So Much for the Linux Threat

Windows IT Pro ^ | 4 February 2005 | Paul Thurrott

[Bush2000]

As you alluded to earlier, the results are for IBM's mainframe-class machines.

Yep. I know. I've already looked into this issue. IBM isn't selling Intel-/AMD-class servers with 5x9 availability.

But the difference between 4x9 and 5x9 availability is less than one hour per year. 4x9 is still an acceptable rate for many mission-critical applications, considering the cost difference.

Whether some people can get by with 4x9's versus 5x9's is irrelevant. Many businesses don't have that luxury. And for those who need 5x9 availability, Solaris on Sun hardware is more appropriate for mission critical applications than Linux.

[HAL9000]

Whether some people can get by with 4x9's versus 5x9's is irrelevant.

When did cost:benefit ratios become irrelevant in business decisions?

[N3WBI3]

And you (who made the initial assertion that linux cant get the same number of 9's) have provided nothing at all other than opinion.

[N3WBI3]

Thanks Hal
Here ya go B2k

[Bush2000]

When did cost:benefit ratios become irrelevant in business decisions?

They're irrelevant to companies that require 5x9's of availability. Say, air traffic control systems, 911 services, reservation systems, powerplant controllers, etc.

[HAL9000]

You claim that cost:benefit ratios are irrelevant to companies that require 5x9 availability? I disagree.

[antiRepublicrat]

Are you sure you have the source right? This isn't the Microsoft PR department?

a largely untested solution such as Linux

What orifice did he pull this out of?

[antiRepublicrat]

I expect Sun to dispatch fleets of lawyers to attack Linux after Sun code DOES make its way into Linux due to people misunderstanding the nature of the license under which it was released.

If I were Linus, I'd have the system automatically diff every submission against the Sun source code.

[antiRepublicrat]

But, if you want to run Linux in your company as a database server or in some other kind of mission-critical role that demands five 9's of availability, it's not going to have the same kind of track record or reliability as Solaris.

Say I had an IBM z900 mainframe running DB2 on Linux. Wouldn't that qualify?

[antiRepublicrat]

Originally when Microsoft bought them they ran Apache they switched soon after.

Not quite so soon. While BSD was humming along easily, they had a hard time getting their inferior OS (then NT) to handle what UNIX was capable of. The migration took a very long time.

[antiRepublicrat]

The legal shadow hanging over Linux is a major factor imho.

Check this out, How SCO's Threats Rallied Linux

[antiRepublicrat]

Insert CD
8 gig OP / Remaining Data
Install
Get 0wn3d before you can update, start over
Run Windows Update
Enable Service required or folder to share

[antiRepublicrat]

you can't point to a single public reference where IBM promises 5x9's of availability under Linux.

You can find one reference here.

[ShadowAce]

From that article:

The lawsuits and threatening letters literally forced customers to actively review and ultimately approve and endorse the use of Linux within their info-tech infrastructure.

This is the strength of Open Source. Microsoft's customers wouldn't be able to do this.

[Bush2000]

You claim that cost:benefit ratios are irrelevant to companies that require 5x9 availability? I disagree.

Yeah, they're irrelevant. These companies CAN'T AFFORD to be down for an hour a year. It doesn't matter how much more 5x9's costs them. They simply have to do it.

[Bush2000]

Say I had an IBM z900 mainframe running DB2 on Linux. Wouldn't that qualify?

No, read for comprehension: We're talking about Intel-class machines, not mainframes. I specifically mentioned that.

[Bush2000]

You can find one reference here.

Try again. That's Montavista, not IBM.

[Bush2000]

Cendant's anecdotal testimonial doesn't equate to a 5x9 promise from IBM, dude. Nice try.

[antiRepublicrat]

Try again. That's Montavista, not IBM.

And that matters how? It's a five-nines Linux distro supported by the biggest five-nines computer company in the world. I believe it meets your request for a public reference to a five-nines Linux.

[Redcloak]

Huh?

Top Developers

Developer	January 2005	Percent	February 2005	Percent	Change
Apache	39821368	68.43	40681140	68.83	0.40
Microsoft	12137446	20.86	12322111	20.85	-0.01
Sun	1830008	3.14	1835718	3.11	-0.03
Zeus	690193	1.19	618599	1.05	-0.14