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These pages demonstrate our use of a typical Linux server.  We use Red Hat Linux distribution and the HOW-TO documentation as our guide to configuring the systems.  But, live examples are as useful as reading whole books on the subject.

Why Linux over NT?

The choice was an easy one:

cost per seat... Linux is free for all to use.
scalability... Linux truly scales on all tiers with its built-in features allowing you to spend more on hardware, not software and licensing.
more sophisticated control over the server's operating environment.
stability in the operating system... reboots are optional, not a requirement!
high availability of software, most of which is freely distributed.
it has widely become the mainstream server product over NT... get on-board this runaway train!

What are we using Linux for?

BOOTP server for remote devices to retrieve their operating parameters.
DHCP server for clients to download their TCP/IP settings.
DNS server for all host name resolving.
E-mail server for Microsoft Outlook 2000 using SMTP/POP3/IMAP.
FTP server for easy document interchange between remote systems.
GNU C/C++ compiler for programming software that is highly portable.
LPR/LPD server for printer spooling for all software applications, even USB color inkjets!
NFS server for distributing server disk mount points to seamlessly access data among all servers.
NIS server for distributed authentication services (typically username/password pairs) between multiple servers.
NTP server to keep all the servers time in sync with Internet shared time servers; all PC hosts set their clocks to the local server.
RPGD server for a multi-user role-playing game.
Samba server for Microsoft Windows PC file and print sharing, as well as roaming users profiles and policy templates.
SQL database servers for PC applications to access their information using ODBC.
SSH server for remote clients to access all the online Linux software.
TCP/IP routing and policy-based traffic management for a network hosting hundreds of nodes.
TFTP server for remote devices to boot their software from.
VMware software to boot any Intel PC environment within Linux!
VPN tunneling software to allow remote PCs to access their office documents via Internet, as they would on the office LAN.
Web server for Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 and Netscape Navigator 4.7 browsers, as well as serving for Microsoft Office and FrontPage 2000 products as an intranet resource.
X windows server for local and remote GUI access to all the online Linux software.

Will Linux replace Windows?

At the time of this writing (9/1999), Linux has a place among a niche set of I.T. professional desktops.  A lot of industry experts predict it will never replace Microsoft's dominance in this arena.  We are reserving judgment, because the same experts predicted that Linux would never become an enterprise-strength solution.  Throw the gauntlet, we say, and prepare for battle!

Desktop Update

12/2000:    KDE 2.0.1 has begun to make the world believe...

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