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!
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Getting to the questionnaire:
Mission Critical Linux - answers6\146
Current kernel: 2.0.30
Oldest kernel: 1.2.10
Used WGS 2.0, rated goodNumber of Linux servers: 3
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 5
Number of Un*x clients: 4
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 6
Average uptime: 60 days
Longest uptime: 105 days
Average E-mail messages/day: 200
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 600
Average http hits/day: 2000
Maximum http hits/day: 10000
Average FTP Mb/day: 10
WWW server: CERN
Using XFree86Linux 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 good
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 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: http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/
Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers
A: I am the overall system and network administrator. This includes
installing all S/W and H/W. I build various native and cross
compilers from the FSF sources.
Q: A description of the site
A: This site is used by engineers for the design and development of
communications systems. This includes S/W development for embedded
processors and DSPs. We use a mix of Linux, SCO Unix, Win95, and
WinNT machines. The site consists of 2 LANS at two separate locations
connected via PPP with a Linux machine acting as a router at each end.
Our connection to the internet is through a demand dialed PPP
connection using Morningstar PPP running on an SCO Unix host.
Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?
A: All Unix hosts act as file servers for important proprietary files and
run 24 hours a day.
Q: What is the history of the site?
A: Started as with 2 SCO Unix machines in early 1994, with a third added
6 months later. First Linux machine was added in 4Q 1995. One SCO
machine ws moved to company headquarters. Two more Linux machines
were added when another office site was aquired in May 1996. These
machines were used as routers and printer servers.
Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?
A: August 1995. The price of commercially available unix was just too
high. Since I have had little problems dealing with FSF tools, I felt
that the same would be true for Linux. It has.
Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?
A: Upgrading from aout to ELF was somewhat time consuming.
I have not yet upgraded to glibc2 because I have not had the time.
Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?
A: Overall - I like Liuux better than any other Unix I have used. This
includes SCO Unix, SYSV/68k, SunOS, and Convex BSD.
Q: What commercial software packages do you use with Linux, and are you satisfied?
A: Netscape is currently the only commercial package being used on Linux.
I am not satisfied. I get frequent bus errors on pages containing
frames. Since there is currently no 'free' alternative (Xmosaic does
not properly handle tables), I am forced to live with this.
Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?
A: Very little. I have found the 'stable release' kernels to be, in
fact, stable. I do not use UPSs at this time, so I can not say
how long the Linux machines will run. The power company causes
all of our machines to crash about once per quarter. I have not
yet lost a single file on any of the Linux machines from this.
crash
Q: Are you using any special backup procedures?
A: Critical project files are automatically archived and copied to
several hosts each night. The primary host is backed up incrementally
each night and a full backup is done each week.
Q: Are there security holes in Linux you want to warn about?
A: Perhaps I have been fortunate. We have had no problems with
unathorized access.
Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?
A: Yes. Very.
Harry G. Clayton
Senior Systems Engineer
hgc@symuli.com
symuli
Mission Critical Linux - answers6\147
Privacy: level 1Current kernel: 2.0.30
Oldest kernel: 1.2.13
Used Slackware 3.1, rated fairUsed Red Hat 4.1, rated goodUsed Debian 4.1, rated poorNumber of Linux servers: 8
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 5
Number of Un*x clients: 3
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 1
Other clients: 0
Average uptime: 30 days
Longest uptime: 68 days
Average E-mail messages/day: 1150
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 1800
Average http hits/day: 4000
Maximum http hits/day: 8000
Average FTP Mb/day: 16
WWW server: Apache
WWW server: Roxen
Using XFree86Using X11R6.1-sun
Using Postgress (mpsql)Using Mini SQL (msql)Linux information rated fair
Reliability rated good
Robustness rated good
Performance rated good
Hardware support rated good
Software support rated good
News group support rated good
Installation procedures rated fair
Upgrade procedures rated fair
Un*x compatibility rated fair
Un*x 'look & feel' rated good
Sharing the network with Windows95 rated good
Netnews: comp.os.linux.announce
Mailing lists: linux-security/alert, Bugtraq
Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers
A: System Administration
Q: A description of the site
A: To inform the students of our university and to help them get
acquianted with computers in general, and UNIX and the internet
in specific.
Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?
A: Web-server, DNS-server and user-server
Q: What is the history of the site?
A: >From old 486-sx25's with 8 megs to a couple of pentium's with at least
32 megs.
Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?
A: Nope, we run Linux on almost everything
Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?
A: Upgraded servers
Q: Are there security holes in Linux you want to warn about?
A: Sloppy sysadmins
Nick Verhaegen
Sir
Mission Critical Linux - answers6\148
Current kernel: 2.018
Oldest kernel: n/a
Used Red Hat 4.0, rated goodNumber of Linux servers: 2
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 2
Number of Un*x clients: 2
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 2
Average uptime: 5 days
Longest uptime: 7 days
Average E-mail messages/day: 20
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 50
Average http hits/day: 200
Maximum http hits/day: 500
WWW server: Apache
Using XFree86Linux 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 poor
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 poor
Sharing the network with Windows95 rated good
Sharing the network with Novell rated good
Sharing the network with OS/2 rated fair
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated poor
Mailing lists: redhat
Books: Oreilly & Ass
Magazines: Linux Journal
Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers
A: I AM A NEWBIE LINUX WEBMASTER...JUST SWITHCHED FROM WIN 95 TO LINUX FOR A WEB SERVERAND I AMVERY HAPPY WITH IT
I ALSO USE WIN NT...BUT LINUX PROVIDES ME WITH ALL THE TOOLS ANS UTILITIES NCESSARY TO RUN MY PLACE
LIKE E MAIL,HTTP, FTP AND X SERVER WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL COST..ALONG WITH ITS VERY EASY TO USE INTERPHASE
WITH THE REDHAT DISTRIBUTION
Q: A description of the site
A: I PROVIDE SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL TYPE OF INFORMATION IN TE NET. ALONG WITH PROVIDING
E MAIL TO MY COWORKERS AND EMPLOYEES
Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?
A: THE WEB..PROVIDING INFORMATION
Q: What is the history of the site?
A: I HAVE BEEN MANAGING MY WEB SITEFOR OVER 3 YEARS, FIRST WITH WINDOWS 3.1 AND A NOVEL
TCPIP STACK AND A CHEAPO WEB SERVER, THEN WIN 95 WITH ANOTHER WIN 95 WEB SERVER THAT WAS VERY UNSTABLE, AND NOW WITH LINUX AND APACHE
Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?
A: THE NET...COMMUNITY AND THAT MANY OF THE PLACES I VISITED WHERE USING IT AND HAD A LOT OF HITS WITHOUT AFFECTING STABILITY OF THE MACHINE
Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?
A: JUST TRYING TO FIND THE INFORMATION NECESSARY WICH IS SCATRED ALL OVER THE HARSDRIVE IN ORDER TO CONFIGURE VARIOUS SERVICES LIKE MARS OR SMB
Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?
A: YES...I HOPE TO GET A SMALLE MACHINE TO USE IT AS A SMALL NEWS SERVER AND A X SERVER FOR GAMES
Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?
A: THE DOCUMENTATION AND INSTALLATION IS BETTER THAN THE SCO FREE OPEN SERVER
Q: What commercial software packages do you use with Linux, and are you satisfied?
A: OSS FOR MUSIC..SINCE I OWN A SOUNDSCAPE VIVO 90
Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?
A: BRAG AND SHOW OTHERS ALL THE THINGS IS CAN DO AT ONCE....ALONG WITH COMAPTING IT TO NT TO OTHERS SINCE NT DOES NOT SUPPORT AS MANY THINGS AS LINUX DOES
Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?
A: YES
LESTER PASARELL
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST/SUPERVISOR
lpasarel@utmb.edu
University of Texas Medical Branch
Mission Critical Linux - answers6\149
Current kernel: 2.1
Oldest kernel: .9
Used Slackware .9, rated fairUsed Red Hat 2.1, rated goodUsed Info-Magic 2.1, rated fairNumber of Linux servers: 1
WWW server: Netscape
Using XFree86Linux 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 good
Upgrade procedures rated good
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
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated poor
Tony P. Ghazel
Owner
ghazel@ix.netcom.com
M.I.S
Mission Critical Linux - answers6\150
Privacy: level 1Current kernel: 2.0.18
Oldest kernel: 0.99
Used Red Hat 3.0.3, rated goodNumber of Linux servers: 5
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 0
Number of Un*x clients: 3
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 16
Other clients: 1
Average uptime: 40 days
Longest uptime: 75 days
Average E-mail messages/day: 1500
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 2000
Average http hits/day: 2000
Maximum http hits/day: 3500
Average FTP Mb/day: 120
WWW server: Apache
Using XFree86Using Mini SQL (msql)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 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
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated good
WWW sites: sunsite.unc.edu
Netnews: comp.os.linux
Books: Yggdrasil (Linux Bible)
Magazines: Linux Journal
Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers
A: Internet service provider. Used SCO Internet Faststart at first... load of crap!
Q: A description of the site
A: Internet Service provider...
Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?
A: Uptime!
Q: What is the history of the site?
A: 1 year old on Linux... used SCO Internet faststart and was HORRIBLY dissapointed! That junk EATS resources!
Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?
A: Used Linux at home since '94 (kernel 0.99 or something... my mind fades!)
Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?
A: yep... getting X working on SLS version was a COW!
Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?
A: I will ONLY use Linux on my site for mission-critical servers. i have an NT4 box for the idiots who want frontpage extensions on their virtual server...
Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?
A: better than SCO... by far! More comfortable environment than HPUX
Q: What commercial software packages do you use with Linux, and are you satisfied?
A: Commercial? I use VI to edit, Pine for email, and who needs a spreadsheet?? Abuse is keen for amusement, tho!
Q: What have you done to increase the robustness of Linux at your site?
A: UPS (3 hour battery life - never used it yet)
Q: Are you using any special backup procedures?
A: daily DAT backup - all machgines sequentailly
Q: Are there security holes in Linux you want to warn about?
A: dont run stuff SUID root!
Q: What new technologies are you expecting for future Linux development?
A: free Motif!!! :)
Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?
A: yep!
Q: Do you have further comments, or suggestions for Linux administrators?
A: There is NOTHING that cannot be accomplished with a bit of innovation!
Brian Macdougall
Director
Mission Critical Linux - answers6\151
Current kernel: 2.0.30
Oldest kernel: 1.1.12
Used Slackware 2.0, rated fairUsed Red Hat 4.1, rated goodNumber of Linux servers: 2
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 5
Number of Un*x clients: 5
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 2
Other clients: 1
Average uptime: 40 days
Longest uptime: 120 days
Average E-mail messages/day: 1000
Maximum E-mail messages/day: 5000
Average http hits/day: 200000
Maximum http hits/day: 400000
Average FTP Mb/day: 5
WWW server: Apache
Using Mini SQL (msql)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 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
Contact with fellow Linux administrators rated good
WWW sites: http://sunsite.unc.edu/linux
Mailing lists: linux-admin
Books: linux in a nutshel
Magazines: linux journel
Q: A description of the work in relation to the Linux servers
A: I admin on server fulltime, the other is a part-time co admin.
Q: A description of the site
A: My main site is a catalog for a business, they are also begining
to offer some web space for rent. The other server is just a
web farm type settup where lots of people park their web pages.
Q: What is the most critical aspect of your site?
A: Stability in web services. If the web page is not available, then
the company doesnt get orders.
Q: What is the history of the site?
A: They grew too big for the ISP shell account and needed their
own server... so I set one up.
Q: Why and when did you choose to use Linux?
A: I chose linux cause it is cheap, stable, and has tons of support from
people like me, not just supper techie nerd types that sit in the
customer support lines for the big computer companies.
Q: Did you experience any failures or hurdles?
A: I had a 3com card. Since it was a newer card the driver for it was
still very beta... as a result I had netcard lockups every few hours.
I have since bought a generic ne2000 card and have had no problems.
Q: Do you intend to expand the use of Linux at your site, and how?
A: Most definately, I plan to have a central e-mail server, 5-10 web
servers, 2-3 dns servers.
Q: How do you compare Linux with other Unices you use and have used?
A: I hate HPUX, dont care for sunos/solaris. With these two, you are
stuck using their software... I had a very hard time compiling
apache on the HP. Sun is just weird....
Q: Are you using any special backup procedures?
A: I just make a nightly tarball then ship it from my server in CA to my server in OH.
Q: Are there security holes in Linux you want to warn about?
A: none that arent publicaly kown.
Q: What new technologies are you expecting for future Linux development?
A: better MS windows binary support
Q: Are you excited about the future of Linux?
A: yuppers
Q: Do you have further comments, or suggestions for Linux administrators?
A: noppers.. keep up the good work.
Adam Crews
webmaster@shroom.com
me
Mission Critical Linux - answers6\152
Privacy: level 6Current kernel: 2.0.30
Oldest kernel: 2.0.8
Used Slackware 2.1,3.0, rated poorUsed Red Hat 3.0.3,4.0,4.1,4.2, rated goodUsed Yggdrasil Fall-94, rated fairNumber of Linux servers: 9
Total number of Un*x servers (including Linux): 18
Number of Un*x clients: 4
Number of DOS/Windows clients: 10
Average uptime: 30 days
Longest uptime: 51 days
Average http hits/day: 5000
Maximum http hits/day: 10000
WWW server: Apache
Using Accelerated XUsing Mini SQL (msql)Using radius
Linux information rated good
Reliability rated fair
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