Technology Analysis LINUX Alper Alansal Brian Blumberg Ramank Bharti Taihoon Lee

What is LINUX? u Open source software (OSS) u Alternative operating system u Freely distributed u Global usage u Continually developing

Open source u Linux Kernel : Developed by Linus Torvalds u Evolves under the GNU General Public License

Free distribution u Free downloads u Through distributors Commercial versions bundled with S/W and tech. support u For business, not without costs

What does LINUX do? u Empowers desktop applications , calendar, phonebook Web-browser Word processor Spreadsheet Presentation application

What does LINUX do? Contd u Supports multiple H/W u Empowers server-based computing Web server File server Proxy server Database server Application server

How does it work? u Kernel Connection between hardware and software Developed separately u Module Assists Kernel in running device u Based on Files No Registry Drives are actually files

How does it work? Contd CPU(s) Memory Input/ Output Firmware / BIOS Hardware Applications Kernel Compilers Editors User Interfaces Administration Simplified View of an Operating System

LINUX advantages u Low cost u Community support u Vendor Independence u Compatible with other OS u User control over functionality

LINUX advantages contd u Robust software development u Continual up-gradation u Attracts top talent u Multi-platform support u User input into development

Linux disadvantages u No single home u Application availability u Maturity u Scalability u Business risk

Information Rules u Network externalities u Economies of scale u Expectations for success u Impact on pricing

Information Rules Contd u Switching costs u Linux alliances u Controlling standards

Network externalities u UNIX users are a potential Linux network u Killer applications like Apache can grow the network exponentially u Industry support from Sun, HP, IBM & Oracle

Economies of scale: demand side u Excellent portability u Works on multiple hardware u Free technical support

Economies of scale: s upply side u Linux is free u Applications on Linux Cheap but powerful

Expectations for success u Killer applications tilt expectations

Controlling standards u Free Standards Group n Linux Internationalization Initiative n File System Hierarchy Standard n Linux Standards Base

Linux Standards Base Applications Kernel Packages ShellExecution Libraries Commands Utilities LSB-Compliant Distribution

Pricing Linux $0 Applications $50 Total Cost $50Total Cost $100 Applications $50 Windows $50 Prices to match

Switching costs u Open source software u No lock-in u Works on older hardware u Learning costs for non-UNIX users Lower collective switching costs for the industry

Migration path u Use alongside other OS u Users migrate Own pace Requirements Personal preferences

Building alliances u Industry supporters IBM, HP, SUN, ORACLE, INTEL, SGI u Developer communities Kernel.org Itanium Processor Family (IPF) Power PC Alpha Linux Org. PA-Risc …

Building alliances contd u Web services & application servers u Languages GCC, Perl, Python u Organizations Linux International Free Software Foundation Open source Initiative Embedded Linux Consortium

Recommendations Support LINUX

Q & A