Linux

Estimating and Project Management

What is Linux? To be precise, the proper name is GNU/Linux, but most people just say Linux. Well, you're probably viewing this web page from a computer running some version of Windows. Microsoft Windows then, is your computer's operating system. Linux is an alternative to Windows. Why would you want to use anything besides Windows? Because Linux provides many benefits, such as being much more stable, much more secure, and free from viruses. If that wasn't enough, Linux and most of the software that runs on it can be downloaded for free!

I use old computers with Linux to do things that I otherwise couldn't afford to do. For instance, here at home I have about 4 different Linux systems running all the time - boxes that are too old and underpowered for use as a desktop (we're talking Pentium 100 here). One box acts as my firewall and router, sharing my Internet connection and protecting anything I care to plug into my hub. Another old computer is hosting this website you're looking at right now and handling all my email - it filters out spam and Windows viruses too. A third system is a proxy server with parental control, so that I can filter out most of the offensive content from my child's online experience. Still a fourth system is just a file server - I mostly use it for backups and extra storage. All the Linux software was free, and the hardware is frankly junk. How much would the equivalent Windows software (and hardware to run it) cost ? How secure would it be?

I'm going to predict that 2004 will be remembered as the year Linux makes a huge impact. There's several reasons for this, including the new Linux 2.6 kernel (the core of the operating system), recent movements in the industry, and the state of the economy. Linux has matured rapidly to the point where many businesses and governments worldwide have begun to use it instead of Windows. Not just for servers anymore either - Linux is now being adopted as the standard desktop system by many.

Here's a few links to get you started.

Linux News

Slashdot - Huge and popular geek news site

Groklaw - The Open Source world from a legal perspective

LinuxToday - Linux news uh ... today

Software

Debian - Free Linux distribution ran by the community (not by a company)
SAMBA - A Microsoft network compatible fileserver
Apache - The most popular web server in the world
Sendmail - A mail server
Webmin - An excellent graphical system management utility
Shorewall - An iptables based firewall system
LEAF - A Linux firewall / router system

Help

Linux Newbie Guide - Installation & Administration for Newbies
O'Reilly's Linux Site - Great books and online help
Linuxnewbie.org - The name says it all