom or Web-based training.
Suns services offerings are delivered according to its implementation of the Six Sigma methodology, called SunSigma.
Suns services offerings are delivered according to its implementation of the Six Sigma methodology, called SunSigma. All of the Sun services form part of Suns Architect, Implement, and Manage (AIM) lifecycle methodology for solutions delivered to its customers, including solutions based on Linux. In addition to SunSigma, Sun also offers managed services based on the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) methodology. Architecturally, the design of the methodology is built upon a Sigma Define, Measure, Analyse, Design, and Verify model (DMADV), which has been adapted as a framework for working within three life-cycle spaces, problem analysis, solution development, and solution sustaining. In a classical Sigma context, the DMADV model is applied when processes or products are being developed for the first time, or when an existing process or product cannot be improved upon to meet established Critical-To-Quality (CTQ) metrics. The classical DMADV model incorporates five phases, which describe a sequence of activities for defining and implementing a product or process: The Define phase to identify objectives, goals, requirements, constraints and assumptions, and to bound the problem space. The Measurement phase to establish measurable CTQs which quantify the problem space. The Analysis phase examines available data, develops an understanding of the problem space, and establishes design parameters. The Design phase develops a candidate solution design and evaluation of its capabilities. The Verification phase to implement the design, validate performance, and assess the designs adherence to requirements. To facilitate the development of a complete end-to-end solution life cycle methodology, the classic DMADV model has been extended to incorporate a Control phase. This enables the sustaining elements of the solution life cycle to be fully incorporated into the methodology. As a result, the tools and discipline of Sigma can be leveraged into the sustaining space of the solutions life cycle. This modification results in the DMADVC model, which is illustrated below.
206
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Define Measure Analyse
Methodology Initiation Requirements Development Problem Space Analysis
Problem Analysis Space
Sun Sigma
Design Verify
Solution Design Solution Implementation, Test & Deploy
Solution Development Space
Control
Solution Sustain
Solution Sustaining Space
Figure 1: Sun Sigma DMADVC Model Sun says that it delivers value through IT solutions that reduce complexity and cost, improve manageability, and are available, scalable, and secure. It provides a range of x86 offerings that incorporate and innovate new technology. Its range of x86 hardware has been certified as compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. Through Suns global alliances with Red Hat and SUSE, the company can ship and support both Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. The company is committed to offering its software products on both Solaris and Linux. Its Java Enterprise System will be available on Red Hat Enterprise Linux in its next release, and several Sun ONE products are already available on earlier versions of Red Hat Linux. Sun is the only company to bring Linux and the UNIX Solaris Operating System (OS) to the x86 platform. As a leading provider of enterprise products and services, the company uses its experience to provide this expertise to Linux. Linux and Solaris applications are compatible using Java technologies and common interfaces and tools, such as lxrun and Linux Compatibility Toolkit (LinCAT). Sun delivers an enterprise development platform for Linux, and it is focusing on delivering branded Linux with the added value of Java technology, Sun services, and the Java Enterprise System that is soon to be available on Linux. The company says that it is one of the largest contributors of intellectual property to the open source community. Sun is also a member of the Free Standards Group, the Linux standards organisation, and Open Source Development Lab (OSDL). A Sun representative is co-chairing the Linux internationalisation effort (Li18nux). Sun contributes resources and technology to free and open source projects including: OpenOffice.org. GNOME.org. Mozilla.org. Apache.org. NetBeans.org. Grid Engine Project. Project JXTA.
September 2004
207
www.butlergroup.com
Sun plans to continue to support its many Open Source initiatives, and pursue opportunities to contribute Java technology, Solaris and other Sun ONE code, and Intellectual Property (IP) to the Open Source community including: Sun Open Source Program has created SunSource.net, a site devoted to Suns involvement in free and open Source projects. The Java Community Process is an open organisation of international Java developers and licensees whose charter is to develop and revise Java technology specifications, reference implementations, and technology compatibility kits. The Sun Developer Network including Java, Solaris, and now Linux communities has an unmatched developer base providing access to a huge pool of applications and open source resources.
DEPLOYMENT
Many of Suns services, including its Linux-based services only require the customer to have in-house expertise at system administrator level. However, the company offers managed services to fill any gaps in the customers own in-house resources. The Sun support services for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server are bundled with the distribution of the software. The services can be activated by customers via a registration site or by calling Suns Customer Care Centre. Customers can obtain ongoing support via Suns Online Support Centre, its Web-based service portal, which is available in all major languages, or by phoning Suns Customer Care Centre. Its Customer Care Centres are located in all major countries where Sun has a direct presence, and provides local language support. The service offering depends on the level of service purchased by the customer. The service levels for Red Hat Enterprise Linux are as follows: WS Standard Term Delivery Response Content 1 Year 12/5 Phone 4 Business Hours Red Hat Installation Hard drive partitioning Package selection X windowing system config. ES Standard 1 Year 12/5 Phone 4 Business Hours As WS Standard, plus: FTP Server System Backup Network Configuration System Performance Tuning AS Standard 1 Year 12/5 Phone 4 Business Hours As ES Standard, plus: Dual-booting Red Hat Linux Kernel Config and Customisation AS Premium 1 Year 24/7 Phone 1 Business Hour As AS Standard, plus: Firewall Scripting Bash Scripting Kerberos
208
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
WS Standard Content cont. Printer configuration Red Hat Network Instruction Remote Terminal Access OS Debugging Java Support Security RH Cert. 3rd Party App. Support Netdump Client Configuration Desktop Support Miscellaneous Red Hat Network Subscription
ES Standard Web Server Mail Server Kickstart and NetworkBased Installation NIS Server DNS Server Samba Server Squid Server Dial-in Access Server Software Raid NFS Server DHCP Server X Terminal Server
AS Standard Netdump and Netconsole configuration High Availability Clustering
AS Premium
PRODUCT STRATEGY
Sun Microsystems believes that its market for Linux services includes Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and scales up to large enterprises, including its major global accounts. It sees its key market opportunity for Linux services in the data centre space, wherever its customers are deploying Linux as part of their business critical IT operations. Sun offers its Linux services both directly and through its partners. It has key technology, distribution, and support agreements with Red Hat and SUSE. However, the companys President, Jonathan Schwartz recently said that he saw Red Hat was a proprietary company, more so than Sun itself. Larry Singer, Senior Vice President then followed this up by saying that the company thought that Linux was a huge movement that was good for the industry, and that Linux made sense for some implementations. It also believed that a lot of people considered Red Hat for the wrong reasons. The company sees that IBM Global Services and Hewlett Packard are its key competitors in this market.
September 2004
209
www.butlergroup.com
The list prices for Sun Microsystems services options are the same as those charged by Red Hat: WS Standard Term Delivery Response List Price 1 Year 12/5 Phone 4 Business Hours US$299 ES Standard 1 Year 12/5 Phone 4 Business Hours US$799 AS Standard 1 Year 12/5 Phone 4 Business Hours US$1,499 AS Premium 1 Year 24/7 Phone 1 Business Hour US$2,499
Sun says that it is committed to continuing support for Red Hat and SUSE distributions over the next two years and beyond. It is a committed and active member of the Open Source Community, and actively participates in: OpenOffice.org Grid Engine. Brazil: Web application development, Sun Labs project. Liberty Alliance: The interoperability prototype. Sun is a member of the Free Standards Group, which is a Linux standards organisation. It is also a member of Linux International, it co-chairs the Linux internalisation effort (L118nux), and supports community efforts to port Linux to UltraSPARC architecture. It also contributes to key open source projects such as GNOME.org, Mozilla.org, and Apache.org. Suns President, Jonathan Schwartz recently made it clear that the company believes in the open development model for Solaris and other projects, with timings yet to be decided. It has already announced that its next generation Linux desktop, Project Looking Glass will be turned over to the open source community. The company is committed to working with developers, customers, and partners in the areas of open source and open, standards-based technology. Through the success of Java, Sun says that it has seen that an open, collaborative development environment accelerates the creation of innovative products, solutions, and services. It is the companys intention to create a rich, open environment around the enterprise-class Solaris Operating System. It is currently taking soundings from its customer base in order to refine the project, and it will then announce the timing of the launch, the licensing models available, and other details. NetBeans. Project JXTA. JRMS: Java libraries and services for building reliable multicast-aware applications.
COMPANY PROFILE
Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ:SUNW) was incorporated in February 1982, and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, US. The company has offices in more than 170 countries with over 35,000 employees, and is a Fortune 500, billion-dollar value company. Suns product line includes the SPARC series high-performance, scalable microprocessors running the Solaris Operating Environment (OE) (UNIX variant). Enterprise-level server products include Fire and Netra series, and desktop workstations include the Blade series. Apart from network products, Sun offers network storage solutions in partnerships with third parties.
210
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Suns main focus on Linux services includes data centre implementations of Linux solutions based on Sun system architecture, and desktop rollout of Suns Java Desktop System. It currently has about 2000 service contracts for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, in addition to the service delivered for Linux as part of Suns Java Desktop System. The company services over a million systems worldwide in 126 countries, and trains over 400,000 students each year. Suns key clients include six out of the global top ten retail banks, over 98% of all branded investment banks, eight out of the global top ten telecommunications companies, nine household brand auto manufacturers, and US government agencies: AXA. General Electric. Heidelberg. State of Georgia. Eaton. General Motors. State of New Jersey. Peugeot.
Published revenues and incomes for the past three fiscal years to June 2003 were as follows: 30/06/2003 (US$ million) 11,434 (8.5%) (2,724) (3,429) 30/06/2002 (US$ million) 12,496 (31.5%) (1,248) (587) 30/06/2001 (US$ million) 18,250 4.2% 1,311 927
Net Revenue Change on previous year Operating income (loss) Net Income/(Loss)
SUMMARY
In IT industry terms, Sun Microsystems has a relatively long history with solid experience that can be leveraged in its services and support for Linux. It also deploys powerful methodologies to deliver its services. The company also offers managed services to counter gaps in the customers in-house resources. With its partnerships in place with Red Hat and SUSE, the company should be attractive as a partner to any enterprise that is starting out in its use of Linux in the enterprise. Sun is continuing to release more attractive products based on the Solaris operating system, and it plans to release these to the open source community.
CONTACT DETAILS
Sun Microsystems Ltd. UK Head Office Java House, Guillemont Park Minley Road, Blackwater Camberley, Surrey, GU17 9QG UK Tel: +44 (0)1252 420000 www.sun.com Sun Microsystems Inc. Corporate Headquarters 4150 Network Circle Santa Clara CA 95054 USA Tel: +1 650 960 1300
September 2004
211
www.butlergroup.com
SECTION 10: Vendor Profiles
www.butlergroup.com
Asianux
Product Profile Asianux 1.0 Asianux is a Linux server operating system which has been co-developed by the Chinese Red Flag Software Co., Ltd. and Japanese Linux vendor MIRACLE LINUX COOPERATION, aiming to create a common-standard enterprise Linux platform for Enterprise systems in the Asia/Pacific region. It is intended to provide enterprise customers with high reliability, scalability, manageability, and better hardware, and software compatibility. There is an Asianux certification partner program, and 40 major ISVs and hardware vendors are having products certified on Asianux. Asianux certification will verify compatibility with both MIRACLE LINUX V3.0 and Red Flag DC4.1, which should result in reduced time and cost for certification, and enable partners to develop new products using Asianux. Oracle (which owns 58% of Miracle Software) has already certified several products on Asianux. Certification is undertaken at the Oracle China Development Centre, which is situated in southern China in Shenzhen, near the commercial centre of Hong Kong, as is Asianux technical support. The joint development team from Red Hat and Miracle is also based at the Centre. Asianux was established in January 2004, and the beta version of Asianux 1.0, including a range of management tools from Red Flag, was announced in March 2004, and testing concluded in June 2004. Red Flag DC (Advanced Server) 4.1 and MIRACLE LINUX V3.0 are based on Asianux, and each will be bundled with localised features in each country. Asianux is currently developing a 64-bit version; Asianux 1.0 for Itanium II is planned for release in August 2004. Asianux www.asianux.com
BMC Software
Product Profile BMC Linux Services BMC provides services that cover Linux System Design, Linux Deployment, and Linux Operations. The system design process devises an optimal system configuration to deliver a required level of system performance, thereby enabling enterprises to provision resources that closely match the needs of actual application performance. Administrators need capacity planning capabilities to determine the resources required to migrate applications to Linux, to consolidate multiple applications to a single Linux server, and to create clustered Linux farms. The successful deployment of Linux requires the orchestration of the installation and configuration of all the components, fixes, and upgrades in the correct order and distribution to the right servers in an error-free manner. The deployment solution also tracks changes to infrastructure configurations performed by the Linux administrator, and changes performed by application managers, database administrators, security managers, and other technicians. The BMC Deployment Manager solution provides a number of features that simplify the orchestration, distribution, and tracking of multiple, heterogeneous Linux server images in the infrastructure. For the central monitoring of the troubleshooting process for Linux Operations, server metrics and analysis capabilities are presented to administrators in either PATROL or MAINVIEW interfaces, so that administrators can extend their server monitoring tools to the Linux environment. Vendor Profile BMC Software is one of the largest software providers in the world, and it is a member of the S&P 500. It was founded in September 1980, and the company has its headquarters in Houston, Texas, with its International division based in The Netherlands. The company has an extensive network of international offices throughout the world, and BMC research and development offices are located in the US, France, Singapore, Israel, and India. The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange [NYSE: BMC].
September 2004
Section 10: Vendor Profiles
215
www.butlergroup.com
The company has over 6,400 employees worldwide, 2,300 in sales and marketing, about 500 in professional services, and 3,000 in research and development. BMC Softwares revenue for the last fiscal year was just under US$1.3 billion, with US$752.4 million in North America and US$536.5 million in the rest of the world. BMC has approximately 9,600 customers worldwide. It provides enterprise management solutions to Global 2000 companies. The companys typical customer is a large enterprise, institution, manufacturer, or supplier that needs to manage highly complex and decentralised IT environments. BMC Software 2101 City West Boulevard Houston Texas 77042 USA BMC Software Assurance House Vicarage Road, Egham Surrey, TW20 9JY UK Tel: +44 (0)1784 478000 Fax: +44 (0)1784 430581 www.bmc.com www.bmc.com/uk
Comodo
Product Profile Trustix Secure Linux Trustix OS is a security hardened, server optimised Linux distribution. Packages have been specifically chosen to maximise the security, performance, and stability of corporate servers. It has no running services which may compromise security or denigrate system performance, features strong encryption and is capable of heavy-duty multitasking. Trustix OS is easy to deploy and manage and is fully scaleable to the needs of an organisation. It is backed up by support options, automated upgrades, and continued development. Trustix says that as the main reason for enterprises purchasing a server operating system is because they plan to run a server on it, the company has solved this need with its suite of pre-configured server solutions: Trustix OS preconfigured as a Web Server. Trustix OS preconfigured as a Proxy Server. Trustix OS preconfigured as a Mail Server. Trustix OS preconfigured as a LAN Server. Each application is an engineered version of Trustix Operating System that has been specifically pre-configured to the individual requirements of a particular server type. Furthermore, the XPloy Graphic User Interface (GUI) means that users do not need any Linux knowledge to administer their servers. Trustix says that a fully functional server can be installed and deployed within 30 minutes. Vendor Profile Comodo designs, develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of Internet security infrastructure products, including x.509 digital Certificate services, validation services, silicon security, crypto solutions, and software security applications. Comodo provides secure Linux solutions through Trustix and also operates the worlds only Web site identity assurance infrastructure. Comodo was formed in 1998 and operates a dedicated research and development lab, with R&D headquarters in the UK and members of the R&D team based all around the world. The Comodo Research Lab is principally engaged in the research, design, development, and support of products and services, and in establishing and operating infrastructures to enable secure, trusted, and verified communications and transactions over the Internet and private networks. Comodo partners with leading technology providers such as Fujitsu, Mentor Graphics, Atlantic Semiconductors, Atout, Energis, and Exodus, and has leading companies such as C I Host, WebCentral, and Zipa within its growing partner networks.
216
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Comodo Inc., 90 John Street 6th Floor New York, NY 10038 USA Tel Sales: +1 800 772 5185 Fax Sales: +1 720 863 2140 E-mail: Sales@trustix.com www.trustix.com
Comodo Europe New Court, Regents Place, Regent Road Manchester, M5 4HB, United Kingdom Tel Sales: +44 (0)161 874 7080 Fax Sales: +44 (0)161 877 1767 E-mail: EuropeanSales@trustix.com
Conectiva Inc.
Product Profile Conectiva Linux Conectiva Linux is the leading distribution in Latin America, aimed at both desktops and servers. Its RPM-based and APT-enabled, and is available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Conectiva Linux can be installed using several preconfigured profiles, or it can be completely customised for specific tasks or power users. Conectiva Linux 9 is a modern, stable, and user-friendly Linux distribution that achieves a good balance between power and simplicity. However, it is marred by some bugs and a lack of graphical configuration tools. It is particularly worth evaluating by Portuguese and Spanish users, as the distribution is really aimed at them. New users can be confused or intimidated at times by some of the idiosyncrasies left behind by the developers, and by the lack of some graphical configuration tools. Overall, Conectiva is still worth considering with a well thought out default desktop. For power users, the inclusion of apt and Synaptic raises the attraction of Conectiva Linux 9 and makes it a distribution worth looking at. Vendor Profile Conectiva is a Brazilian company that distributes Linux packages throughout South America. It also develops solutions for the Linux platform. The companys headquarters are in Curitiba, branch offices are in the main centres of the country and operations in some other countries of Latin America. Conectiva was pioneering in the development and distribution of Linux; its innovative model is business-oriented with high quality products and services. Since its foundation, in 1995, Conectiva has gained important partners such as Intel, Latin Tech and ABN AMRO Bank, proving its solidity. Through the knowledge and experience acquired in the development of the first version of Linux directed at the Latin American market, it has been able to consolidate its position in an expanding market. To contribute to the development of Linux, Conectiva stimulates application projects in vertical markets such as education, domestic market, and of public administration. Conectiva Street Tocantins, 89 Christ King Curitiba PR Brazil Tel: +55 41 360-2640 E-mail: curitiba@cwb.conectiva.com. www.conectiva.com.br
September 2004
217
www.butlergroup.com
Fujitsu Services
Product Profile Linux Services Fujitsu Japan, the parent company of Fujitsu Services has made a large investment in Linux, which should help its subsidiaries to maintain a very strong position within the Linux ecosystem. The company regards Linux on a technical level to be another version of UNIX. Fujitsu Services in the UK has strength in depth in UNIX, with several hundred technical staff that can develop and deploy UNIX solutions. With its current resources it has a much higher capability to deliver Linux Solutions than its present customers demand. The company monitors the need continuously and has the capacity to respond if the market requires it. Strategically, Fujitsu Services Chief Engineer, Dave Stewart, heads the Linux Special Interest Group (Linux SIG) set up by Chairman, Richard Christou, to advise on Linux and Open Source. The Linux SIG co-ordinates Open Source related activity across the Business Units the people who own the customer relationships and sales, and the Capability Units the people who deliver the technology. Similar units exist in other parts of Fujitsus international business, such as Fujitsu Australia, and these units collaborate to develop best practice. In addition, the Linux SIG has developed relationships with Novell and Red Hat to get closer to these key vendors and indeed believes that Open Source suppliers will need to work more closely with major outsourcers such as Fujitsu Services, rather than with the traditional hardware suppliers, as more and more technology decisions are taken by, or with, outsourcing partners. Vendor Profile Fujitsu is the third largest global IT company, and is a leading provider of customer-focused information technology and communications solutions for the global marketplace. It provides computing and telecommunications platforms, and worldwide a large team of systems and services experts. The group is publicly owned with headquarters in Tokyo, and in the year ended 31 March 2003, Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.6 trillion yen (US$38 billion). The company has 170,000 employees in 100 countries. Fujitsu Services Observatory House Windsor Road Slough, Berkshire SL1 2EY, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)870 242 7998 Fax: +44 (0)870 242 4445 E-mail: askfujitsu@uk.fujitsu.com www.fujitsu.com Fujitsu Australia Ltd. 2 Julius Avenue North Ryde, NSW 2113 Australia Tel: +61 2 9776 4555
KNOPPIX
Product Profile KNOPPIX 3.4 KNOPPIX is a bootable CD with a collection of GNU/Linux software, and automatic hardware detection. It provides support for many graphics cards, sound cards, SCSI, and USB devices and other peripherals. KNOPPIX can be used as a Linux demonstration, educational CD, and rescue system, or it can be adapted and used as a platform for commercial software product demonstrations. It is not necessary to install anything on a hard disk. Due to its on-the-fly decompression, the CD can have up to 2 GB of executable software installed on it. It includes recent Linux software and desktop environments, with programs such as OpenOffice.org, Abiword, The Gimp, Konqueror, Mozilla, and hundreds of other quality open source programs.
218
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
The following Highlights are available in version 3.4 of this Debian-based (www.debian.org) CD: Linux Kernel 2.4.26 and, as a boot option, Kernel 2.6.6, both ACPI-enabled. KDE version 3.2.2. GIMP version 2.0. New IRDA/Bluetooth-Setup. GPRS internet-connection ready. Enhanced hardware auto detection and driver updates, WIFI for instance. It also boots from (some) USB and Firewire CD-Roms now. Internet-based software live-installer, installs add-on packages in RAM or on persistent home directory. OpenOffice, the GPL-developed version of the well-known StarOffice office suite. Many programming languages, development tools (including kdevelop), and libraries for developers. More than 900 installed software packages with over 2000 executable user programs, utilities, and games. Vendor Profile KNOPPIX, which was developed by Klaus Knopper, and is said to be suitable for various tasks. A huge amount of e-mails received by Mr Knopper indicate the interest in KNOPPIX. As a result, the ed-media GmbH started cooperation in the form of the new KNOPPIX Support Centre. Its KNOPPIX Support Team provides commercial grade advice and solutions. Visit http://www.ed-media.org/knoppix/en/index.html. KNOPPER.NET Klaus Knopper Dansenberger Strae 44 67661 Kaiserslautern GERMANY E-mail: info@knopper.net www.knopper.net
Libranet
Product Profile Libranet GNU/Linux The aim of Libranet is to build a system that it would like to use and make it available to both technical and non-technical users. It is built to be used in home and commercial environments. The system is fast, stable, and comprehensive, and it is easy to install and requires minimal support. Libranet is a Debian-based system with the added advantages of easy installation, solid support, configuration set-up, system management functions, and a collection of applications. The system is highly versatile and users can select from a number of window managers, e-mail clients, and Web and file browsers. For developers and those wishing to run servers, Libranet includes a wide range of packages to make setting up a sophisticated Debian system relatively easy. It is user friendly for new users and yet experienced users can fast track. The simple installation, together with automatic configuration and selection of software packages, makes the system easy to get up and running. It includes the best and latest packages such as IceWM window manager, the latest stable kernel and the KDE, Gnome, Xfce, and Enlightenment desktop environments. The Libranet update-safe archive helps users to keep their system up-to-date. Minimum system requirements for deployment of Libranet GNU/Linux are: Intel and compatible (e.g. AMD). Pentium class and higher. 32MB RAM (64MB and upwards recommended).
September 2004
219
www.butlergroup.com
SuperVga 640x480 (800x600 recommended). Hard Disk requirements: minimal installation 600MB, full installation 3.0GB, recommended 4.0GB. IDE, SATA, and SCSI supported. CDROM drive. Vendor Profile The Libranet Linux Desktop is a production of Libra Computer Systems Ltd. Libra has been providing UNIX systems and software development since 1984, and is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It chose Debian GNU/Linux as the base of Libranet as it believes that it is solid and true to the spirit of GNU/Linux. Libranet is a small team that believes that Libranet is not only a solid replacement for Microsoft Windows, but also exceeds it in some aspects. As GNU/Linux evolves and more and more hardware becomes supported, it believes that enterprises have no need to use other systems. It uses Libranet in its own office on both desktops and servers, and fulfils all Libranets business and personal computing needs. Its goal is to continue to produce a system to be proud of. Libra Computer Systems Ltd. Vancouver, BC Canada www.libranet.com
Linspire
Product Profile Linspire 4.5 The Linspire Operating System delivers the power, stability, and cost-savings of Linux with the ease of a Windows environment. It has recently been re-named from LindowsOS, and is easy to experience with its colourful, friendly interface. Linspire says that it is simple to install in 10 minutes, and novices can use the operating system with a few simple clicks of their mouse. All copies of Linspire come pre-installed with Click-N-Run (CNR) technology, which makes it easy to add new software or to upgrade the operating system and any installed applications. This is supported by Linspires CNR Warehouse containing more than 1800 software programs. Linspire is a full-featured operating system like Microsoft Windows XP or Apple Mac OSX. The company says that it offers the power, stability, and cost-savings of Linux with the ease of a Windows environment. Linspire Web suite is optimised for convenience and usability. The tabbed Web browser with popup-ad blocking keeps the desktop free from clutter. In addition, the integrated find feature lets the user perform custom Web searches with just a click of the mouse. The intuitive e-mail spam filtering learns which e-mails the user considers good, and those considered bad, making it an effective spam solution. Linspire comes with a robust office suite, including Microsoft Word-compatible (.doc) word processor, Excel-compatible (.xls) spreadsheet, and PowerPoint-compatible (.ppt) software. Linspire has advanced automatic hardware detection, and it installs the necessary drivers. It provides extensive hardware support, including expanded WiFi support for wireless Internet. In addition, its Easy Networking lets users read, write, share, and browse on a Microsoft Windows network. Minimum systems requirements are: PC with 800 MHz or higher processor. 128 MB of RAM (256 MB or higher is recommended for best performance). Hard drive. 1024 x 768 or higher resolution monitor. CD-ROM or DVD drive, Keyboard and Mouse.
220
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Linspire-compatible sound card and speakers or headphones. Linspire-compatible 56 Kbps hardware modem, cable modem, or DSL modem. Ethernet card for Internet/LAN connectivity. Vendor Profile Michael Robertson, founder and former CEO of MP3.com, founded the company as Lindows.com, Inc. Microsoft pursued the company for three years through the courts alleging global trademark infringements, and as a result in 2004 the company changed its name and its product to Linspire. It is a consumer-driven company with the mission of bringing choice to computer users through new and affordable computing options. At the core of Linspire is an operating system that delivers the power, stability, and cost-savings of Linux with the ease-of-use of Microsoft Windows. Linspire 9333 Genesee Ave. 3rd Floor San Diego CA 92121 USA www.linspire.com
MIRACLE LINUX CORPORATION

Product Profile MIRACLE LINUX Standard Edition Version 2.1 MIRACLE LINUX Standard Edition V2.1 is a server operating system designed for the next-generation enterprise business environment. It is fully tested and supported by Oracle9i, and also includes clustering and a Journaling File System, to achieve high scalability and high availability. It also has graphical tools Install Navigator for Oracle, and Webmin for easy deployment and management. The task of installing Oracle is much simplified using this graphical interface and it supports Oracle8i for Linux, Oracle9i Database for Linux, and Oracle9i Application Server. Webmin supplies system management and hardware management functions, with a network setup of IP address changes, a partition setup, adjustment of time, and printer management. Through a joint development with Red Flag, the Chinese company, Asianux 1.0 aims to provide enterprises with an operating environment in Asia providing enhanced high availability, reliability, scalability, manageability, and many functions. Asianux will be bundled with the next version of each distribution as an installation CD without any modification, and is shipped by each brand name (MIRACLE LINUX V3.0 and Red Flag DC4.1) in Japan and China. Vendor Profile MIRACLE LINUX CORPORATION deals with development and sales of Linux OS, which is fine-tuned for the Oracle, and marketing of Oracles Linux Products, offering Linux-related support services such as consulting, education, and maintenance. The company was founded in June 2000. Oracle owns 58.5% of the company and NEC 14%. In early 2004, the company jointly announced with Chinas Red Flag Software Co., Ltd. the establishment of a strategic partnership to jointly develop low-cost, reliable, and secure enterprise Linux solutions for the Asian market, indicating that Linux is growing fast, both in adoption and popularity among enterprises and government organisations. MIRACLE LINUX CORPORATION AKABISHI-II 4-1-30 Akasaka Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0052 Tel: 81-3-5562-8300 www.miraclelinux.com
September 2004
221
www.butlergroup.com
MontaVista Software
Product Profile MontaVista Linux for Embedded Devices MontaVista Software supplies systems software and development tools for intelligent connected devices and associated infrastructure. It powers the embedded revolution by providing Open Source GNU/Linux-based software solutions. The company was founded in 1999 by real-time operating system pioneer, James Ready. MontaVista offers a family of products that address the needs of the software developer in producing applications ranging from communications infrastructure to consumer electronics. Its products include MontaVista Linux Professional, Consumer Electronics and Carrier Grade Editions. MontaVista DevRocket is a powerful integrated development environment that delivers state-of-the-art development tools across all the product editions, and MontaVista Graphics offers a rich GUI development tools platform. Vendor Profile MontaVista Software is privately held with headquarters in the heart of Silicon Valley, in Sunnyvale, California. The company is funded by leading investors such as Alloy Ventures, China Development Industrial Bank, RRE Ventures, US Venture Partners, WR Hambrecht + Co., as well as IBM, Infineon Ventures, Intel Capital, Panasonic (Matsushita), Samsung Ventures America, Siemens Venture Capital, Sony, Toshiba America and Yamaha Corporation. MontaVista Software, Inc. 1237 East Arques Ave. Sunnyvale CA 94085 USA Tel: +1 (408) 328-9200 Fax: +1 (408) 328-9204 E-mail: sales@mvista.com www.mvista.com MontaVista Software SAS ZA du Buisson de la Couldre 341 Avenue des Bouleaux 78190 TRAPPES France Tel: +33 1 30 16 28 28 Fax: +33 1 30 16 28 29 E-mail: info-fr@mvista.com
NETLINE
Product Profile Open-Xchange Server 5.0 Netline Open-Xchange Server is a Web-accessed, collaboration solution running on Linux, which offers groupware, and e-mail services, including a knowledge base, ToDos, Calendar, Forum, Bookmarks, and basic project management functionality. Open-Xchange Server itself is Open Source but not released under GPL. It is positioned to address the needs of the Small to Medium-sized Business (SMB) environment. Open-Xchange Server will have most appeal to those expanding organisations that have already decided to standardise on Linux, and are looking for alternatives to Microsofts or other vendors groupware/messaging installations. A full set of migration tools is available. Open-Xchange Server is Java-based, fully object-based, has a WebDAV/XML interface, and offers support for Microsoft Outlook, and Palm. It is designed to run on either Red Hat or SUSE (Novell) distributions, and is a true second generation product in the developing Open Source ecosystem. It is also the engine behind Novells SUSE Linux Openexchange Server offering. Vendor Profile Netline was founded in 1996, and is based in Olpe, Germany. It currently has 15 employees and sales for 2003 via SUSE were reported as EUR700,000. Current customers include Caterpillar, Moevenpik, University of Kaiserlautern, and VBG. Its focus is on developing java-based three-tier Web applications for the SMB market. In August 2004, Netline announced that Open-Xchange Server was being released under General Public Licence, and is available for download from www.Open-Xchange.org. This will allow third-parties and ISVs to develop new applications, containing the collaborative functionality.
222
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Netline Internet Service GmbH Martinstr. 41 D-57462 Olpe Germany Tel: +49 2761-83850 Fax: +49 2761-838530 info@netline-is.de http://mirror.open-xchange.org
Red Flag Software

Product Profile Red Flag Linux Two decades of research on open systems conducted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and ten years experience of Chinese language system development, are the foundations of Red Flag Linux. The system has won important Chinese government projects funded by many government branches, including the State Development Planning Commission, Electronic Development Fund by the Ministry of Information Industry, Special Key Software Project Fund by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Beijing Science and Technology Commission, and Beijing Economic and Trade Commission. The secure, reliable, and efficient Red Flag Linux has been widely deployed in the construction of Chinas e-Government and enterprise IT infrastructure. Its business covers national and local government, finance, energy, education, transportation, post, telecom, media, lottery, as well as many government branches and industries that are related to national security. Red Flag Softwares goal is to offer leading edge technology and best services to its customers. The company has strategic alliances with IBM, Intel, HP, Oracle, BEA, Lenovo, Founder, Langchao, Dawning, Tongfang, and TCL. It joins with its partners to promote Linux in the Chinese market. Red Flag Software has also built a complete nationwide customer service network, including over 100 training partners, Red Flag Certified Engineer Programme, sales channels and ISV partners, to guarantee the availability of efficient customer support services. Vendor Profile Red Flag Software Co., Ltd. (Red Flag Software) was co-founded by Software Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and NewMargin Venture Capital in June 2000, and acquired investment from CCID Capital incorporated under the Ministry of Information Industry in March 2001. Its focus is on the development and promotion of Linux-based operating systems and applications. Its product lines include desktop, server, high performance computing OS, security operating system and embedded systems, and it also provides comprehensive IT solutions and professional technical support. Red Flag Software says that it enables computers to run at maximum performance, and provides government and enterprise customers with reliable and efficient computing environments. Red Flag Software Co., Ltd. and MIRACLE LINUX CORPORATION announced in March 2004 the completion of the beta version of Asianux 1.0, the only standardised Linux operating environment developed specially for businesses in Asia. With the completion of Asianux 1.0 Beta, software vendors can attain product certification through the newly launched Asianux Certification Program. Asianux 1.0 was jointly developed by Red Flag and MIRACLE LINUX to provide enterprises with an operating environment in Asia that enhanced high availability, reliability, scalability, manageability, and many functions. Asianux will be bundled with the next version of each distribution as an installation CD without any modification and will be shipped by each brand name (MIRACLE LINUX V3.0 and Red Flag DC4.1) in Japan and China from mid 2004.
September 2004
223
www.butlergroup.com
Red Flag Software Co.,Ltd 6/F. Zijin Building 68 Wanquanhe Rd. Haidian Dist. Beijing 100086 P.R.China Tel: +8610 82656655 Fax: +8610 82658096 E-mail: support@redflag-linux.com www.redflag-linux.com
The Slackware Linux Project

Product Profile Slackware Linux 10.0 Slackware Linux provides new and experienced users alike with a fully-featured system, equipped to serve in any capacity from desktop workstation to machine-room server. Web servers, ftp servers, and e-mail servers are ready to go out-of-the-box, as are a wide selection of popular desktop environments. A full range of development tools, editors, and current libraries is included for users who wish to develop or compile additional software. Slackware Linux is compatible with most Intel PC hardware. It provides good performance on high-end systems, including support for symmetric multi-processing with up to 16 processors, PCI, and special code optimisations for the 486, Pentium, and Pentium Pro and AMD Athlon. Slackware Linux 10.0 continues the Slackware tradition of simplicity, stability, and security built up over ten years. From its inception, Slackware has offered a stable and secure Linux distribution for UNIX veterans as well as an easy-to-use system for beginners. Slackware says that it includes everything needed to run a powerful server or workstation. Each Slackware package follows the setup and installation instructions from its author(s) as closely as possible, offering users the most stable and easily expandable setup. In the latest version, among the many program updates and distribution enhancements, are two of the most advanced desktop environments available. These are GNOME 2.6.1, which includes a collection of pre-compiled GNOME applications, and KDE 3.2.3, the latest version of the award-winning K Desktop Environment. Slackware uses the 2.4.26 Linux kernel to supply advanced performance features such as the ReiserFS journaling filesystem, SCSI, and ATA RAID volume support, and kernel support for XDRI (the Direct Rendering Interface) that provides high-speed hardware accelerated 3D graphics for Linux. Additional kernels allow the installation of Slackware using any of the journaling file systems available for Linux, including ext3, ReiserFS, IBMs JFS, and SGIs XFS. For Slackware users wishing to try the new 2.6.x kernel series, it is fully supported by the system. A precompiled Linux 2.6.7 kernel, modules, and source code are provided, along with complete instructions on how to install the new kernel. Slackware provides installation support and limited technical support to customers through e-mail as well as by telephone. Users needing a wider range of support options have a number of third-party technical support companies available to them. These companies offer a wide range of support options, including standard phone support and support contracts. Vendor Profile The official release of Slackware Linux by Patrick Volkerding is an advanced Linux operating system, designed with the twin goals of ease-of-use and stability as top priorities. Through its inclusion of the latest popular software while retaining a sense of tradition, Slackware Linux provides simplicity and ease-of-use alongside flexibility and power. Slackware Linux www.slackware.com
224
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
Sybase
Product Profile Sybase Linux Products Sybase says that it was the first vendor to deliver an enterprise-class DBMS on Linux five years ago, and it now provides a comprehensive combination of products and services supporting Linux. Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE) is a powerful data management platform for high performance business applications. It is designed to support the demanding requirements of transaction-intensive, mission-critical OLTP and decision support applications. ASEs efficient query optimisation delivers high levels of performance and scalability to Linux-based applications. Sybase says that ASE is easy to deploy and maintain, with enhanced operational scalability to support tougher workloads with fewer resources. It provides security integration with corporate authentication systems, operational scalability including a smart SQL statement cache, advanced Web services support, and scalability for enterprise-class applications on 32 and 64-bit Linux. Microsoft SQL Server applications can be ported easily to ASE for Linux. Sybase IQ for Linux has a highly scalable analytical engine, designed specifically from the ground up for unsurpassed query performance and low total cost of ownership for analytical applications. Unlike traditional databases, Sybase IQ is architected for analytics rather than transactions, with a column-based structure and patented indexing that make it an appropriate choice for data warehousing. Sybase Replication Server for Linux enables organisations to deliver live information to remote locations and consolidate information from autonomous units across the enterprise. It provides continuous or high availability operation despite hardware or software failures or planned downtime for maintenance, while also allowing real-time access on the replicated systems. Replication Server allows replication of data among heterogeneous platforms enabling enterprises to take advantage of lower costs and scalability of Linux. Sybase Replication Server allows multiple Linux hosts on distant locations to host multiple data servers, enabling enterprises to create global data repositories at affordable costs. Sybases EAServer allows customers to uncover the economic value of existing applications and hardware assets, by providing reusable components, industry-leading performance, and enterprise-level security. It builds on the reliability, security, and low cost of Linux to support enterprise-class applications. Sybase says that its SQL Anywhere Studio for Linux is a mobile and embedded database optimised for Linux. With the same robust features and full technical support of SQL Anywhere Studios other core platforms, Sybases Linux version leverages Linuxs enterprise-class reliability and performance on low-cost hardware, such as workgroup servers, monitoring systems, edge servers, or point-of-sale devices. Vendor Profile Sybase has repositioned itself as a supplier of infrastructure software, and has grown to be one of the largest independent software vendors in the world. It is a provider of enterprise products and services including databases, enterprise portals, mobile and wireless technologies, and vertical solutions. Sybase was founded in 1984, and formerly had its world headquarters, and main development and production facilities in Emeryville, California. However, in January 2002 Sybase moved to Dublin, California. The company has a further three development facilities in the US, along with one in France and one in Canada. Sybase operates in 60 countries and employs around 5,000 people. Sybase is a public company, and it is listed on the NYSE under the symbol SY. The company has a broad customer base that includes companies from the financial services, mobile and wireless technology, telecommunications, media, healthcare, public, and retail sectors. Sybase Inc. 5000 Hacienda Drive Dublin CA 94568 USA Tel: +1 (925) 236 5000 Fax: +1 (925) 236 4321 www.sybase.com Sybase UK Limited Sybase Court Crown Lane, Maidenhead Berkshire, SL6 8QZ UK Tel: +44 (0)1628 597100 Fax: +44 (0)1628 597111
September 2004
225
www.butlergroup.com
Terra Soft Solutions

Product Profile Yellow Dog Linux Yellow Dog Linux is a simple to install, familiar to use operating system that offers the best of Linux for PowerPC. For new and experienced Linux users, Yellow Dog Linux includes a wide-variety of over 900 applications and utilities, elegant graphical environments, server applications, and hard-core programming tools. The range of software includes a graphical installer, KDE, the Microsoft Office alternative Open Office, AbiWord, Mac-On-Linux, dial-up configuration, a full-featured suite of control panels, and 4 Web browsers. Since its introduction, Yellow Dog Linux has captured the attention of several sectors, ones that would like to use Linux yet would like to take advantage of the high-performance computing benefits that the RISC PowerPC architecture can provide. Yellow Dog Linux 4.0 is its first distribution built from Fedora, the reformation of a community effort built around the Red Hat foundation. This is a challenging development process for Terra Soft, but a more community-driven product. Yellow Dog Linux 4.0 is 32-bit and supports USB-G3 through dual G5 Power Macs Towers. Y-HPC is a 64-bit OS that also supports the G5 Towers but adds the G5 Xserves and cluster nodes. This architecture is imperative for particular types of high-performance computing, such as weather modelling, particle-physics research, structural engineering, and nuclear research, where the effort to simulate the real world requires a great deal of precision and a lot of RAM. Vendor Profile Terra Soft Solutions is based at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Loveland, Colorado. It is a privately held corporation whose primary market position is to advance the abilities and usage of PowerPC Linux while supporting the open source philosophy of software development. In the late 1990s, Terra Soft CEO Kai Staats was called upon to design and build a Web server, and he faced a unique dilemma. He wanted to use Apple Macs, but the pre-Unix Mac OS of that era was just not reliable for mission-critical services. Staats was familiar with Linux and appreciated its stability; however, he did not want to buy an Intel system to run it. So he ignored the conventional wisdom, bought Mac hardware, and then, with the help of his IT team, ported Linux to the PowerPC, at that time a Mac G3. Thus, Yellow Dog Linux for the PowerPC was born. In 2003, Terra Soft won a contract to build a sonar imaging system for the U.S. Navy through defence contractor Lockheed Martin. The companys client list also includes such technological heavyweights as Caltech, Stanford University, Lawrence Livermore, Boeing, and several arms of NASA. Terra Soft is an IBM business partner as a Value-Added Reseller. It is licensed to sell the BladeCenter JS20 and same-family products with Yellow Dog Linux preinstalled. It is not yet a primary developer for IBM as that company has a much stronger financial relationship with Red Hat and SUSE. Terra Soft Solutions Loveland Colorado USA www.terrasoftsolutions.com
Turbolinux Inc.
Product Profile Turbolinux Turbolinux distributions are designed from the ground-up specifically for enterprise computing. Turbolinux 8 Server supports the Large File Support (LFS) standard for working with applications that manage or handle up to four terabytes of data a common requirement for infrastructures serving the Fortune 500 and larger companies. Turbolinux Enterprise Server 8, powered by UnitedLinux, is a high quality business server platform integrating reliability, availability, and scalability features.
226
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
At the core of Turbolinux Enterprise Server is UnitedLinux V.1.0, which provides a mission-critical system environment along with automated security and maintenance updates and is designed to be certified to support many commercial enterprise applications. Its Turbolinux 10 Desktop (10D) includes many enhancements and tools designed to make the migration from Windows to Linux easy and comfortable. Functionality to co-exist in Windows networks is also built into the core of the product. Turbolinux operating environments run on a wide range of hardware platforms and configurations, and the company has partnerships and global support from Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, AMD, and Intel. The company says that it embraces the best of open source, industry standards, and commercial software with products that integrate into existing IT environments to leverage and protect an organisations computing investments. Vendor Profile Founded in 1992, Turbolinux is a leading Linux software company committed to providing the latest in Linux-based solutions. Leading companies in the high technology world back Turbolinux, and corporate investors include BEA, Compaq, Dell, Fujitsu, Intel, NEC, Novell, NTT, and Toshiba. The company has offices worldwide including Japan, China, and the United States, and it is well positioned to capitalise on the high growth of IT spending in China and is helping the country transform its digital infrastructure. Turbolinux, Inc. 100 S. Sunrise Way, Suite 283 Palm Springs CA 92262 USA Tel: +1 760 318 0495 Fax: +1 760 406 4056 Turbolinux, Inc. Morimo-Building 5F 3-3-5 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku Tokyo, 150-0002 Japan Tel: +81-3-5766-1660 Fax: +81-3-5766-1661
uClinux
Product Profile uClinux uClinux is a Linux/Microcontroller project that is a port of Linux to systems without a Memory Management Unit (MMU). It is pronounced as you-see-Linux, and its name uClinux comes from combining the Greek letter mu and the English capital C. Mu stands for micro, and the C is for controller. uClinux was first ported to the Motorola MC68328, DragonBall Integrated Microprocessor. The first target system to be successfully booted was the PalmPilot using a TRG SuperPilot Board with a custom boot-loader created specifically for the Linux/PalmPilot port. uClinux is a derivative of the Linux 2.0 kernel intended for microcontrollers without MMUs. The official distribution of uClinux provides the uClinux binaries and source code in RPM format to ease installation. There is also a demo version of Eagle CAD, datasheets on components tested with uClinux, and a small but functional distribution of SUSE LINUX 5.3. The CD includes all of the software needed to develop uClinux on a Linux workstation. As uClinux was created to support non-MMU microprocessors, multitasking can be difficult, but as most user applications that run on top of uClinux will not require multitasking, this will not normally present a problem. Most of the binaries and source code for the kernel have been rewritten to tighten-up and slim-down the code base, therefore the uClinux kernel is much smaller than the original Linux 2.0 kernel. However, it still retains the main advantages of the Linux operating system, including stability, network capability, and excellent file system support. uClinux comes equipped with a full TCP/IP stack, as well as support for numerous other networking protocols. It is an Internet-ready operating system that is ideal for embedded systems. uClinux E-mail: info@uclinux.com www.uclinux.com
September 2004
227
www.butlergroup.com
Wind River
Product Profile Linux Services Companies that have engaged with Wind River over the last few years have often found themselves to be on two parallel tracks one relating to VxWorks and Wind River tools, the other based on various versions of Linux technology. As the fields of application development increasingly overlap, companies are looking for a trusted partner with the integrity to make the best architectural and project implementation choices. Wind Rivers priority has become the understanding of its customers long-term goals so that it can supply them with incrementally better tools, platforms, and services. Its expertise in board support packages and drivers for embedded hardware is valuable to those facing the steep learning curve of developing and testing close to the hardware environment. Wind River has significant experience in delivering large projects where the key is a proven methodology in delivering complex embedded systems. The company offers a powerful capability in the integration and maintenance of platform configurations that involve specific middleware features, functions and optimisations, especially those that involve third-party package integrations. It has an up-to-date perspective on market dynamics that underpins its capability to offer complete services for systems or subsystems in the networking and consumer markets. Completely managed engagements can include hardware development, prototyping, and preparation for manufacturing where required. Vendor Profile Wind River provides market-specific embedded platforms that integrate real-time operating systems, development tools, and technologies. Its products and professional services are used in multiple markets including aerospace and defence, automotive, digital consumer, industrial, and network infrastructure. Wind River provides technology and expertise that enables its customers to create superior products more efficiently. The company was founded in 1981, is headquartered in Alameda, California, and has operations worldwide. Wind River Professional Services enables companies to reduce risk and improve competitiveness in their own products. The Professional Services team delivers embedded expertise within structured engagements that directly address key development challenges and contribute to the success of our customers. Wind River Headquarters 500 Wind River Way Alameda, CA 94501 USA Tel: +1 (510) 748-4100 Fax: +1 (510) 749-2010 www.windriver.com
228
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
SECTION 11: Glossary
www.butlergroup.com
ABI Application Binary Interface The interface through which an application gains access to the operating system. ACL Access Control Lists Responsible for granting or revoking access to specific system objects, e.g. file directory. ACPI Advanced Configuration and Power Interface An open-industry specification for industry-standard interfaces for OS-directed configuration and power management on laptops, desktops, and servers. Alpha A 64-bit processor developed by Digital Equipment Corporation, prior to acquisition by Compaq and the latters subsequent merger with Hewlett-Packard. Apache A Web server distributed under an Open Source licence. It runs on most UNIX-based operating system and Windows 2000. API Application Programming Interface An interface defined by a program that allows a programmer to make calls to that application. APM Advanced Power Management The capability built into portable computers to monitor and control its power consumption so that it reverts to standby mode when not in use. ASP Active Server Pages Allows the contents of a Web page to be generated on-the-fly. BIND Berkley Internet Name Domain BIOS Basic Input Output System Code contained in a computer that is held on a chip and used to supply an interface between the hardware and the operating system. BSD Originally Berkeley Software Distribution, this now refers to the specific version of the UNIX operating system that was developed at the University of California, Berkeley. C2 Security Level A security rating established by the US National Computer Security Center and granted to products that pass specific security tests. CPU Central Processing Unit One or more CPUs give a computer the ability to run software, such as an operating system. DAT Digital Audio Tape A standard tape format that has evolved into a widely used audio archiving technology. DES Data Encryption Standard A method of data encryption using a secret key. DLT Digital Linear Tape A well-established tape standard with a back-up speed of 20GB per hour. DNS Domain Name System Locates Internet domain names and translates them into IP addresses.
September 2004
Section 11: Glossary
231
www.butlergroup.com
DMA Direct Memory Access The transfer of data from memory to memory without using the CPU. EISA A standard computer connection that extends the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) standard to a 32-bit interface. ext2 Second Extended Filesystem or Extended Filesystem Version 2 Linux code to improve the speed of the file system on a computer. FAT File Allocation Table The FAT file system is a simple file system, which is a table that resides at the top of the volume. FC-AL Fibre Channel-Arbitrated Loop An internal disk array to achieve faster throughput and performance. FC-SW 2 Fibre Channel Switch Fabric 2 (FC-SW-2) Developed under the National Committee for Information Technology Standards (NCITS), it is a standard that aims to allow customers to leverage different vendors products against each other. FIPS-151 Federal Information Processing Standards 151 This is now version 2 and is part of the Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX) standard. Back in the early to mid-1990s it defined the C programming language source interface to an operating system environment. FTP File Transfer Protocol A standard Internet protocol and the most straightforward way of transferring files between computers across the Internet. Globus The Globus Project is a research and development initiative to create the tools for grid computing. (www.globus.org) GNOME GNU Network Object Model Environment An Open Source GUI and set of desktop applications for Linux operating systems. GNU An Open Source operating system similar to UNIX distributed by the Free Software Foundation. GPL GNU Public Licence. Grid Grid computing is using the resources of many computers in a network to a single problem at the same time, usually very large projects with vast amounts of data. Grid services will build on this to create environments where resources such as storage, computational power, and applications, can be shared. GUI Graphical User Interface A screen-based user interface that includes icons, pull-down menus, and a mouse. HBA Host Bus Adapter Hardware that provides an interface between the host microprocessor and the disk controller. HPFS High Performance File System A file system first introduced with IBMs OS/2 1.2 to allow for greater access to the larger hard drives then appearing on the market (improving upon the FAT file system). HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol A protocol used for exchanging files over the Web. Files are requested from a HTTP server using a Uniform Resource Locator, and are then sent to the HTTP client, which typically is a Web browser such as Internet Explorer.
232
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
HTTPS Hypertext Transfer Protocol over SSL Secure Sockets Layer. A Web protocol that encrypts and decrypts user page requests and pages returned by the Web server. (Also refer to S-HTTP for an alternative to HTTPS). IBCS-2 Intel Binary Compatibility Specification A generic system-call interface for applications running on Intel platforms. IIS Internet Information Server A group of Internet servers that include capabilities for Microsofts Windows 2000 or NT operating systems. IKE Internet Key Exchange A key management protocol standard used in conjunction with the IPSec standard. IMAP Internet Messaging Access Protocol A standard client/server protocol for accessing e-mail from your local server. I/O Input/Output The Input/Output of the computer to/from an external device. IP Internet Protocol Also see TCP/IP. IPSec An IP security feature that provides robust authentication and encryption of IP packets. IPv6 Internet Protocol version 6 The next generation IP protocol. ISA Industry Standard Architecture A standard bus architecture associated with the IBM AT motherboard. Itanium Intels first microprocessor based on 64-bit architecture. JDBC Java DataBase Connectivity An application program interface specification for connecting programs written in Java to the data in popular databases. JVM Java Virtual Machine A platform-independent programming language that converts Java code into machine language and runs it. KDE K Desktop Environment An Open Source GUI for UNIX and Linux operating systems. It includes a file manager, help system, tools, and utilities. Kerberos A secure method for authenticating requests for service in computer networks. Kernel The name for an operating systems central set of intrinsic services, providing the interface between user processes and the systems hardware. Li18nux The Free Standards Group Linux Internationalization Initiative This is a voluntary working group, consisting of Linux and Open Source related contributors. Its aim is to achieve software/applications portability and interoperability in the international context for Linux and other Open Source projects.
September 2004
233
www.butlergroup.com
LS120 A 3.5-inch diskette with a formatted capacity of 120MB. LSB Linux Standard Base A workgroup of the Free Standards Group, its goal is to develop and promote a set of standards that will increase compatibility among Linux distributions and enable software applications to run on any compliant Linux system. LVM Logical Volume Manager MCA Micro Channel Architecture This is an interface between a computer(s) and its expansion cards and their associated devices. It was developed by IBM for its PS/2 desktops. .NET Microsofts Web services initiative that includes development tools, a runtime platform, and Web-based services such as authentication, personalisation, and security. NetBEUI NetBios Enhanced User Interface A program that allows computers to communicate within a LAN. NFS Network File System Distributed file system, which enables a computer on a network to use the files. NNTP Network News Transfer Protocol It is the main protocol used by clients and servers for managing the notes posted on Usenet Newsgroups. NTFS Microsoft Windows NT (New Technology) File System It organises the files into directories that are sorted. There is no dependence on underlying hardware and no special locations on the disk. NTP Network Time Protocol A protocol used to synchronise the real-time clock in a computer. NUMA Non-Uniform Memory Architecture A multiprocessing architecture where the memory is separated into near and far banks. OBDC Open DataBase Connectivity An open standard API for accessing a database. OLE Object Linking and Embedding A set of APIs to create and display a compound document (i.e. text or calendars). OS Operating System Program that controls the computer system. OSS Open Source Software Any program where the source code is made available for use or further enhancement as users or other developers require. PAM Presence and Availability Management Forum It addresses the use and protection of availability information. PCI Peripheral Component Interconnect An interconnection system between a microprocessor and attached devices. PCI-X Peripheral Component Interconnect Extend A new bus technology that enables data to move within the computer at 133MHz, rather than 66MHz.
234
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
PHP PHP is a script language and interpreter used on Linux Web servers. PKI Public Key Infrastructure A PKI allows users of a public network to securely and privately exchange data. POP Point Of Presence An access point to the Internet. POSIX Portable Operating Systems Interface An IEEE 1003.1 standard that defines the interface between a UNIX operating system and application programs. PPP Point-to-Point Protocol Provides dial-up access over serial lines. QIC Quarter Inch Cartridge A commonly used tape drive. RADIUS Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service An access verification method, which uses a challenge/response method for authentication. RAID Random Array of Inexpensive Disks or Redundant Array of Independent Disks A method of storing the same data on multiple hard disks. RAM Random Access Memory The area in a computer where the operating system, data, and applications in current use are kept. RISC Reduced Instruction Set Computing A microprocessor designed to perform a smaller set of computing instructions with the aim of making it faster. Samba An Open Source file and print server. SCO Santa Cruz Operation A provider of server Operating Systems. SCSI Small Computer Systems Interface A method of connecting servers to their storage devices. S-HTTP Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure HTTP. An extension to HTTP allowing for the secure exchange of files on the Web. Each S-HTTP file is either encrypted, contains a digital certificate, or both. (Also see HTTPS for an alternative to S-HTTP). SMP Symmetrical MultiProcessing A number of processors can be run simultaneously. SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol A TCP/IP protocol used in sending and receiving e-mail. Most commonly, SMTP is used for sending, and either POP3 or IMAP is used for receiving. SOCKS5 An industry-standard firewall traversal solution. It provides a secure proxy data channel between two computers. SPARC Scalable Processor Architecture A high-performance processor from Sun Microsystems based on RISC technology.
September 2004
235
www.butlergroup.com
SSH Secure Shell or Secure Socket Shell A UNIX-based command interface and protocol for secure access to a remote computer. SSL Secure Sockets Layer A protocol for managing the security of a message transmission on the Internet. SVID3 System V Interface Definition, Third Edition The developers of this specification, UNIX Systems Laboratories, are no longer in business and thus there is some confusion in the industry about what is required for conformance to this specification. TB TeraByte Approximately a thousand billion bytes. Tcl Tool Command Language Developed by John Ousterhout, this is an embeddable and extensible scripting language. TCP See TCP/IP. TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. UDI Unified Driver Interface This is the series of drivers that allow the Content Bus access to all data repositories. UDMA Ultra DMA or Ultra Direct Memory Access This is a later version of the system bus mastering DMA protocol, increasing the maximum data transfer rate to 33MB/pS. UNIX An operating system originally developed in 1969 and widely regarded as the first open operating system that could be modified by anyone. It is non-proprietary, not owned by any manufacturer. The Open Group, an industry standards organisation, now owns the official UNIX trademark. UPS Uninterruptible Power Supply Back-up power used when the electrical connection fails. USB Universal Serial Bus A plug-and-play interface between a computer and add-on devices. VB Visual Basic A Microsoft programming environment. VDM Virtual DOS Machine A DOS session created by Windows NT to emulate a DOS environment. VLAN Virtual LAN or Virtual Local Area Network A LAN that uses some basis other than geographical location to map workstations. vtcl Visual Tcl or Visual Tool Command Language See Tcl. WBEM Web-Based Enterprise Management A set of management and Internet standard technologies developed by the Distributed Management Task Force.
236
September 2004
www.butlergroup.com
XML eXtensible Markup Language Markup Language defined by the W3C as a Recommendation in 1998. Used as a meta-language to describe data, and now finding widespread application in areas such as: application integration; content management; electronic data interchange; and wireless communications. XML is extensible because, unlike HTML, the markup symbols are unlimited and self-defining. Using an XSL Stylesheet, XML can be transformed for display as HTML on a Web page, or to alternative formats for display on other types of client device. XPG4 X/Open Portability Guide, Issue 4 A specification containing internationalised utilities, headers, and interfaces.
September 2004
237
www.butlergroup.com
This Report reveals:
Why Linux can now be regarded as a robust and viable option for the enterprise. The strengths and weaknesses of the Open Source development approach. How industry support has helped Linux evolve into an enterprise-class operating system. The differences between Linux distributions, and which one is right for the enterprise. What the differences are between the leading Linux service providers. The criteria for migrating to Linux and the deployment issues to consider. Whether a Linux strategy should be extended to the desktop.
Headquarters: Europa House, 184 Ferensway, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU1 3UT, UK Tel: +44 (0)1482 586149 Fax: +44 (0)1482 323577
Australian Sales Office: Butler Direct Pty Limited, Level 6, 275 Alfred Street, North Sydney, NSW, 2060, Australia Tel: +61 (0)2 9955 6249 Fax: +61 (0)2 9955 5883
RT010904LXE

Linux in The Enterprise

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Linux in The Enterprise

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Technology Evaluation and Comparison Report

Linux in the Enterprise

Founder and President

Linux in the Enterprise

Linux in the Enterprise

Contents Linux in the Enterprise

Linux in the Enterprise

Contents Linux in the Enterprise

Linux in the Enterprise

Contents Linux in the Enterprise

Technology Evaluation and Comparison Report

SECTION 1: Management Summary

Linux in the Enterprise

1.1 MANAGEMENT SUMMARY

Section 1: Management Summary

Linux in the Enterprise

Section 1: Management Summary

Linux in the Enterprise

Section 1: Management Summary

Linux in the Enterprise

Butler Group Market Lifecycle Positions

Section 1: Management Summary

Linux in the Enterprise

Novell SUSE LINUX Red Hat

Novell SUSE LINUX Red Hat

Novell SUSE LINUX Red Hat

Asianux Debian Turbolinux

Debian Mandrakesoft MIRACLE LINUX* Red Flag* Turbolinux

Early Adopter to 2005

Market Adoption 2006-2009

Market Maturity 2010-Onwards

Fujitsu Novell Oracle Sun Microsystems

Fujitsu Novell Oracle Sun Microsystems

Fujitsu Novell Sun Microsystems

Early Adopter to 2005

Market Adoption 2006-2009

Market Maturity 2010-Onwards

Section 1: Management Summary

Linux in the Enterprise

Solution Performance Table

Butler Group Opinion

Novell SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8

Debian Debian GNU/Linux 3.0

MIRACLE LINUX and Red Flag Asianux 1.0

Turbolinux Turbolinux Enterprise Server 8

Section 1: Management Summary

Linux in the Enterprise

Butler Group Opinion

Outperform Perform Under-perform

IBM Linux Products, Services, and Support

HP Linux Services and Support

Oracle Linux Products, Services, and Support

Fujitsu Linux Services

Novell Linux Services

Sun Microsystems Linux Services

Section 1: Management Summary

Technology Evaluation and Comparison Report

Linux in the Enterprise

2.1 REPORT STRUCTURE

Linux in the Enterprise

2.2 THE LINUX ECOSYSTEM

Linux in the Enterprise