Adapting Linux on WAN's

By Neal Friedman

What is Linux?

Linux is defined as an open-source version of the UNIX operating system.

Unix was first concieved and implented in 1969 at AT&T's Bell Laboratories

In 1991, the first Linux Kernel was created by Linus Torvalds

What's so Great About Linux?

Linux is completely Open Source. Linux is for the most part ”free” Linux is secure Linux isnt new, its been in development for

longer than Windows. Less hardware dependant Easy for IT to manage

If Linux is so Good, Why Haven't I Heard of it?

Windows is the most commonly used OS People seem to believe that Linux is difficult to

use. For a very long time it was a bit unstable The way the economy works, things that are

free don't get advertised

Wide Area Networks (WAN) and Why IT Likes to Use Windows

In past years, many incoming employees to a company were not tech savvy people.

Simplicity. Everyone knows the windows interface. Everyone can do basic things on it.

Companies would rather spend a lot of money to get something that will bring up the least amount of user problems

The Past: Windows has always been the most prominently used OS in the business field

Servers

Servers can be run by Linux, Windows, or Mac Guess which is most commonly used and least

commonly used? Answer: Windows, Linux, Mac. Respectively. Linux servers are the most secure. Also least hardware dependant

How Would Ubuntu Simplify the Business Environment

Most commonly used tools in a business: Email: In Linux you could use Mozilla Thunderbird

or Evolution mail. Web Browsing: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome Office Suite: Open Office (includes ports of word,

excel, access, powerpoint, etc) Custom made software: Linux is an excelent

environment for programming and it can run software in any language

There is a huge list of software for linux. Most of which is free and there is a port of just about everything that Windows has including: VPN, pdf viewer, media players, etc.

What About Security?

If you have experienced lots of viruses and spam threatening your Windows system, you aren't alone

Unix systems have regular users (the client) and a super user called root

Users only have acces to using certain programs and files in their ”home” directory

With root access anything is possible Root is managed on a seperate password and

adds a layer of security that Windows doesnt have.

So I Won't Get Viruses Anymore?

Theres probably a 1% chance that you will get a virus on your Unix system

There are too many different kinds of Unix distributions.

Most viruses are made for windows due to its widespread use

So if Linux is that Great, It Must Cost a Fortune

Most Linux distributions are free of charge! They also come with thousands of pages of easy to

understand support Many linux distributers have very helpful help hot

lines. How could it be free?

Some distributions are side projects for developers

Many are considered charitable organizations and survive off donations

Ubuntu Desktop

Links to Linux Related things

Ubuntu Homepage French police: we saved millions of euros by ad

opting Ubuntu Fedora Project Mandriva Linux Suse Linux Guide for Switching to Ubuntu from Windows

Documentation (Manual)

The developers of Ubuntu have already created a very neat and easy to understand manual so I believed it unfit to recreate it.

Here is the link: Ubuntu Documenation

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