Irfan’s Corner on the Web On Mac, Linux, Grid, Virtualization and Software Technology

Myths about Linux

This is my first article, and I was forced to write in response to a post in a local newspaper's (Dawn.com) Computer section, in 2004
The editor of the paper's Computer section had decieved a potential linux user, by replying negatively to his queries, saying such things such as :"Linux doenst have MSN support", "Linux doesnt support much hardware", "Linux has virtually no Software".

I was shocked, and wrote this article to address some of the most common misperceptions about linux in Pakistan and around the world in general.
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This article is about tackling the most common myths regarding Linux desktop distributions head on. These myths not only spread misinformation about Linux in general but also discourage potential users.

Introduction: Linux is just 'another' operating system, what's all the fuss about it?

Precisely Linux is not an operating system; rather it is the kernel of an operating system. A kernel is software that enables communications between computer applications and hardware, providing system services like file management, virtual memory, device I/O, scheduling and more. A complete operating system can be built using the Linux kernel, such an operating system is termed as a Linux distribution (popularly called 'distro'). Many flavors of Linux distributions have been built, ranging from high end super computer operating systems, to PC desktop operating systems. Although the uptake of Linux in enterprise and scientific circles has been promising, Linux suffers from certain myths spread by people who have never used it nor have any significant experience of Linux whatsoever. This article is intended to dispel the most popular myths about Linux desktop distributions. As a convention from now Linux will not refer to the kernel but to a general Linux desktop (PC) distribution such as Mandrake Linux, Red Hat Linux, Slackware etc.

Why use Linux anyway?

IBM studies on TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) show that Linux-based solutions are approximately twice less costly than Microsoft Windows-based solutions in a broad range of situations. Other studies from IBM show a Linux-based system's down-time(the time while a system is down) is approximately ten times lower than a Microsoft Windows-based system.
These studies are very interesting because Microsoft Windows and Linux run on the same hardware, allowing a very significant comparison of the operating systems.

Linux is often seen as a secure operating system as it does not suffer from the frequent Trojan, worm and virus attacks on the web, which can target Microsoft Windows Systems only. As a matter of fact last year Microsoft released a number security patches for there many of there Windows operating system, of which quite a few were critical updates, and many came after a major attack had been perpetuated.

Linux security is not perfect, but the new versions of Linux are immensely secure partly due to the United States National Security Agency’s project called SELinux (Security Enhanced Linux) which aims at creating a secure operating system for the United States Army and it’s sister branches currently SELinux version 2 is available. But according to philosophy a change in Linux kernel has to be returned to the community of the benefit of all. SELinux Security code has been in-cooperated into standard Linux kernel and distributions, and can be used to secure your home computer system.

Generally 8 points sum the 'Linux Advantage' up:

* Linux source code is freely distributed. Tens of thousands of programmers and various organizations have reviewed the source code to improve performance, eliminate bugs, and strengthen security. No other operating system has ever undergone this level of review.

* Linux has the best technical support available. Linux is supported by commercial distributors, consultants, and by a very active community of users and developers. In 1997, the Linux community was awarded InfoWorld's Product of the Year Award for Best Technical Support over all commercial software vendors.

* Linux has no vendor lock-in. The availability of source code means that every user and support provider is empowered to get to the root of technical problems quickly and effectively. This contrasts sharply with proprietary operating systems, where even top-tier support providers must rely on the OS vendor for technical information and bug fixes.

* Linux runs on a wide range of hardware. Most Linux systems are based on standard PC hardware, and Linux supports a very wide range of PC devices. However, it also supports a wide range of other computer types, including Alpha, Power PC, 680x0, SPARC, and Strong Arm processors, and system sizes ranging from PDAs (such as the PalmPilot) to supercomputers constructed from clusters of systems (Beowulf clusters).

* Linux is exceptionally stable. Properly configured, Linux systems will generally run until the hardware fails or the system is shut down. Continuous up-times of hundreds of days (up to a year or more) are not uncommon. Leading Internet Search Engine Google.com uses Linux to power its systems.

* Linux has the tools and applications you need. Programs ranging from the market-dominating Apache web server to the powerful GIMP graphics editor are included in most Linux distributions. Free and commercial applications included in most distributions are available to meet most application needs.

* Linux has a low total cost of ownership. Although the Linux learning curve is significant, the stability, design, and breadth of tools available for Linux result in very low ongoing operating costs.

* The Linux Philosophy: ``all for one and one for all´´ All changes one makes in Open Source software will benefit each and everyone, all over the world. Without exceptions or constraints.

Myth 1: Linux is too hard to use for the novice user or Linux is difficult to install!

To be honest any operating system being installed for the first time always seems difficult, we think Microsoft Windows is easy to install, because we all have done it so many times. Popular distributions such as Mandrake, SuSE, Red Hat, Lycoris DesktopLX or Elx offer complete graphical installations, with plenty of help at each screen and form, it is worth noting that even popular operating systems such Microsoft Windows XP and Apple MacOSX do not have a complete graphical installations. Some distributions such as Gentoo, SuSe and Slackware have complete near automated installers where all the user needs to do is keep pressing the enter button, because the installer sets default values it self.
As of ease of use is concerned Linux began as a programmer's operating system, written by and for those that like to get their hands dirty, so to speak, with the bits and bytes that make things happen on computers. Perhaps because of this beginning, ease of use has only recently become a consideration. Recently thanks to the GUI environments of Gnome and KDE which have been developed by thousands of volunteers across the world, Linux users enjoy the benefit of one of the best graphical interfaces. KDE is the most popular Linux GUI; it has numerous features which surpass even that of popular operating systems, while preserving the evolutionary stability Linux is loved for.

Myth 2: Linux has no technical support!

I am astonished to hear such notions; I believe that Linux has one of the most open help systems used by any operating system. Linux support comes in form of 200 MB documentation which comes with nearly all popular distributions such as Knoppix, and Slackware. A plethora of Usenet groups, IRC channels, and online help sites are available.
LinuxQuestions.org is one such site and claims the membership of one hundred thousand unique members, at an average a query, what ever the sophistication, is answered within 2 hours. See the end of the article for some help sites.

Myth 3: Linux has limited hardware support!

Modern distributions such as Knoppix and Redhat ( and its latest version called Fedora), and Mandrake have state of the art hardware detections, although support for Generic hardware, (hardware that is not attributed to any specific manufacturer) is limited. Win-modems are another problem; win-modems are modems where the manufacturers make Microsoft Windows drivers only. But branded hardware is fully supported, and furthermore as Linux spreads, USB Robotics, ATI, nVidia, Asus and other companies have started to issue Linux drivers for there respective hardware, even a Linux driver is available for Pentium 4 motherboards from Intel.
Although Most Linux systems are based on standard PC hardware, and Linux supports a very wide range of PC devices. However, it also supports a wide range of other computer types, including Alpha, Power PC, 680x0, SPARC, and Strong Arm processors, and system sizes ranging from PDAs (such as the PalmPilot) to supercomputers constructed from clusters of systems (Beowulf clusters).

Myth 4: There is not much software available for Linux

Linux enjoys multiple large online repositories of Linux specific software. As a matter of fact there is a Linux equivalent for nearly every Microsoft Windows software (except for those antivirus softwares since they are not required because for Linux the number of virus which have been created is nearly null), if not it is surely being developed, even MSN Messenger, Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop equivalents are available.
But most of these softwares are in the form of source codes, but this is one of the Linux advantages. Software coming in source code, or Open Source software, creates confidence of the user using the software, since he knows what the software is directly intended to do (sure you'll have to know the language in which the program is programmed, but fake programs are never found online). Advanced user may even improve the software and send if back to the community.
User-site compiled software also performs better since the compiler compiles the source using optimizations which support only your processor instruction set. Generally, Closed Source software (nearly all Microsoft Windows software), where only the executable file is available, are only optimized for Intel processors, but people using AMD Athlon or K6 processors are at a disadvantage since there processors are not being completely supported.

Myth 5: You cannot run Microsoft Windows programs or MacOSX programs on Linux

Generally there is no need to run programs from alien operating system in Linux however
Linux uses Microsoft Windows emulators such as VMware, Win4Lin and WINE which can run any Microsoft Windows software on Linux.
Vmware is capable of running any operating system in a window in Linux be it BeOS, JavaOS, MacOSX or Microsoft Windows. It is even possible to run four or more different operating systems at the same time, if your system hardware allows it. An extension of WINE, called WineX, is capable of running Microsoft DirectX based games on Linux at near Microsoft Windows speeds. OpenGL support in Linux is native. Heavy 3D animation software such as Maya is available for Linux and used by graphics professional’s world wide. The animation work for the movie Titanic was done in Redhat Linux, a popular Linux distribution with the help of Maya for Linux.
VmWare and Win4lin are commercial programs, with free trial downloads. WINE however is completely free.

Final Comments

After reading this article if some of these above mentioned myths have been dispelled in your mind, try out a Linux distribution, If you need to know more about Linux before trying it, check some of the links appended at the end of the article. If you want to try Linux but are concerned about installing another operating system to your computer, try one of the distributions that runs from a cd, without installing permanent files to your hard drive. Two of these are the Knoppix and DemoLinux.

General Software Sites

http://www.sourceforge.net

http://www.gnu.org

http://www.savannah.net

http://www.kde-apps.net

http://www.kde.org (a popular Linux GUI, found in most Distributions)
http://www.winehq.com (The Free WINE Windows Emulator)

Distributions

http://www.distrowatch.com

http://www.nsa.gov/selinux (The NSA’s SELinux, the homepage of one the most secure operating system)
http://www.slackware.com (my favorite distribution)
http://www.knoppix.com (a popular distributions which runs from a CD, no installation required, excellent for trying)
http://www.linuxISO.org (a site where CD images of most popular Linux distributions are available to download)

Help

http://www.linuxquestions.org

http://www.tldp.com (The Linux Documentation Project, visit here to get the most genuine help)
http://www.linuxpakistan.net (A local Linux site)