nixCraft Linux Sys Admin Blog

Who Writes Linux - Insight Into Individual Linux Kernel Contributors

Posted: 02 Apr 2008 01:06 PM CDT

A report from the Linux Foundation details individual kernel contributions and suggests enterprise use is expanding. However there is elite group inside community. During the past three years, the top 10 individual developers have contributed nearly 15 per cent of the changes to the kernel, while the top 30 developers have submitted 30 per cent, the report states.

Al Viro, David S. Miller and Adrian Bunk authored most of the patches; Andrew Morton came in fifth. Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, is found far down on the list. Viro has contributed 1,571 changes to the kernel, which sits at the core of the Linux operating system, over the past three years.

According to Jim Zemlin, executive director at The Linux Foundation:

Never before in the history of computing have there been so many companies, users and developers united behind one project, specifically one that has seen so much commercial success.

Some interesting facts about Linux kernel

Who is Writing Linux?

Every Linux kernel is being developed by nearly 1,000 developers working for more than 100 different corporations.

Who is Sponsoring Linux?

More than 70 percent of total contributions to the kernel come from developers working at a range of companies including IBM, Intel, The Linux Foundation, MIPS Technology, MontaVista, Movial, NetApp, Novell and Red Hat.

How Fast is Linux Developed and Released?

An average of 3,621 lines of code are added to the kernel tree every day, and a new kernel is released approximately every 2.7 months.

=> Linux Foundation Publishes Study on Linux Development Statistics: Who Writes Linux and Who Supports It

Time is Right For Linux Desktop PCs To Emerge

Posted: 02 Apr 2008 12:40 PM CDT

Linux is capable of running a big iron server, routers, tiny devices, supercomputers and ATMs. However the million dollar question can Linux finally crack Microsoft Corp.’s hold on computing’s most visible domain — mainstream PCs?

I think Linux has the ability and the rise of inexpensive machines such as Asus EEE Pc ($300 notebook PC) is fine proof of concept. Over last few years I had worked with government and private project involving Linux on desktop. Many Indian state and union (federal) government supports Linux as desktop operating system. Linux is perfect for

Browsing / Internet / Chatting / Email
Office Application
Programming / Database etc

My personal experience shows that Linux can cut cost by 40 to 50 percent over comparable Windows computer.

This Yahoo news article provides further insight into current Linux desktop scenario:

Of course, prognosticators perennially say Linux is on the verge. It gets high marks for security and stability and is widely used behind the scenes in corporate servers, making it a natural candidate to steal desktop thunder from Microsoft’s dominant Windows. And yet Linux PCs still represent less than 2 percent of the market.

This time, though, there’s actually evidence of momentum.

While the best features in the latest Windows release, Vista, require top-notch configurations that can quickly ramp up a PC’s price, one of the hottest segments of the industry involves inexpensive computers.

What do you think? Is Linux ready for prime time?

Join a Windows Domain From Linux / UNIX Computer Using Samba

Posted: 02 Apr 2008 12:15 PM CDT

An excellent guide; it will give you steps about using Samba server to join to a Windows domain. From the article:

The primary domain controller (PDC) will serve as the password server for the domain. If Samba and winbind services are running, turn them off. I will show you how turn them on after you join to the Windows domain. You should save your files at any point in your “work-in-progress” and restore your originals if you intend to reboot. You should make note of your hard devices listed in your fstab file. Before you start you should ping the server from your intended Linux workstation.

=> Step by Step: Using Samba to join a Windows Domain

Remote Linux / UNIX / Windows Server Management With KVM over IP

Posted: 02 Apr 2008 04:38 AM CDT

KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) is a switch or hardware device allows a single keyboard, video monitor and mouse to control more than one server one at a time. KVM can be local device or remote device working over IP network. KVM devices extensively used in server farms where it is only necessary to periodically access box. KVM allows you to access your server even if a remote public network connectivity is down.

KVM Usage

Troubleshoot problems
Install Linux / *BSD remotely
Access BIOS and change settings remotely
Access the server even if network is down
Access the server even if it is very busy or has stopped responding to network connections.
Reset root password
Run fsck and lots of other stuff

KVM over IP

KVM over IP devices are typically connected to a system’s standby power plane so that you can see entire boot process or access BIOS. They work over TCP/IP. You can access your server using a web browser or standalone client application provided by vendor.

With this technology you can control entire server rack from the office, or around the world. Most KVM switch integrates KVM and serial devices into a single management console for all your servers, network devices and infrastructure.

Today you don’t have to put external KVM devices hanging off the back of the server rack. You need to just insert add-on card (daughtercards) to enable KVM support.

Typical implementation

 --------------+ | Server Rack  | +-------------+ | Server 1      | ===>  VPN Router | Server 2      | | Server 3      | --->  Public Router | Server N      | | KVM Switch  | +-------------+

To manage server you need to connect server via VPN client. Once logged in you can access each server using KVM even if public network is down. Public router allows rest of the world access your web or mail server but not KVM device.

KVM in Action

First, connect to your backend network using VPN client.
Once connected open KVM application supplied by your vendor. Following is application supplied by Supermicro vendor

(Fig. 01: Login Screen - Click to enlarge image)