Why the Largest Companies in the World Count on Linux Servers

Petros Koutoupis — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 04:03:32 +0000

Linux started its life in the data center as a cheaper alternative to UNIX. At the time, UNIX operating systems ruled the industry and for good reason. They were performant, fault tolerant and extremely stable. They also were very expensive and ran on very proprietary hardware. A lot of the familiar utilities and applications developed for those UNIX platforms eventually were ported over to Linux. So, once Linux ran services like Apache, it came as no surprise that Linux would usurp and replace the very same technologies that once inspired its creation. The very best part was that Linux ran on commodity x86 hardware. At the end of the day, anyone could deploy a Linux server at a fraction of the cost to deploy something from Sun Microsystems, Silicon Graphics (SGI) or from any other UNIX distributor.

Fast-forward to the present, and Linux continues to maintain a strong competitive lead over other server offerings, including the very popular Microsoft Windows. But why is that the case? In order to answer that question, one first must understand what Linux is.

What Is Linux?
In short, Linux is a free and open-source UNIX-like kernel. It is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv2). Initially released in 1991, Linus Torvalds continues to maintain the project. Early in its life, Linux was able to latch onto and make use of common GNU libraries and applications. This allowed the kernel not only to become more usable but also helped encourage more users to dabble with it and eventually contribute back to the project. As a result, the Linux project grew, and it grew fast. It continues to draw positive attention.

Today, Linux is deployed in most data centers worldwide and manages some of the internet's most critical applications and services-- even powering what we commonly refer to as the cloud. A large number of companies trust Linux to maintain their workloads and do so with little to no interruptions or downtime. The kernel even has crept its way into our home entertainment systems, automobiles and mobile devices. Everywhere you look, there is Linux.

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Intro to Linux

Why the Largest Companies in the World Count on Linux Servers