Abstract
Organizations select operating systems for use in their workstations and servers depending on their preference. In my organization, the preferred operating system is Linux. However, vendors to supply the system and associated support have not been determined. As such, the paper aims at considering different factors of the individual vendors such as reliability, performance, availability of training, and availability of support. Moreover, aspects such as pricing and suitability in different work environments will be considered since each organization is expected to have its advantages and disadvantages. Extensive research from the literature will be conducted to ensure that a clear picture is created for the management to ensure that an accurately guided decision is made. As such, the management of the organization will be well equipped to determine the best organization that will supply the Linux operating system services in line with the recommendations made.
Executive Summary
The paper's aim is to address the issue of selecting an appropriate vendor for the Linux operating system. The considered vendors include Red Hat, SuSE, and Ubuntu. Each vendor will be analyzed on the ability of their system to match the settings and requirements of the organization. For instance, the availability of support and appropriate training will be considered before the vendors can be selected. The analysis will be specific since the organization requires a system that can work on both the workstation and the server environments.
The purpose of the communication is to help the managers of the organization understand the different opportunities that the organization receives from each vendor of the Linux operating systems. With the analysis, the managers can avoid the pitfalls and barriers posed by each of the vendor companies. The various statistics available from the vendors will also be presented to inform the decisions made on which vendor will be most helpful to the organization.
The results of the analysis present the pros and cons of Red Hat, Ubuntu, and SuSE. Ubuntu is frequently used in websites than Red Hat while Red Hat is more used on the websites than SuSE. Also, Ubuntu is user-friendly when compared to SuSE and has release cycles that are consistent. On the other hand, installing the Linux operating system provided by SuSE is tough for people that are not used to performing installations. As such, adopting SuSE would require fully dedicated Information Technology staff members.
The conclusions made recommend that Red Hat is selected as the Linux operating system vendor. Red Hat is chosen because it is able to handle heavy loading in the systems, has a high security, and can be used in both servers and workstations. Furthermore, Red Hat has a reliable and long-term support that have set a record of excellent performance.
Introduction
The aim of this paper is to create a comparison between the different distributions of Linux provided by Red Hat, Ubuntu, as well as SuSE as independent and separate vendors. The paper will focus its research on the workability of making use of the distribution of Linux operating system within its workstation and servers. The problems that will be covered in the paper involve the total ownership costs, the available support, the present training, as well as the reliability of the product and the availability of applications. Further, the paper will focus on the advantages and disadvantages of the above problems among the chosen vendors and as well decide on the most appropriate distribution for the organization. After following all the above criteria, it will be possible to come up with a recommendation for review by the management of the organization.
Background
Linux operating systems are preferred in both their server and workstation culture since they handle and effectively manage several systems in a network. The Linux workstations are used to manage the available networks while the servers offer huge services such as managing different operations easily and effectively (Shoeb, 2014). Regarding security, the Linux operating system is considered as the best. Moreover, they are reliable and have better communication from their support staff.
When a comparison is made between Red Hat and SuSE, Red Hat is more popular on its usage on websites. For all the known websites, Red Hat is used by 1.3% while SuSE is used by 0.3%. According to the table 1 below, 1.7% of all the known websites ranked among the top 1,000,000 use Red Hat. Additionally, 2.7% of all the known websites ranked among the top 100,000 use Red Hat. Further, 3.1% of all the known websites ranked among the top 10,000 use Red Hat while 0.9% of all the known websites ranked among the top 1,000 use Red Hat (W3Techs, n.d.).
Percentage websites that use Red Hat
On the other hand, according to the table 2 below, 0.3 % of all the known websites ranked among the top 1,000,000 use SuSE. Also, 0.3% of all the known websites ranked among the top 100,000 use SuSE. Additionally, 0.1% of all the known websites ranked among the top 10,000 use SuSE while 0.0% of all the known websites ranked among the top 1,000 use SuSE (W3Techs, n.d.).
Percentages of Websites that use SuSE
A comparison between the usage of Ubuntu system and the Red Hat system proves that Ubuntu is more popularly used in websites than Red Hat as shown in Table 3 below (SimilarTech, n.d.).
Ubuntu vs. Red Hat websites per category
Comparing and Contrasting Linux Distros
Red Hat, Inc.
The Red Hat Incorporation has a version of the Linux operating system that can be used by any organization in both servers and workstations. As such, using Red Hat as the vendor for Linux will ensure that the organization is secure from any problems on compatibility that could occur when using different systems for each device in the organization. Moreover, Red Hat offers different packages that could be bought depending on the services required by the organization and their desired level of support. With the presence of an Information Technology department in the organization, it would be economical to buy the general consumer support version of Linux (Shoeb, 2014). Nevertheless, when the aggregate version of the operating system is needed, appropriate sourcing would be done.
The Red Hat Enterprise Linux has also been reviewed to be 100 percent stable and of effective performance just as the Windows operating system from Microsoft Corporation (Shoeb, 2014). However, the included cost leads to major drawbacks for utilizing the operating system from Red Hat. The incurred cost of sourcing the Linux operating system from Red Hat could be used to cover the initial downloads and the support services that follow (Ben Haj Frej, Bach, Shock, & Desplaines, 2015). Such support services could either be sourced from independent vendors or directly bought from Red Hat.
Currently, Red Hat Incorporation offers separate software versions depending on the range of operations of an organization. To decide on an upgraded operating system, all the pros and cons of Red Hat must be considered. The pros presented by Red Hat include an assurance of system stability and reliability of their technical support. However, the pros come at a cost for the company. All the same, the affiliated cost of acquiring Linux from Red Hat are comparable to going for an alternative from Microsoft Windows (Shoeb, 2014).
SuSE
The operating system that is formally referred to as openSuSE has been distributed from the funding of one of Linux’s leaders called Novell (Shoeb, 2014). The advantage of openSuSE is that the distribution has no bugs at all. However, much concern is raised regarding its compatibility with different applications and its operability within different programs that require interfaces.
There are several programs that OpenSUSE offers together with the distribution of its operating system that enables users to perform more tasks. However, for the people who have been installing the openSuSE operating system, they realize that it is among the top available distros available. Nevertheless, the Linux installations prove to be tougher compared to those from the Windows operating system when the users are newbies (Ben Haj Frej et al., 2015). Installing the Linux operating systems in the organization's workstations and servers would not be a challenge due to the presence of experienced staff in the Information Technology department. As such, individual users would not have to bother installing the Linux operating system on their workstations. Additionally, openSuSE is the most user-friendly of all the distros of Linux. Furthermore, openSuSE has been recommended for its platform stability, smooth running even after updates, and easy desktop installations.
Ubuntu
Ubuntu was the first operating system that was Linux based. The main advantage of getting an operating system from Ubuntu vendors is that it matches all the functionalities that Microsoft aimed as they released Windows 8. Moreover, the members of staff benefit from the sleek desktop that Ubuntu offers in tablets, desktops, and other workstations in the organization. However, the Ubuntu operating system, despite being easy in the workstation version, is more complicated when used in the server environment. The complications encountered in the servers when using the Ubuntu operating system involve hard management tasks during starting processes, modifying the configuration files, as well as running the commands (Channabasavaiah, Holley, & Tuggle, 2003).
Ubuntu, being a user-friendly distribution of the Linux system, has strong support for their community and also ensures that their release cycles are consistent. Their schedules for releasing the updated versions of their software are regular. However, the system is hard to remain free of bugs getting their way into the system due to the frequent updating. For newbies, Ubuntu is the best choice since it does not aim at always supplying updates. Instead, its main objective is to stock the consumers with a software that has been tested over a long period. As a result, the upgrading would only be done when critical security fixes are needed.
For the typical users, Ubuntu would be hard to adapt to, especially when doing the installations (Ben Haj Frej et al., 2015). Moreover, the adaptability of its drivers are limited, and support is hard to find. The lack of application support further complicates the operating system due to lack of features and user unfriendliness. Additionally, it is difficult to understand the software repositories and the systems packages making it hard to upgrade the software.
Feasibility of Using a Linux Distribution in Workstations and Server Cultures
The feasibility of an operating system in both the environments of a workstation as well as that of a server is important to the Information Technology personnel. The issue is vital since the future could necessitate the upgrading of the operating systems of all the computer infrastructure. The upgrades could be achieved through installations and maintenance of improved operating systems within the already installed systems on the servers and workstations off all the staff members in the organization.
After researching the different alternatives and opportunities, the use of Linux operating systems is the best option for the organization (Shoeb, 2014). However, the option comes along with its drawbacks and benefits that must be addressed along the Linux installation process. The paper delineates the ways in which viable solutions can be obtained.
Major Points to Consider
Total Ownership Cost
Several alternatives exist in the acquisition of a Linux dependent operating system. First, the system could either be downloaded as the free versions found in several websites or bought as a software package offered by reputable vendors. However, the best alternative would be to buy the package from a reputable vendor since they could offer one that has been developed to fully meet the organization's requirements. The alternatives are expensive yet the organization could spend a few dollars for the software that fits all the staff members' workstation requirements.
Using Red Hat has a disadvantage of cost (Varian & Shapiro, 2003). However, there are several options to choose from when making the payments. For instance, with the first download, additional services such as support from the company can be covered. Moreover, Red Hat has several clones that are free such as Springdale Linux and CertOS. As such, the organization has the opportunity of running the non-critical systems and consequently minimize the costs incurred (Varian & Shapiro, 2003).
Available Training
It is also important to consider the training that is available in the company on the use of a new operating system. Before adopting the use of the Linux system in all the organization's workstations, it would be vital that all the employees undergo training conducted by the Information Technology department. The organization's human resource management must make it compulsory that all the employees attend the training seminar to prevent a slowdown in the workplace as the staff tries to adapt to a system with which they are not familiar.
Moreover, even after the Linux operating system has been installed on all the workstations and servers, it is important that training modules be availed to all the staff members for reference during practice with the new system (Larsen, Holck, & Pedersen, 2004). As such, training will ensure a smooth and seamless transition from the old system to an updated one. Since the total ownership of the Linux operating system is cheap, it is worth undertaking the training for all the members of staff.
Available Support
The organization should consider the availability of support staff proficient in navigating through all the aspects of the new system. As such, in case the Linux system experiences a downside, it will take a short time for its restoration by the technical support staff from Linux. Since Linux have no efficient and available support staff like those at Microsoft, the organization would have to spend some money to outsource for technical support. Despite Linux having a poor and unavailable technical support, there are fields that offer such support. In this regard, Linux becomes more advantageous since it is not possible to find support staff for Windows operating systems apart from the company itself, which is expensive. The Linux vendors and third parties are empowered to make different changes for the customers. Moreover, there are several websites, chat rooms, as well as blogs that offer services for the Linux users. As a result, the Information Technology department in the organization can review such websites and identify the solutions posted by users that had similar problems in the past to those experienced by the organization.
Reliability of the Product and Availability of a Wide Range of Applications
The reliability of any operating system is paramount for any organization. Linux operating systems have the benefit of reliability due to their security value. Other operating systems such as Windows could subject the organization to serious flaws in data security, and as a result, affect the consistency in the integrity of the information network as well as that of the organization. Linux, being a more secure operating system, is not susceptible to the infections by viruses that result in downtime. The production in the organization will not be affected since the Linux operating system is more reliable than other operating systems in the market.
Having a new operating system in any organization poses serious application problems depending on the size of the organization. The organization can have a range of applications that cannot be handled by the installed operating system. In the case of our organization, the Linux system fits in well by covering all the requirements even more effectively. Moreover, Linux provides better security as well as handles all the requirements of the organization and those in the foreseeable future.
With Red Hat, consumers are given seven years of support services regarding the production phase. The life cycle of their support system effectively minimizes the changes that could be done in between the major releases of different software.
Conclusion
First, Red Hat was among the first distributors of Linux to the market and has retained its top position till today. Second, Red Hat offers long-term support that has been reliable over the years. Third, the Red Hat Linux version can be used in both server and workstation environments. As such, the Linux version supplied by Red Hat has no compatibility hindrances despite its cost and the necessary license fee. Fourth, Red Hat can handle heavy loading in the systems of a given organization and equally maintain its stability. It is, therefore, suitable for large organizations that would sacrifice cost for reliability, efficiency, and stability of both the workstations and servers. Fifth, the security of the Red Hat system is very high making it secure to isolate applications and have a secure firewall. Sixth, its performance is record-setting considering that it is used in platforms that require high performance and in areas that need the showcasing of leadership such as the performance of applications, scalability of computations, as well as database throughput. Finally, Red Hat has several packages that an organization can buy depending on their range of applications as well as the services they offer. As a result, the platform interoperability is eased. The operating system can, for instance, be used as a guest in the different public clouds thereby expanding the associated flexibility.
References
Ben Haj Frej, M., Bach, C., Shock, R., & Desplaines, E. (2015). Open-source Software: Adoption and Challenges. 2015 Northeast Section Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).
Channabasavaiah, K., Holley, K., & Tuggle, E. (2003). Migrating to a service-oriented architecture. Somers, NY: IBM Corporation.
Larsen, M. H., Holck, J., & Pedersen, M. K. (2004). The challenges of open source software in IT adoption: Enterprise architecture versus total cost of ownership. Working Paper No. 11-2004.
Shoeb, Z. H. (2014). Linux Introduction: a short expedition to the Debian environment. BALID Training Program on DSpace 1-2 May 2014. Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP), Dhaka.
SimilarTech. (n.d.). Red Hat vs. Ubuntu. Retrieved from https://www.similartech.com/compare/red-hat-vs-ubuntu
Varian, H. R., & Shapiro, C. (2003). Linux adoption in the public sector: An economic analysis. Manuscript. University of California, Berkeley.
W3Techs. (n.d.). Comparison of the usage of Red Hat vs. SuSE for websites. Web Technology Surveys. Retrieved from https://w3techs.com/technologies/comparison/os-redhat,os-suse
