On Sun, 29 Mar 1998, Mat Serwas wrote:
[...]
>I read the comp news groups alot and can say there is as much traffic
>relating to maintaining the RedHat OS as there is for the other OS's.
>So, I deduct from that that RedHat does not have a lock on OS's as far
>as superiority is concerned.
That's an illogical conclusion. Microsoft operating systems have many
more people talking about them, but that says nothing in and of itself
of the capabilities, stability, or maturity of the operating system.
It just says that lots of people are talking about it.
If you're going to use discussions as a basis of merit, you have to find
out what people are talking about and compare that. What do people
discuss when they discuss Linux? What do people discuss when they
discuss Windows NT? What do people discuss when they discuss Solaris?
Oh, and who are these people? Are these well-versed veterans with a
formal education in computer science, or are they newbies--not even
hobbiests--that simply try every new toy that passes by?
Linux-based operating systems, because they are inexpensive and
accessible, are going to generate a great deal of discussion because
people are trying them. There aren't as many people trying Solaris,
or HP-UX, or AIX, or OpenVMS because they can't simply download those
operating systems off the Internet, or buy them in their local computer
store for $50. If those operating systems were as accessible as RHL,
COL, or DGL, people would be talking about them, too.
What are people talking about? Sure, they're talking about the basics.
UNIX is a new environment for many of these new users. UNIX takes some
time to get used to, especially if you've only ever used MS-DOS, Windows,
or a Mac before.
They're also talking about development: writing new tools, expanding the
capabilities of existing tools, making an impact on the Linux community by
giving back. You don't see as much of that in the commercial operating
system community because end-users don't have access to the source code,
they can't make fundamental changes and get those changes integrated into
full-fledged OS releases like those in the Linux and free BSD communities
can. People are also talking about the high-end stuff: servers and high
availability, enterprise computing and e-commerce, LANs, WANs, telephony,
how things are changing and how they should change, how Linux fits in
with UNIX, and how Linux fits in with other operating systems. There's
a lot of discussion about Linux because there's a lot to talk about.
Things change fast in the Linux community, and everyone who wants
to have an impact HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, which is what makes Linux
so exciting. In the Microsoft and Macintosh communities, you can only
have an impact on the operating system if you work for Microsoft or Apple
(and even then, you remain anonymous), people only know your name if you
sell your company to Microsoft for big money, or if you sue Microsoft.
The problems people have with Windows today are the same problems they had
with it last year, and the year before. Nothing's new, no revolutionary
new ways to do anything, no nifty upgrades, no exciting new features.
"Oh, but Windows 98 is just around the corner!" you say. But, alas,
you'll have to pay for the improvements, and you'll still be stuck with
what Bill wants you to use. RHL 5.1 will likely be out by the end of
the year, probably by the summer. It will contain exciting new features
that will likely revolutionize UNIX usability--again. For free. And may
even include features YOU contributed.
>1. Can RedHat perform tricks/routines that other OS's can not? No.
But does it? Yes. RHL (and other Linux-based operating systems)
include many useful tools that are not included in other, commercial
UNIX variants. RHL has a very rich base user environment. Sure, you
can install the same software on any other UNIX platform, but you DO
have to install it. It's not already there for you.
>2. Does RedHat have a better selection of programs to choose from? No.
True enough, but Linux typically has a less expensive selection of
basic software, and fewer licensing restrictions.
>3. Do programs written for RedHat run better than their counterparts in
> other OS's? No.
That depends on the program.
>4. If RedHat is free, I would think there would be a stampede to it just
> get our from under the thumb of Bill [which is the reason I bought
>RedHat
> in the first place]? I see no stampede.
Many people (justifiably) believe the addage, "you get what you pay for".
Linux and the free BSDs are a revolution in computing because you
get a great deal and pay nothing. Many people aren't aware of Linux.
Many people use applications that are available only for other platforms.
Many people don't want to have to migrate their data from their current
platform to a new one. UNIX involves learning a new way of doing things.
Not everyone has time to learn a new way, regardless of the long-term
benefits.
>5. I like all my programs in their own root DIR. I may be wrong on this
>but
> the only OS I know that allow this is OS/2, carte blanc.
Individual preference. No operating system will cater to everyone's
specific preferences.
>6. If RedHat is so great, why can't it fix itself when something goes
>wrong?
No operating system can. If it could fix problems, they wouldn't be
problems, now would they. You might as well argue, "if American cars are
so great, why can't they fix themselves after I run them into a ditch?!"
>7. Your system crashes [don't tell RedHat doesn't]. Can you boot from
> Syquest, Iomega, CD-rom removeables to reload the OS?
Uhhhh...that's a function of the BIOS, not the operating system.
No operating system can boot from external media of the BIOS doesn't
support it. Windows 95 and Windows NT can't boot from any of those
devices without special drivers or a BIOS that can handle it (as in the
case of bootable CD-ROMs; and yes, Linux can be booted off a CD-ROM if
your BIOS supports it).
>8. Why are there so many flavors of UNIX? I really want to know.
Because there are many different ways of doing things, and because
the best way hasn't been discovered yet (despite what Bill wants you
to think).
>9. Right now, I am editing sectors on a disk to restore lost partitions.
>Other than backing up the MBR [which all OS's can do], what snazzy
>utility does RedHat have to facilitate this? The only reason I say this
>is because MS has/requires tons of utilities. As a matter of fact, there
>are businesses out there thriving in making maintenance utilities for MS.
>So, are they built into RedHat?
Yes, many of them are built into RHL. We've been using RHL in a
production ISP environment for two years and I have never had to resort
to a third-party tool to correct problems with the system. Frankly,
the reason you're having problems is because of your own ignorance,
not because the tools aren't available.
>10. I see no difference between RedHat as an OS workstation or Server.
>Why the argument? It's just the hardware configuration.
Huh? The distinction between workstation and server can be defined in
one of two ways: (a) how you use the system, or (b) what licenses you get
with the system. RHL doesn't make a distinction because (a) you can use
the OS however you want, and (b) RH can't impose license restrictions on
the use of most of what they distribute. Microsoft makes a distinction
between NT Server and NT Workstation purely so they can charge more for
NT Server. Both operating system are identical. NT Server just has a few
registry differences. If you know which registry settings to change, you
can violate your license agreement and make *any* copy of NT Workstation
into NT Server in less than a minute plus the time it takes to reboot.
>11.The only man I know that could make RedHat a success is Bill Gates.
>And he might just be in the market with the way things are going with NT,
>so I hear/read.
You're ignorant if all you're going on is what you hear and read. You
clearly don't know the computer industry.
>12. There is not OS ready for prime time. Period. We are still coddling,
>feeding, nursing and swearing at them.
Bingo! That's one for twelve. Not a great average. Keep trying!
--
Steve Coile
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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