The Business Guide to Linux

At one level, businesses shouldn't care what Linux is: it is only a means to an end, the end being some kind of IT service. The reality, however, is that it can be useful and maybe even interesting to understand a little more about it. Here, we discuss the use of Linux on a server; running Linux on a desktop or laptop PC will be the subject of a future article.

Let's cover the technical bit first, then we can focus on the business aspects. Fundamentally, Linux is an operating system. An operating system is the underlying program that runs on computers which, in turn, enables other programs to run. A well-known example of an operating system is Microsoft Windows XP, which runs on many desktop and laptop PCs. Linux differs from proprietary operating systems, such as the Microsoft Windows range, by being Open Source. The business benefits of Open Source software are explained on our Why Open Source? page.

From a business perspective, the factors that determine whether any particular operating system is appropriate are:

• Can it do the job required?
• What is the cost?

Given that the cost is irrelevant if it can't do the job, let's start by considering whether Linux can do the job required.

What Linux Can and Cannot Do

Essentially, a Linux server can only run programs written to run under Linux. However, let us not confuse specific programs with specific functionality. In other words: can Microsoft's web server software, IIS, run under Linux? No. Can Linux run web server software? Yes. In fact, over 50% of the web servers on the Internet are running Apache, a Open Source web server that runs under Linux (source: Netcraft). The question then becomes “what applications are available to run under Linux”, and the answer is that there are hundreds of thousands. A brief list of the kind of applications that can run under Linux would include mail servers, web servers, file servers (accessible transparently by Windows, Apple Macintosh and Linux PCs), helpdesk systems, databases, backup systems, Intranet applications such as Wikis, authorisation and authentication services, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, firewalls, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) – the list goes on (and on). In short: for the vast majority of businesses, Linux can provide all the services you need from a server.

The Costs

The total cost of using a given operating system is much harder to define. Some of the cost components are reasonably easy to ascertain, such as the hardware, the operating system licence and the application system licences, but others, such as reliability, security and scalability, can be much harder to quantify.

Hardware and Software...

Many proprietary operating systems come complete with a graphical environment which is not optional. In other words, even if the server spends all its working life without a monitor attached to it, it still runs the graphical environment. Linux servers have the option of having a graphical environment installed, but usually it is not. There is little point in running such an environment, which is expensive in terms of memory and processor time consumed, if it isn't going to be used. It's also true to say that Open Source software, such Linux and the applications that run under it, are generally more efficient in their use of system resources than their proprietary counterparts. The bottom line is that, for a given workload, a Linux server requires less powerful hardware.

The software licences for Open Source software are, of course, free of charge. This is not just for Linux itself, but also for the applications: the mail servers, web servers, databases, etc, that may be running on the server. There is no per-user charge either, no matter how many users are connected to the server.

...and Beyond

Some maintain that Linux servers are more reliable than their popular proprietary counterparts; others disagree. Suffice it to say that it is extremely rare to restart (or reboot) a Linux server other than to upgrade the operating system itself, and that server uptimes in excess of one year are not at all unusual.

Due to the design of Linux, it is far less susceptible to viruses than some commercial operating systems, although it would be wrong to say that viruses cannot affect a Linux system. This is an oft-cited advantage of Linux, but why is Linux less likely to be a victim of a virus? Firstly, as mentioned above, programs need to be written specifically to run on Linux, and most viruses are not. Secondly, a virus can typically cause no more damage than a malicious user could. On a Linux system, the "rights" that a normal user has are very restricted, and it is thus very hard for a user to cause any significant damage to the system.

In the majority of cases, however, the anti-virus software – itself Open Source and thus free – that is installed on a Linux server is there for two reasons: firstly, to scan email for viruses, and secondly to check files that may be accessed by a Windows user.

Information Technology needs have a habit of growing over time, and thus consideration should be given to how scalable a server platform is. Linux includes sophisticated technology that allows a cohesive network of servers to be built up as required, with workloads being shared between multiple systems as appropriate.

The Small Print

The aim of this page is to give business managers an overview of how Linux may be used in a business context. We've glossed over some of the detail in places in the interests of giving a concise guide; however, where possible we have given links to more detailed text. If you have any questions arising from this guide, or if you believe it to be inaccurate in any way, please do let us know.