Wine linux download

Linux: real-world Unix with an attitude - Software Review - Evaluation

Call it Unix with an attitude. Linux is a free multi-user, multitasking, POSIX-compliant operating system named after Linus Torvald of the University of Helsinki, who wrote the original kernel and who still coordinates kernel development and releases with a team of unpaid volunteers from around the world.

Defying all accepted marketing logic, Linux (which rhymes with Minix) is thriving and has just turned 2.0.

In the four short years since the first kernel was compiled, it has undergone such rapid growth and development that the current release level has been officially promoted from 1.3X to 2.0.

New to the 2.0 release is support for symmetric multiprocessing (up to six processors), improved configuration menus, on-demand loadable module support, plus dozens of overall speed and support improvements. Support now includes wide SCSI controllers and improved support for IDE CD-ROMs and IDE tape drives.

Kernel support has been added for native AppleTalk networking and support has been improved for NCP (Novell) and SMB (Windows for Workgroups/Win95/WinNT).

Also new to release 2.0 is expanded support for network devices: several ISDN cards, a few frame relay cards, and several 100 Mbps Ethernet adapters.

Developed originally for Intel 386 and higher processors, a 64-bit version of Linux is now running on DEC Alpha computers and Linux is in various stages of being ported to PowerPC-based computer such as Apples Power Mac, and other OSes like Sun, MIPS, BeOS, Silicon Graphics, and 6800-based Amigas and Ataris. The primary user base, however, continues to be centred on the Intel x86 architecture.

Who uses Linux?

According to Harald T. Alvestrand, a Norwegian who attempts to track the number of Linux users via his Linux counter Web site, the estimated number ranges anywhere between two to seven million worldwide. His site lists registrations from over 100 countries.

Alvestrand observes that the most Linux-dense countries are in Scandinavia while the largest number of users are in the United States and Germany. Not surprisingly, Linux has become a significant force in developing countries.

Linux users break out into several, often overlapping categories. Some of Linuxs heaviest users are Webmasters. Linux is a popular host for Web servers IT shops and many ISPs have set up Linux running the equally free Apache Web server to handle their Web sites. CGI-BIN scripting is faster and much more efficient on Linux than on Microsoft Windows NT.

Because Linux can be optimized for performance as a router, many IT pros are turning it into a low-cost, highly adaptable solution to routing and firewalling.

A carefully built Linux firewall system compares favorably with commercial firewall solutions that can cost thousands of dollars.

Others are employing Linux as a low-cost server for small- to medium-size PC and Macintosh networks. A Pentium-based Linux box with large disk capacity and good tape backup makes an affordable, stable, and versatile file and print server, with built-in Internet capabilities.

Many Linux users are Unix developers. The Linux distributions always include Free Software Foundation GNU software, such as GNU C++ and GNU emacs some of the most solid programming tools in the industry.

A surprising number of hobbyists have turned to Linux. For those willing to put in the time learning the intricacies of Unix, Linux puts an entire lab at their disposal. Take a couple of 386 or 486 PCs that have been made obsolete by Windows technology, add a couple of network cards, and youve got the parts to develop an interesting network. This aspect of Linux has not been lost on computing faculties who are employing Linux for educational purposes.

Where to get Linux?

You can download Linux directly from the Internet if youre skilled enough to assemble the parts. Most users prefer to obtain Linux on a CD-ROM. The distributions themselves are not free but theyre inexpensive, ranging between $20 to $50. There are at least 10 competing CD-ROM distributions of Linux but the three most popular CD sets are from Debian, Slackware and Red Hat. The best place to look for these is at a university bookstore. Short of that, you can mail order them directly from the distributors (see sidebar at far right).

The CD-ROM distributions include setup software that greatly simplifies installation. Once installed, you can obtain updates from the Internet.

While all the distribution sets are good, the Red Hat set is particularly noteworthy because of its RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) system for handling installations and upgrades. The Red Hat Linux 4.0 set (which includes the Linux 2.0.18 kernel) is a good package for those new to Linux.

There is also a somewhat more expensive, more commercially-oriented distribution of Linux available from Caldera Inc. the company that was recently spun off from Novell. The Caldera distribution, which includes the Red Hat RPM, ships with licensed NetWare client software. Caldera also offers add-on products such as a native Linux version of WordPerfect 6.0 for X-Windows and a licensed version of SunSofts Wabi (a Windows 3.1 emulator). The Caldera distribution costs $130 (with educational pricing available).

Linux documentation is surprisingly thorough, albeit scattered. It takes the form of man pages, HOW-TO documents and Textinfo files. There are a number of well written books on Linux available in bookstores. Running Linux and Linux Secrets are two particularly good titles for the beginner.

The sticking point for some IT shops is that there is no central point of support with Linux. You cant call Linux the way you might call SCO or Microsoft.

Nonetheless, Linux is well supported. There are several highly active Linux Internet newsgroups and numerous mailing lists devoted to support. Users generally report rapid and useful answers to their questions.

Under the hood

Using Linux is much like using any Unix workstation. You log in and run programs on as many as 12 virtual consoles, or you run X-window for a full graphical environment. One popular (and free) X-window interface gives Linux a decidedly Windows 95-style GUI. Speed is noticeably faster than with Windows 95 or Windows NT on the same machine. Linux has a strong System V flavor with a few elements of Berkeley Unix.

Linux is remarkably contemporary. It can mount FAT, VFAT (Win95 long filenames), and Macintosh disks and volumes, allowing read-write access. It offers read-only access to HPFS partitions.

Many PC sound cards, video cards and peripherals are supported, including parallel-port Iomega Zip drives. A recently developed module allows Linux to access Stacker, DoubleSpace and DriveSpace partitions.

A DOS emulator, DOSEMU, lets Linux users run DOS programs, such as WordPerfect 5.1, in a virtual DOS session and work is progressing on a free Windows 3.1 emulator called Wine.

The main downside of Linux is that it takes patience and persistence to get all the parts working. And your boss has probably never heard of it, which makes it a hard sell if you want to use it in-house.

Linux releases can also be ragged. System administrators who dont want to deal with the sometimes unfinished side of the Linux world may prefer to look at another free version of Unix Berkeleys FreeBSD.

FreeBSD offers more controlled releases of the operating system, but it doesnt have the same spirit of fun about it, nor does it support as broad a range of hardware.

For those willing to experiment and spend some time studying, Linux may be simply the most fascinating product you can get your hands on. Proactive IT professionals will want to get up to speed on Linux so they dont overlook inexpensive solutions that, in many cases, work as well as, or better than, the ones with splashy ads.