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Why must we get into these sorts of religious arguments on a Sunday?

Engineers work with the seven layer ISO networking model - physical, data link, network, transport, session, presentation and application. Each has defined functions and standards for how it communicates with other systems and with other layers.

Business has added three layers on top of these. They are not defined by any Swiss standards body and there are no RFCs that I know of that explain their functionality.

These three layers are:

Financial - How much will it cost and how does it get paid for. Linux is the superior product at this layer in terms of purchase price. In total cost of ownership terms, the jury is out. This is where the bean counters make their decisions.

Political - Who is for it and can they get it implemented. Microsoft’s marketing clout reaches for the hearts and minds of those of the top of the corporate pyramid. Linux will always be at a disadvantage here.

Religious - Is it a holy thing. This level is ruled by the technical priesthoods. Unfortunately this is where most techies (as opposed to engineers) make their decisions. The vendors strategies at this layer are to get the believers early in their careers and bind them to the order with certifications. The lesser acolytes, the CCNAs, MCDSTs etc. are trained to aspire to higher levels of certifications - MCSE, CCIE, OCM... Oooooo.

Trying to introduce Linux or Mac into an environment ruled by MCSEs can be akin to introducing the Latin Mas at a Ramadan celebration. It can result in holy war. There may be no rational reason not to support Linux in a business, it may be the most cost effective, stable server platform for your business but until the Linux priesthood overtakes the Microsoft priesthood don’t look for wide Linux acceptance in the enterprise.