What is Linux

Linux is an open source operating system for personal computers based on Unix. Linux was originally created by Linus Torvalds and since then it was developed with the assistance of developers from around the globe. Nowadays it runs on broad variety of different hardware platforms, provides enterprise-ready features and has hundreds of applications available to download. Linux is used as a server operating system (where is very popular) and also as a desktop system as an alternative to Microsoft Windows. Linux has a reputation as a very efficient, fast-performing, reliable and secure system.

Who develops Linux

Linux continues to evolve through contributed effort of software engineers and IT professionals in open source community worldwide. Open source community is sometimes characterized as a group of high school and college developers. In fact, large part of open source developers are professionals, whose motivation to participate in open source initiatives is driven by their need to rapidly respond to problems encountered at work. These developers come from even largest companies in IT industry around the world IBM, Novell, Sun, HP etc.

Why Linux

• Enterprise level scalability
• Linux runs on different hardware platforms from Intel x86, through Sun UltraSparc and Power PC to mainframe computers. Linux supports up to 64 processors and 64GB RAM “out of the box”.
• Reliability
• The power of Linux comes from bazaar like model of its evolution. Everyone can see source code, find problems and fix them. Only the best ideas and approaches survive. Linux code has been reviewed by thousands of developers which results in its industrial-strength, Linux just does not crash.
• Security
• As mentioned before only the best approaches survive in Linux development community. The availability of the source code and option to fix it takes role when security problem is found. The reaction is usually very fast – fix comes within hours. Linux is by design also virtually immune to viruses, trojan horses or spyware.
• Interoperability
• Linux is known for its great interoperability with other operating systems, applications and devices. It is not limited to other Unix and derivate systems only, Linux can cooperate in Microsoft Windows environments too.
• Rapidly growing supply of developers and applications
• There are thought to be millions of open source developers around the world. There is more than a million developers registered at SourceForge (with about 100 000 projects) – the largest open source development website. Major software vendors are moving focus on Linux also.
• Standards and application portability
• Linux is essentially POSIX standard compliant Unix and that's why it is very easy to port applications from another Unix system.
• Linux is Open source
• Linux is open source software and organizations using Linux in their IT infrastructure are benefiting from open source benefits – freedom, no technology or vendor lock-in, no software license fees, choice and flexibility.

Who use Linux

Linux is being used by companies of all sizes in all markets worldwide. For example these companies from Fortune 500 are using Linux on their web servers: AIG, Verizon, Pfitzer, Intel, Motorola, PepsiCo, American Express, FedEx, Cisco, Merck and many more.