| Publisher: |
GartnerGroup |
| Source: |
Workgroup Systems Software and Hardware;Unix & Midrange Strategies |
| Date: |
May 04, 1998 |
| Author(s): |
G. Weiss |
Free Unix: Do You Get What You Pay For?
Noncommercial Unix systems like Linux have been stirring increased market interest as well as confusion. Their suitability is discussed, and recommendations are provided.
Core Topic
Hardware & Operating Systems: Unix and Midrange
Server Technologies
Key Issue
How will Unix and midrange servers evolve during
the next five years?
Strategic Planning Assumptions
Linux and other Unix freeware will establish pockets
of strength in technically competent market niches (academia,
application development, Web servers) (0.8 probability).
Unix systems at free or minimal charge will lack
the performance tuning, scalability and hardware platform support
to make them suitable for large commercial applications through
2002 (0.9 probability).
Linux will not displace mainstream commercial Unix
versions from IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems and The Santa
Cruz Operation in the next five years as commercial Unix vendors
shift focus to Windows NT (0.8 probability).
"Free Unix," with its open source code,
will reinvigorate Unix interest, driven by widespread Web applications
(0.4 probability).
The old adage "you get what you pay for" may need revision
as the Web upsets the traditional paradigms of computing. Today,
it is possible to configure a full Unix environment (kernel plus
all programs, utilities, daemons and drivers) without incurring
a license charge. The most popular "free" Unix environments
are Linux, FreeBSD and the Apache Web server on Unix. "Free"
(see Note 1) means downloadable source code via the Internet,
or available on CDs (either free or with a minimal maintenance
charge). There is a software community of thousands of developers,
hackers and technical "gurus" who willingly volunteer
time to update, patch and enhance public-domain Unix to promote
the success of "open source code" Unix. Motives vary
in nature: idealistic, adversarial (inhibit Microsoft's dominance)
or recognition from the professional community. However, the question
arises: Should commercial users, as typified by GartnerGroup clients,
take advantage of these opportunities to cut costs and benefit
from the collective knowledge of the community (rather than a
single vendor), or will they wind up eventually "paying the
piper"?
Note 1
What Is Free Unix?
In the Unix culture, "free software" means
source code available to share, reproduce and modify the program's
source code. Free software has nothing to do with shareware programs,
which are distributed without their source code. In 1983, Richard
Stallman of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology proposed
a legal document, called the GNU General Public License, creating
the concept of "copyleft." This is a license granting
full use, and the ability to modify software at will, as long
as the original copyleft agreement is attached and no restrictions
are placed on users of the modified version.
In this Research Note, we evaluate the pros and cons of
installing noncommercialized Unix versions (e.g., FreeBSD and
Linux, available off the Web, or versions from packagers and distributors
with fees such as Red Hat, BSDI, Slackware and Caldera) compared
with commercial varieties (e.g., HP-UX, IBM AIX). Decision criteria
and recommendations follow.
1. Application Suitability: This factor applies to the
role and function. Web servers, domain name servers, proxy servers,
intranets with limited criticality, and legacy integration and
application development platforms are the most suitable roles.
Least suitable are roles in large and complex application workloads,
databases, and data warehouses, especially ones in need of multiprocessing
hardware, large storage management, significant tuning, wide-area
connectivity and network management, and high-availability clustering.
2. Hardware Support: While Unix applications should be
portable among hardware platforms, users will find mixed results
obtaining performance and scalability, hardware support for processors
(primarily available on Intel), driver support for peripherals,
and distributed systems management. With hardware evolving to
support larger workloads through SMP and NUMA enhancements, users
can consider such operating systems as FreeBSD and Linux suitable
for midrange SMP systems of up to four-way, but they will not
be suitable for the high end through 2002 (0.8 probability).
3. Technical Support: Because Unix remains complicated
to install and configure, users must ensure that technically proficient
people are on staff to troubleshoot early deployments. Problems
that commonly occur involve: plug-and-play glitches; difficulties
in integration with corporate legacy applications; interoperability
with existing network infrastructures, such as Novell NDS directory
services and Windows and Macintosh client support; and lack of
integration with system management frameworks (e.g., Hewlett-Packard's
OpenView, Computer Associates International's Unicenter and Tivoli
Systems' TME). Lack of support contracts may also limit it in
government and defense.
4. Application Availability: Third-party support is currently
restricted to nonmainstream suppliers with limited DBMSs, office
software and vertical applications. DBMS vendors like Oracle,
IBM, Sybase and Informix Software do not support nonbranded operating
systems because of the costs. Middleware (e.g., ORBs and TP monitors)
requires the user's initiative. However, Internet services, X
Windows, E-mail, NFS, TCP/IP networking, Netscape Navigator and
a host of other tools and plug-ins are readily available, reinforcing
the role of free Unix for Internet servers.
Advice to Users Contemplating Free Unix
- Stick with well-tested versions of operating
systems
- Check that driver support matches needs
- Request pre-configured packages
- Ask for detailed explanation of technical support
and commitment
- Check multiprocessor support and tuning
- Check Web sites for complaints
Software Distributors
Red Hat Software (Linux) - free or $49.95
Debian
Slackware
Walnut Creek CD-ROM (FreeBSD) - small media charge
Berkeley Software Design (BSD/OS) - $995 to $2,995
Caldera (OpenLinux Base) - $59
Acronym Key
DBMS Database
management system
NUMA Nonuniform
memory access
OLTP Online
transaction processing
ORB Object
request broker
SMP Symmetric
multiprocessing
TP Transaction
processing
Bottom Line: Nonbranded versions of Unix environments,
such as Linux and FreeBSD, can be suitable as inexpensive, functional
Unix packages for Web servers, application development platforms,
and workstation and dedicated application roles with qualified,
in-house technical expertise, in place of commercially branded
systems. However, these operating systems will not find widespread
use in mainstream commercial applications in the next three years,
nor will there be broad third-party application support (0.8 probability).
Although interest is growing in their utilization as Web servers,
their advantage will remain limited to moderately scalable applications
(0.8 probability), and they will lack operating-system and performance
tuning support for high levels of scalability (>500 concurrent
OLTP users).
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This document has been published by:
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Service
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Date
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Document #
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Workgroup Systems Software and Hardware
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4 May 1998
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KA-03-2514
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Unix & Midrange Strategies
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4 May 1998
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KA-03-2514
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