Primary survey results: Mission Critical Linux

To: Everyone interested in Linux!

Initiated from the 'Linux Mission Critical Systems' mailing list is a project to document successful existing systems which have a large load and are up 24 hrs/day. Already we have received a rich amount of information!

Back to the index

Getting to the questionnaire:

http://www.linux.or.jp/~mkubo/mc-doc (with Japanese version)

http://www.rmnet.it/linux (Italy)

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\100

Privacy: level 3
Current kernel: 2.0.28
Oldest kernel: 1.2.3
Used Slackware 2.1,3.0, rated fair
Used Red Hat 3.03,4.0, rated good
Used Caldera 1.0,1.0preview, rated fair

Number of Linux servers: 17
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 195
Number of Un*x clients: 0
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 0
Other clients: 0
Average uptime: 21 days
Longest uptime: 38 days
Average dial-in users/day: 30
WWW server: Apache
Using XFree86
Using MetroX
Using Accelerated X

Linux information rated fair
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated fair
Software support rated poor
Project support rated fair
Distributor support rated fair
News group support rated good
Installation procedures rated good
Upgrade procedures rated good
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Sharing the network with Windows NT rated good
Sharing the network with Windows95 rated good
Sharing the network with Novell rated good
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated fair

Mailing lists: RED HAT

Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers

A: PORTED OUR APPLICATION TO LINUX. SUPPORT CLIENTS RUNNING LINUX APPLICATION SERVERS.

Q: A description of the site

A: DEDICATED SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM (NO ACCESS OTHER THAN ADMINISTRATORS). HAVE A SYSTEM AT MORE THAN 100 SCHOOLS.

Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?

A: MUST BE RELIABLE AND INEXPENSIVE. MUST HAVE HIGH UPTIME -- CANNOT BE DOWN WHEN THE CLIENT NEEDS TO PRINT REPORT CARDS OR PRODUCE ATTENDANCE REPORTS.

Q: What is the history of the site?

A: WHEN SCO DISCONTINUED XENIX, I HAD ALREADY PORTED MUCH OF OUR APPLICATION TO LINUX AND CONVINCED MY BOSS IT WAS THE LOGICAL THING TO DO. 1

Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?

A: 1) COST 2) AVAILABILITY OF DEVELOPMENT TOOLS.

Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?

A: NO. WE RAN THE SCO UNIX VERSION OF OUR APPLICATION AND IT WORKED FINE. ONLY HURDLE IS THAT FILE LOCATIONS DIFFER ON XENIX AND PRINTER IS SET UP DIFFERENTLY.

Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?

A: ALL OF OUR NEW CLIENTS GET THE LINUX VERSION OF OUR SOFTWARE.

Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?

A: GOOD

Q: What commercial software packages do you use with Linux, and are you satisfied?

A: DATAFLEX 3.05. NOT SATISFIED, BUT OUR APPLICATION IS WRITTEN IN IT AND IT WOULD COST TOO MUCH TO RE-WRITE.

Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?

A: APPLY REDHAT SECURITY FIXES AS THEY ARE RELEASED.

Q: Are you using any special backup procedures?

A: TAPES, MIRROR DRIVES.

Q: Are there security holes in Linux you want to warn about?

A: NO

Q: What new technologies are you expecting for future Linux development?

A: BETTER SUPPORT OF ISDN.

Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?

A: YES

ERIC GREEN
SYSTEMS DESIGNER
EXECUTIVE CONSULTANTS

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\101

Current kernel: 2.1.21
Oldest kernel: 0.97
Used Slackware 3.1, rated good
Used Red Hat 4.0, rated good

Number of Linux servers: 3
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 5
Number of Un*x clients: 10
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 0
Other clients: 3
Average uptime: 12 days
Longest uptime: 120 days
Average E-mail messages/day: 110
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 170
Average http hits/day: 500
Maximum http hits/day: 900
Average FTP Mb/day: 1
WWW server: Apache
WWW server: WN
Using XFree86

Linux information rated good
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated good
Project support rated good
Distributor support rated good
News group support rated good
Installation procedures rated good
Upgrade procedures rated good
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated good

WWW sites: http://www.westel.hu/mlf/

Peter Czabala
Systems Manager
peter.czabala@elte.hu
ELTE University Budapest, CEU SysLab Budapest

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\102

Privacy: level 1
Current kernel: 2.0.28
Oldest kernel: 1.2.13
Used Slackware 4.0, rated fair
Used Red Hat 4.0, rated good
Used SLS 4.0, rated poor

Number of Linux servers: 2
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 4
Number of Un*x clients: 4
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 40
Other clients: 10
Average uptime: 30 days
Longest uptime: 90 days
Average dial-in users/day: 50
Average E-mail messages/day: 150
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 1000
Average http hits/day: 100
Maximum http hits/day: 1000
WWW server: Apache
Using XFree86
Using Oracle
Using Mini SQL (msql)

Linux information rated good
Reliability rated fair
Robustness rated fair
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated fair
Project support rated fair
Distributor support rated poor
News group support rated good
Installation procedures rated fair
Upgrade procedures rated fair
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Sharing the network with Windows NT rated fair
Sharing the network with Windows95 rated poor
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated good

Netnews: pl.comp.sys.pc-unix, pl.comp.sys.pc-unix.linux, linux.admin.isp, pl.comp.networking

Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?

A: router, firewall, e-mail

Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?

A: Total hangups (once or twice a week) when used memory SIMM-s from two differnt vendors.

Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?

A: Linux has very good support from its users.

Q: What new technologies are you expecting for future Linux development?

A: asynchronus IO, NFS locking, SNMP

Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?

A: yes

Artur Lipowski
software engineer

Current kernel: 2.0.27
Oldest kernel: 0.9???
Used Slackware 3.1, rated good

Number of Linux servers: 1
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 2
Number of Un*x clients: 0
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 170
Average uptime: 90 days
Longest uptime: > days
Average E-mail messages/day: 5000
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 10000
Average http hits/day: 15000
Maximum http hits/day: 30000
WWW server: Apache
Using XFree86

Linux information rated good
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated good
Project support rated good
Distributor support rated fair
News group support rated good
Installation procedures rated fair
Upgrade procedures rated poor
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Sharing the network with Windows95 rated good
Sharing the network with Novell rated fair
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated good

WWW sites: www.linux.org
Netnews: comp.os.linux.announce

Dick Meijer

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\82

Current kernel: 2.0.25
Oldest kernel: 1.2.8
Used Slackware 96, rated fair
Used Red Hat 4.0, rated good
Used Info-Magic Sept, rated fair

Number of Linux servers: 10
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 30
Number of Un*x clients: 20
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 35000
Average uptime: 80 days
Longest uptime: 210 days
Average dial-in users/day: 12
Average E-mail messages/day: 600
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 3000
Average http hits/day: 50
Maximum http hits/day: 500
WWW server: CERN
Using XFree86
Using MetroX
Participated in Linux network utility development

Linux information rated fair
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated fair
Project support rated good
Distributor support rated fair
Installation procedures rated fair
Upgrade procedures rated fair
Un*x compatibility rated fair
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Sharing the network with Windows NT rated fair
Sharing the network with Windows95 rated good
Sharing the network with Novell rated fair
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated poor

WWW sites: Too Many
Mailing lists: redhat
CDROM's: redhat, slackware
Magazines: Linux Journal

Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers

A: I run a professional support consulting business. We support use of Linux in mission critical financial operations. Our clients include banks, manufacturing sites, distribution houses and so on.

Q: A description of the site

A: My own site is a vital link to my clients business operations. Most of our support is done over internet links - typically using SSH.

Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?

A: Access to all clients at all times. Client UpTime!!!!!!

Q: What is the history of the site?

A: My site has been connected to the Internet for about 3 years. I commenced using Linux in September 1995 and moved business critical operations to Linux commencing February 1996.

Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?

A: I chose Linux because software support had become an issue for my clients and thus for me. I was unable to obtain driver updates for other proprietary systems when needed. I have NEVER been disappointed with Linux support.

Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?

A: Yes! But name one OS that won't let you down once in a while.

Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?

A: Yes, I promote the use of Linux everywhere I go!!!

Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?

A: Great! The best kept secret in town!

Q: What commercial software packages do you use with Linux, and are you satisfied?

A: Office Automation like Applixware - but more free!

Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?

A: Bug fixes.

Q: Are you using any special backup procedures?

A: No.

Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?

A: Yes.

John H Terpstra
Director
jht@aquasoft.com.au
Aquasoft Pty Ltd, Sydney Australia

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\84

Current kernel: 2.0.27
Oldest kernel: 1.2.13
Used Slackware 3.0, rated fair

Number of Linux servers: 1
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 2
Number of Un*x clients: 0
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 3
Average uptime: 5 days
Longest uptime: 15 days
Average dial-in users/day: 2
Average E-mail messages/day: 10
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 50
WWW server: Apache
Using XFree86

Linux information rated good
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated fair
Project support rated good
Distributor support rated fair
News group support rated fair
Installation procedures rated fair
Upgrade procedures rated fair
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Sharing the network with Windows NT rated poor
Sharing the network with Windows95 rated poor
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated fair

WWW sites: www.linux.org
Mailing lists: linux-isp and linux-ppp
Books: Linux Unleashed
Magazines: Linux Journal and Unix Review
Other: IRC

Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?

A: Initial hardship of getting the network card reconized, the controller's drive is an alpha and seems to be permantently that way.

Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?

A: Add more incoming PPP connections and a NNTP server

Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?

A: In gerneral Linux is a bit friendly that SCO OpenServer where hardware is concerned. However X on SCO seems to run a lot easier than XFree86. I definatly prefere Sun's OpenWin on a Solarias system.

Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?

A: Most definatly excited

Q: Do you have further comments, or suggestions for Linux administrators?

A: Just keep with it. If it acts up just throw a few punches at it.

Jeff Claggett
Network Systems Engineer
jclagget@biztrac.com
Virtual Realty

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\85

Privacy: level 1
Current kernel: 2.0.0
Oldest kernel: 1.1.59
Used Slackware 3.1, rated good

Number of Linux servers: 2
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 5
Number of Un*x clients: 20
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 10
Average uptime: 60 days
Longest uptime: 200 days
Average E-mail messages/day: 5
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 25
Average http hits/day: 2
Maximum http hits/day: 40
WWW server: Apache
Using XFree86

Linux information rated fair
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated fair
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated fair
Project support rated fair
Distributor support rated fair
News group support rated good
Installation procedures rated good
Upgrade procedures rated fair
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated good

Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers

A: system administration (users & grpoups, security, disk space, load) network administration (nfs, dns, nis, www, mail, security) {web, mail, dns, nfs} servers setup & administration

Q: A description of the site

A: educational site ethernet, multiple HW architectures, multiple OS versions mail traffic, web traffic simulation SW

Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?

A: availability for users

Q: What is the history of the site?

A: it grew from 1 node to 5 servers and multiple terminals

Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?

A: from the beginning, it is free and good (but we were forced to buy machines with their own OSes for the SW is turning on them)

Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?

A: crashes on high loads with small RAM&swap some inherent difficulties in non-standard configuration

Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?

A: yes: all PCs run Linux, probably a Sun will, too.

Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?

A: good, open, stable, upgradable, FREE. wide standards

Q: Are you using any special backup procedures?

A: yes, custom backup script for the servers in the net.

Q: Are there security holes in Linux you want to warn about?

A: breakins from outer space

Q: What new technologies are you expecting for future Linux development?

A: good multi-threading, efficient SMP, Windows95 emulator (to finish the war -- by winning it, of course :-)

Flaviu TUREAN
Teaching Assistant (former sysadmin)

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\86

Current kernel: 2.0.23
Oldest kernel: 1.1.??

Number of Linux servers: 1
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 1
Number of Un*x clients: 1
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 1
Average uptime: 14 days
Longest uptime: 120 days
Average dial-in users/day: 1
Average E-mail messages/day: 15k
Average http hits/day: 1
WWW server: Apache

Linux information rated good
Reliability rated fair
Robustness rated fair
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated good
News group support rated good
Installation procedures rated good
Upgrade procedures rated good
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated fair

Netnews: linux.*

Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers

A: One person company. I do all of the development, maintenance, and administration.

Q: A description of the site

A: My server runs a custom application, the Vigilant Information Filter. The filter continuously scans usenet for articles that match the subscribers profiles. Matching articles are then emailed to the subscriber. I currently have about 1000 subscribers and email about 15,000 (250MB) articles a day. For more information about the filter send an empty email message to info@vigilant.bc.ca.

Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?

A: Email. Sending out 15,000 email messages in a day as well as dealing with the bounced email, invalid email addresses, full mailboxes, etc.

Q: What is the history of the site?

A: The idea of the filter first occurred to me about two years ago. It took another year to write the software and get the hardware and internet connection and newsfeed working together. I've been online for a year.

Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?

A: I've been programming on many UNIX systems for almost 15 years. I tried it at home and was amazed by its completeness and robustness.

Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?

A: I did my develpment and ran for the first 8 months mostly with version 1.2.13. It never failed! I'm less impressed with versions 2.0.0 through 2.0.23 which I'm running now. There seems to be some degredation in the ext2 fs. A scheduled reboot every two weeks seems to reduce the number of crashes.

Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?

A: I've used most of the major UNIX systems over the last 15 years. Linux is easily the best of them! It has the most applications, the easiest installation and administration, and greatest reliability (before 2.0.x) of all of them.

Q: What commercial software packages do you use with Linux, and are you satisfied?

A: None.

Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?

A: Like I said earlier, 1.2.13 never failed. With 2.0.23 I reboot every couple of weeks.

Q: Are you using any special backup procedures?

A: I have a simple flat file database which I keep a backup copy of each time it is updated. I've only had to go back to it once, after a crash, despite most of my problems with 2.0.x being file system related. A reboot with fsck every two weeks seems to keep it clean.

Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?

A: Absolutely!

Q: Do you have further comments, or suggestions for Linux administrators?

A: The developers of Linux are extending the features and functionality of Linux at an incredible rate. Good for them! That's what they should be doing. Unfortunately for us, the users of Linux, the reliability of Linux, imho, has suffered. I think there is a role for us in increasing the stability of Linux. This can take the form of collecting and colating bug reports, to testing enhancements, to creating robustness patches.

Kim Kulak
President
kim@vigilant.bc.ca
Vigilant Internet Services Ltd.

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\87

Current kernel: 1.2.13
Oldest kernel: 0.11
Used Slackware upto, rated good
Used Red Hat 4, rated good
Used Info-Magic 4, rated good
Used SLS 4, rated fair

Number of Linux servers: 2
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 2
Number of Un*x clients: 0
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 100+
Other clients: 0
Average uptime: 50 days
Longest uptime: 130 days
Average dial-in users/day: 10
Average E-mail messages/day: 100
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 500
Average http hits/day: 50
Maximum http hits/day: 150
Average FTP Mb/day: 5
WWW server: Apache
Using XFree86

Linux information rated fair
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated fair
Software support rated good
Project support rated fair
Distributor support rated fair
News group support rated good
Installation procedures rated fair
Upgrade procedures rated poor
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Sharing the network with Windows NT rated good
Sharing the network with Windows95 rated good
Sharing the network with Novell rated good
Sharing the network with OS/2 rated good
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated fair

WWW sites: Linux documentation project
Netnews: comp.os.linux.*
CDROM's: InfoMagic
Books: O'Reiley's

Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers

A: At work I am a 'Systems Analyst'. Generally I design industrial control/monitoring software systems, but I am the company's 'unix guru', so I configured our internet connection and Linux computers. I've since handed off most of the day-to-day operation of the Linux boxes to our Novell admin.

Q: A description of the site

A: The site consists of a small number of virtual hosts for our companies for promoting our products and services, as well as providing e-mail access to all our employees, for communicating with existing and prospective clients.

Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?

A: 1. E-mail 2. WWW server

Q: What is the history of the site?

A: About 2.5 years ago I convinced the company that we needed a dedicated internet connection, and I used Linux (as I had been running it at home since 0.11) with initially NCSA httpd, later I switched to Apache.

Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?

A: Because it is fast and powerful. At University I used Sun's and I liked the power of Unix boxes. Back in 89 (or was it 90?) I heard of Linux and pieced togeather my first linux system (386DX25, 4Mb 130Mb disk - big machine at the time) piece by piece, separetely ftp'ing the kernel, rawrite, gcc, bin utils etc. Later SLS made life easier with their distribution. Since then I've mostly used Slackware, but I'm playing with RedHat 4.0 now.

Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?

A: Not really.

Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?

A: Yes, we'll be putting in a news server soon, and may start using discarded 386's as CDROM servers.

Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?

A: For reliability and performance I feel Linux can't be beat. HPUX is slicker, although I think that with the CDE-like fvwm and the NextStep icons FVWM can be made to look as good. SCO has nicer admin utilities.

Q: What commercial software packages do you use with Linux, and are you satisfied?

A: Netscape - and I am almost satisfied. It works fine as a browser but Netscape Gold crashes far too often (it may be the old kernel/libc, I am installing a new RH4 system to test that hypothesis)

Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?

A: I don't try to keep up with the bleeding edge anymore.

Q: Are you using any special backup procedures?

A: tar

Q: Are there security holes in Linux you want to warn about?

A: sendmail

Q: What new technologies are you expecting for future Linux development?

A: Better SMP support. User-friendly admin tools - RH4's control panel is a step in the right direction, but should be more graphically oriented for newbies. Better/friendlier GUI desktop/filemanagers.

Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?

A: YES!

Q: Do you have further comments, or suggestions for Linux administrators?

A: Read everything you can get your hands on. The HOWTO's are your friend. Buy the O'Reilley books.

William Henning
Systems Analyst
bhenning@udl.com
Universal Dynamics Limited

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\88

Current kernel: 1.2.13
Oldest kernel: 0.99
Used Slackware 4, rated fair
Used Caldera 1.0, rated good

Number of Linux servers: 2
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 2
Number of Un*x clients: 1
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 100
Other clients: 8
Average uptime: 30 days
Longest uptime: 70 days
Average dial-in users/day: 1
Average E-mail messages/day: 2500
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 4000
Average http hits/day: 20000
Maximum http hits/day: 80000
Average FTP Mb/day: 15
WWW server: Apache
Using Accelerated X
Using Postgress (mpsql)

Linux information rated good
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated fair
Software support rated fair
Project support rated good
Distributor support rated fair
News group support rated good
Installation procedures rated fair
Upgrade procedures rated fair
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with Windows NT rated good
Sharing the network with Windows95 rated good
Sharing the network with Novell rated good
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated fair

WWW sites: uiarchive.cso.uiuc.edu
Netnews: comp.os.linux.*
Books: Practical System Administration
Magazines: Linux Journal; SysAdmin

Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers

A: Maintain Internet services (WWW, FTP, mail) and LAN services (SMB, print spool).

Q: A description of the site

A: National nonprofit membership organization serving 170,000+ members. Internet connectivity via Linux servers provides means of communicating with members both individually (email) and en masse (WWW and FTP). Servers also provide LAN services not easily available with NT/Novell servers.

Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?

A: WWW service has come to be relied upon by our members for timely news and reference information, making the 24/7 availability of the WWW server paramount.

Q: What is the history of the site?

A: We've run Linux since 0.99, initially as a email gateway (replaced a DOS-based uucp gateway) and news server for the local LAN. WWW service has been running since mid 1995. Various LAN-support services have been added as neeeded.

Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?

A: In 1994, our existing DOS-based UUCP mail gateway (then a 386) was being crushed by the mail load. Changing to a Linux system--on the same hardware--brought immediate relief.

Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?

A: Starting with essentially no unix sysadmin experience, the learning curve was steep. Getting the system to the point of near-hands-off daily operation and easy upgradability took a *long* time. We also experienced a period where the system would crash almost daily, due to a well-hidden hardware problem that we eventually fixed by replacing the entire machine.

Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?

A: We plan to add a third Linux box in the near future to act as a mailing list server. The intermittant high loads of the list service seem most easily handled by dedicating a machine to that service.

Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?

A: What, there are other Unices? :-) Seriously, I have no frame of reference, never having administered any other Unix.

Q: What commercial software packages do you use with Linux, and are you satisfied?

A: Stronghold (Apache-SSL), very satisfied.

Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?

A: Added full UPS capability; turned off noncritical services.

Q: Are you using any special backup procedures?

A: Backup via tar to a Netware server. Is that special?

Q: What new technologies are you expecting for future Linux development?

A: Use of threads seems to be the "next wave" in boosting Linux performance. (A multithreaded Apache would be nice!)

Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?

A: Yes. For servers, it offers nearly unlimited growth potential. Knowing that Linux is likely to be available on whatever future high-performance hardware becomes available, and being able to make use of distributed systems if, as and when needed means that there is no prospect that we'll outgrow this OS. Am also keeping an eye on the progress in client-side Linux support, as some of our client machines are limited by their non-Linux OS environments but run apps that have no current Linux equivament.

Jon Bloom
Electronic Publications Manager
jbloom@arrl.org
American Radio Relay League

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\89

Privacy: level 3
Current kernel: 2.1.13
Oldest kernel: 1.2.8
Used Slackware 1.0, rated good
Used Red Hat 1.0, rated good
Used Yggdrasil 1.0, rated good
Used Info-Magic 1.0, rated good
Used MKLinux 1.0, rated fair
Used Apple+OSF 1.0, rated fair

Number of Linux servers: 2
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 2
Number of Un*x clients: 2
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 50
Average uptime: 10 days
Longest uptime: 35 days
Average E-mail messages/day: 10
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 50
Average http hits/day: 10
Maximum http hits/day: 50
WWW server: Apache
Using XFree86

Linux information rated fair
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated fair
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated fair
Project support rated fair
Distributor support rated poor
News group support rated fair
Installation procedures rated good
Upgrade procedures rated poor
Un*x compatibility rated fair
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Sharing the network with Windows NT rated fair
Sharing the network with Windows95 rated fair
Sharing the network with Novell rated fair
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated poor

Marck Gorszwick
Military Justice
United States Air Force

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\90

Current kernel: 2.0.24
Oldest kernel: 2.0.24
Used Slackware 96, rated fair
Used Red Hat 4.0, rated good

Number of Linux servers: 2
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 6
Number of Un*x clients: 1
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 4
Average uptime: 30 days
Longest uptime: 90 days
Average E-mail messages/day: 200
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 2000
Average http hits/day: 500
Maximum http hits/day: 5000
WWW server: Apache
Using XFree86
Using Postgress (mpsql)

Linux information rated good
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated fair
Software support rated fair
Project support rated fair
Distributor support rated fair
News group support rated fair
Installation procedures rated good
Upgrade procedures rated poor
Un*x compatibility rated fair
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Sharing the network with Windows NT rated poor
Sharing the network with Windows95 rated fair
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated good

WWW sites: www.linux.org
Netnews: comp.os.linux.*
CDROM's: Infomagic
Magazines: Linux Journal
Other: Linux Gazzette

David Guerrero
System Manager
david@mec.es
MEC

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\92

Current kernel: 2.0.27
Oldest kernel: 1.2.13
Used Slackware 3, rated good
Used Red Hat 3, rated good
Used WGS 4, rated good

Number of Linux servers: 1
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 8
Number of Un*x clients: 6
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 1
Other clients: 1
Average uptime: 3 days
Longest uptime: 30 days
Average dial-in users/day: 1
Average E-mail messages/day: 2
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 22
Average http hits/day: 11
Maximum http hits/day: 24
Average FTP Mb/day: 1
WWW server: NCSA
Using XFree86

Linux information rated good
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated fair
Project support rated fair
Distributor support rated poor
News group support rated good
Installation procedures rated fair
Upgrade procedures rated fair
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Sharing the network with Windows NT rated good
Sharing the network with Windows95 rated good
Sharing the network with Novell rated good
Sharing the network with OS/2 rated good
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated poor

WWW sites: http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Misc/info/LinuxBleed.html
Netnews: comp.os.linux.announce
CDROM's: vendor distributions
Books: Linux Programming aand most unix books
Magazines: linux journal
BBS's: eyes on the skies 510-443-6146

Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers

A: I serve up a WWW controlable solar viewing telescope. The web sight is at http://www.hooked.net/~tvs/eyes/ It is an experiment in learning how to do this sort of NASA like control using the internet. This backyard based system is freely valible to all and has been helpfull in my profesionaal working career as a physicist. The knowledge gained has been used to creat instruments and controls That I would not have otherwise been able to afford. The general linux documentations have been invaluable.

Q: A description of the site

A: same as above.

Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?

A: It runs all the time and is easily upgraded on the fly. The development environment creats comarardary that is focused on the meat of the system rather than on sales hype..

Q: What is the history of the site?

A: I strted it as dos bbs in 1992 and have had articles written bout it in the september issue of the 1995 issue of Sky and Telescope. I migrated to Linux in 1994-95

Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?

A: I found myself developing network concept that were already avalible in unix. I got wind of a free unix and saw a copy of Linux bible t the Los-Pecidus Colledge amature radio swap meet. I got several slackware distributions there at the time.

Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?

A: Many times installing the early cdrom based distributions it would simply confuse me with new information.

Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?

A: I will add more phone lines and hope to have T1 line some day.

Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?

A: Most affordble.

Q: What commercial software packages do you use with Linux, and are you satisfied?

A: Visual Slickedit, BRU

Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?

A: Keep up with latest stable kernels and unix security issues.

Q: Are you using any special backup procedures?

A: /dev/hpdatdrive

Q: Are there security holes in Linux you want to warn about?

A: this depends on the distribution, read the security news groups. run pgp and ssh.

Q: What new technologies are you expecting for future Linux development?

A: Full body remotely controled robots on mars.

Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?

A: yes

Q: Do you have further comments, or suggestions for Linux administrators?

A: Share your experiences in the news groups.

mike rushford
physicist
rushford@hooked.net
Eyes on the Sky Remote controled solar telescopes.

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\93

Current kernel: 2.0.27
Oldest kernel: 1.1.59
Used Red Hat 4, rated good

Number of Linux servers: 3
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 3
Number of Un*x clients: 0
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 4
Average uptime: 32 days
Longest uptime: 64 days
Average dial-in users/day: 50
Average E-mail messages/day: 50
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 100
Average http hits/day: 3361
Maximum http hits/day: 3573
WWW server: Apache
Using XFree86
Using Mini SQL (msql)

Linux information rated good
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated good
Project support rated good
Distributor support rated good
News group support rated good
Installation procedures rated good
Upgrade procedures rated good
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Sharing the network with Windows NT rated good
Sharing the network with Windows95 rated good
Sharing the network with Novell rated good
Sharing the network with OS/2 rated good
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated good

WWW sites: www.linux.org
Netnews: comp.os.linux
Other: IRC -

Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers

A: ISP using Linux as our Main Servers (RADIUS AUTHENTICATION for our Livingston PortMasters, WWW, DNS, NIS, NFS)

Q: A description of the site

A: Internet Service Provider

Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?

A: Business Web Hosting

Q: What is the history of the site?

A: No problems so far

Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?

A: Been using it since '94. Started ISP, logical choice was Linux over Solaris X86 due to software support. (GNU tools).

Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?

A: Only failure I experienced was by using SLACKWARE. This distribution is quite brain dead. I was hard keeping up with system related patches.

Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?

A: If we need more servers, we will definitely be using Linux.

Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?

A: Equal, Superior. Depends on what *BRAND* of unix we are talking about.. SUPERIOR - HP/UX, XENIX, SUNOS 4.X, IRIS, DGEN EQUAL - SOLARIS 2.X (X86 and Sparc). FREEBSD

Q: What commercial software packages do you use with Linux, and are you satisfied?

A: Moo-Tiff 2.0.

Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?

A: linux kernel mailing list - MUST READ. Read Linux NEWSGROUPS (Important) Made sure I used hardware like Buslogic SCSI controllers, ASUSTEK Motherboards and etc.. Proven Hardware will give you a good platform to run Linux ON..

Q: Are you using any special backup procedures?

A: Amanda Backup program to backup all Servers daily

Q: Are there security holes in Linux you want to warn about?

A: Sendmail - SLACKWARE.

Q: What new technologies are you expecting for future Linux development?

A: Clustering, Real Time Support, Raid 5 MD, IPV6, Better NFS speed.

Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?

A: Yes

Q: Do you have further comments, or suggestions for Linux administrators?

A: Make sure you use *PROVEN* hadware for your Linux Server.. Using specific devices like BUSLOGIC scsi controllers (946C) will both improve perfomance and reliability.. READ Linux newsgroups and ask people what hardware works best with Linux (Robust Driver Support). Read comp.os.linux.* newsgroups. Join Linux Kernel Mailing List, watch out for CERT notices. *USE* RedHat and avoid SLACKWARE like the plague. Make sure you keep up with RedHat notices (updates). Before asking questions, do some web searches first. Most of the time, the question yuo might be asking has been answered before.

George Henry C. Daswani
CIO
gdaswani@odc.net
Digital Odyssey and Communications

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\94

Privacy: level 1
Current kernel: 2.0.25
Oldest kernel: 1.2.13
Used Slackware 2, rated fair
Used Red Hat 3,4, rated good

Number of Linux servers: 1
Average uptime: 5 days
Longest uptime: 10 days
Average E-mail messages/day: 100
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 150
Average http hits/day: 600000
Maximum http hits/day: 1200000
WWW server: Apache
Using XFree86

Linux information rated good
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated good
Project support rated good
News group support rated good
Installation procedures rated good
Upgrade procedures rated fair
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated fair

WWW sites: Mailing List Archives
Netnews: c.os.linux.* c.infosystems.www.www-servers.unix

Q: A description of the site

A: Our server hosts one fairly busy web site.

Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?

A: A large portion of our transactions are cgi (actually fcgi now) driven and place a pretty heavy load on the server.

Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?

A: Using a free Un*x was pretty much a given. Linux was chosen over FreeBSD just because it seemed like it may be developing a little faster and gaining more support (but it was close).

Q: What commercial software packages do you use with Linux, and are you satisfied?

A: Tried Zues. If not for the US$1,000 price tag I'd have been extremely satisfied.

Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?

A: Tuned certain kernel parameters. Also keep a close eye on the utilization of system resources (/proc, etc)

Drew Duncan
PooBah

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\95

Privacy: level 1
Current kernel: 2.0.0
Oldest kernel: 1.2.11
Used Red Hat 4.0, rated good
Used Info-Magic 3.03, rated good

Number of Linux servers: 2
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 2
Number of Un*x clients: 0
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 1
Average uptime: 45 days
Longest uptime: 80 days
Average E-mail messages/day: 5
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 100
Average http hits/day: 30
Maximum http hits/day: 800
WWW server: Apache
Using XFree86

Linux information rated good
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated good
Project support rated fair
Distributor support rated fair
News group support rated fair
Installation procedures rated fair
Upgrade procedures rated good
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Sharing the network with Windows NT rated fair
Sharing the network with Windows95 rated fair
Sharing the network with Novell rated fair
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated good

WWW sites: Woven Goods
Netnews: usenetnews
CDROM's: Red Hat
Books: LINUX unleashing the workstation in your pc
Magazines: Linux Journal

Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers

A: my relation with linux servers is only in the fact i use them...

Q: A description of the site

A: the purpose of my site is to promote linux in any way possible while at the same time reselling and distributing linux products in a non-threating (over kill) environment.

Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?

A: email, web site and irc client

Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?

A: linux was chosen for me initially by a roommate that was/is very involved with it...it was in october 1995. I have learned to love it and can not imagine not using it....

Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?

A: hurdles only...learning new languages (i had little patience)

Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?

A: yes, i plan to upgrade the type of machine i use and add a back-up server (for linux)firstly. to answer the question... i would like add a couple of more products to the site as well as links to those in the know.

Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?

A: n/a

Q: What commercial software packages do you use with Linux, and are you satisfied?

A: red hat qmail and apache....very satisfied

Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?

A: Put it on a UPS.

Q: Are you using any special backup procedures?

A: tar

Q: Are there security holes in Linux you want to warn about?

A: No.

Q: What new technologies are you expecting for future Linux development?

A: IPv6 and linux browser

Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?

A: yes very much so...in just a few short years only the surface has been touched

Q: Do you have further comments, or suggestions for Linux administrators?

A: never never forget from whence you came...in other words remember we were all once newbies

Rose Mary A. Lawrence
President

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\96

Privacy: level 4
Current kernel: 2.0.27
Oldest kernel: 1.2.13
Used Red Hat 4.0, rated good

Number of Linux servers: 1
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 1
Number of Un*x clients: 50
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 0
Other clients: 0
Average uptime: 30 days
Longest uptime: 130 days
Average E-mail messages/day: 20
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 60
Average http hits/day: 1300
Maximum http hits/day: 3000
Average FTP Mb/day: 25
WWW server: Apache

Linux information rated good
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated good
Project support rated good
Distributor support rated good
News group support rated good
Installation procedures rated good
Upgrade procedures rated good
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated good

Other: LinuxNET IRC (irc.cabi.net)

Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers

A: System Administration, user support, liason with University Information Services Division

Q: A description of the site

A: I sysadmin the projects machine for the UC Computer Club. It runs a BBS, a few WWW projects like the Interweb Couch & Mazda Image Gallery, an FTP server with various linux mirrors and also has an IRC server connected to LinuxNET

Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?

A: It's a bit of a hassle to get console access to the machine to fix things or upgrade hardware as it is locked away in a high-security area. Thanks to linux, this has only been necessary twice in as many years.

Q: What is the history of the site?

A: Projects were becoming too large to fit on the other UC Computer Club machine, so we got another one :)

Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?

A: Chose Linux from the beginning, of course. It's free, it's easy to install and maintain, it has superior performance to other Un?x OS's such as FleaBSD and Slowaris, and there's a lot of support out there for it.

Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?

A: Nothing software-wise. There's a few funny hardware quirks though, like secondary master IDE not detecting the attached drive.

Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?

A: The UC Computer Club just doesn't have the funds to get a commercial OS.. and anyway, Linux is much better. Hence any extra machines we get connected to the 'net will be running Linux.

Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?

A: Linux has far superior performace to SunOS & Solaris. The filesystem is set out a lot more thoughtfully from an admin point of view also.

Q: What commercial software packages do you use with Linux, and are you satisfied?

A: Ha! I don't have the sort of money needed to buy commercial packages, so I opt for the free ones instead. Free software is sometimes better anyway, look at the Apache HTTPd server for example.

Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?

A: I try to get quality hardware to run it on, I keep up with kernel development and on my machine I have the software watchdog running so if something does go wrong when I'm not around, the machine will shutdown automatically.

Q: Are you using any special backup procedures?

A: Yeah, everyone backs up their projects themselves ;) Again, we're a small group of students, and just don't have the money to purchase expensive tape backup gear.

Q: Are there security holes in Linux you want to warn about?

A: Why bother? It'll be fixed this evening.

Q: What new technologies are you expecting for future Linux development?

A: Support for as many hardware as possible, a really really stable SMP kernel

Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?

A: If you're not, you obviously haven't used it.

Q: Do you have further comments, or suggestions for Linux administrators?

A: Yeah, I have a story to tell. My server is a tiny 486dx/80 running all that stuff above. During the past two weeks, only 8Mb of RAM has been detected, yet everything is still running fine. Slow, but fine :) Try running Windows NT on a 486dx80 w/8Mb ram, with FTP, WWW, a popular BBS and an IRC server going 24/7 with only a slight performance degredation... you can't. Linux rules!

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\97

Privacy: level 3
Current kernel: 2.0.28
Oldest kernel: 1.2.13
Used Red Hat 4.0, rated good

Number of Linux servers: 1
Average uptime: 30 days
Longest uptime: 67 days
Average E-mail messages/day: 15
Average http hits/day: 15
WWW server: Apache
Using XFree86
Using MetroX

Linux information rated fair
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated fair
Software support rated good
Project support rated good
Distributor support rated good
News group support rated good
Installation procedures rated fair
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated fair

WWW sites: www.redhat.com
Mailing lists: linux security
CDROM's: RedHat CD

Ron DeMuth
System Admin
Infinity Computer Solutions, llp

Mission Critical Linux - answers4\98

Privacy: level 3
Current kernel: 2.0.28
Oldest kernel: 1.1.??
Used Slackware 3.0, rated good
Used Red Hat 4.0, rated good

Number of Linux servers: 1
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 1
Number of Un*x clients: 1
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 1
Other clients: 0
Average uptime: 10 days
Longest uptime: 34 days
Average E-mail messages/day: 20
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 60
Average http hits/day: 100
Maximum http hits/day: 200
WWW server: Apache
Using XFree86
Participated in Linux kernel development

Linux information rated good
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated fair
Project support rated fair
Distributor support rated fair
News group support rated good
Installation procedures rated good
Upgrade procedures rated fair
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with other Unix OS's rated good
Sharing the network with Windows NT rated good
Sharing the network with Windows95 rated good
Sharing the network with Novell rated fair
Sharing the network with OS/2 rated fair
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated good

WWW sites: http://www.ssc.com/linux/web.html

Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers

A: Serve a small group with email and provide a server for X windows applications

Q: A description of the site

A: Set up in a dorm room connected to campus ethernet providing for myself and other residents in the dorm

Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?

A: email - cannot remain disconnected or forwarded email to me will cause problems

Q: What is the history of the site?

A: Short term installation, used as personal system except during the school year

Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?

A: Started during the 1.1 kernel days for experience with UNIX

Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?

A: Only big hurdle was waiting for hardware support for my Diamond video card and my cheap SCSI card. None recently

Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?

A: Like to look into clustering with other Linux servers

Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?

A: Much better net support, but of course lacking commercial apps

Q: What commercial software packages do you use with Linux, and are you satisfied?

A: StarOffice - not completely satisfied, but it is a beta

Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?

A: Basically improve hardware (more memory, better SCSI card ...) Also keep up with kernel, libc, and gcc updates

Q: Are you using any special backup procedures?

A: Nope, using ZIP disk occasionally

Q: Are there security holes in Linux you want to warn about?

A: Standard password utilities let user keep passwords too long. PAM has been a configuration nightmare so far also, probably problems there.

Q: What new technologies are you expecting for future Linux development?

A: PAM improvements, some kind of desktop metafor (LIP, KDE, OffiX)

Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?

A: Yes, mostly for new X-windows widgets

Jeff Haumont


Mission Critical Linux - answers4\99

Current kernel: 2.0.27
Oldest kernel: 1.0.??
Used Red Hat 4.0, rated good

Number of Linux servers: 2
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 2
Number of Un*x clients: 1
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 0
Other clients: 0
Average uptime: 45 days
Longest uptime: 80? days
Average dial-in users/day: 10
Average E-mail messages/day: 1000
Average http hits/day: 3000
WWW server: Apache
Using MetroX

Linux information rated good
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated good
Project support rated good
Distributor support rated good
News group support rated fair
Installation procedures rated good
Upgrade procedures rated good
Un*x compatibility rated good
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated good

Netnews: c.o.l.a
Magazines: Linux Journal

Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers

A: Admin, design web, etc.

Q: A description of the site

A: see http://www.agdia.com

Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?

A: As far as Linux goes -- email.

Q: What is the history of the site?

A: No real computers before Linux got here.

Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?

A: Flexibility -- we could start with dial-up mail server then add other services as necessary.

Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?

A: Not as far as Linux goes.

Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?

A: Yes, another department within the company wants to install a Linux-based SQL database server

Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?

A: Can't say since I have only had accounts on Suns, not administered them.

Q: What commercial software packages do you use with Linux, and are you satisfied?

A: Netscape Navigator, PGP, MetroX, Applixware. Very satisfied.

Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?

A: Disabled unneeded services

Q: Are you using any special backup procedures?

A: Nightly script

Q: Are there security holes in Linux you want to warn about?

A: Visit the Red Hat site for info on the linux-alert mailing list. Those people do a good job of tracking and reporting holes as they are discovered.

Q: What new technologies are you expecting for future Linux development?

A: 1. Games porting docs and libraries to spread to game writing community -- more Linux games 2. More application-specific distributiuons -- "Web server on a CD." 3. "A thousand flowers bloom together" in GUI development -- Berlin, GNUstep, Java, LessTif, etc.

Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?

A: Yes, and about the future ability of anyone who knows Linux administrationto make a good living.

Q: Do you have further comments, or suggestions for Linux administrators?

A: If you have lots of extra Linux CDs like me, donate them to the public library. Make them promise to add the CDs to the _circulating_ collection, otherwise they will put them on the book sale rack for a quarter.

Don Marti
Webmaster
dmarti@agdia.com
Agdia Inc.

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