An Introduction to GNU/Linux

The world is rapidly catching onto GNU/Linux as a viable alternative to other operating systems. The traditional place for GNU/Linux has been with servers, but for desktops the growth rate is now outstripping its major rivals. The huge availability of free software is being recognised more and more by businesses and individuals, and it is the strength of such software that makes GNU/Linux a solid platform.

Whether migrating to Linux or setting up systems for the first time, many companies and users face similar issues. The thought processes behind GNU/Linux is a shift from that with corporate-supplied operating systems, and while GNU/Linux has distinct advantages, it also brings with it its own hurdles. Being so different to the major competitor can make it daunting, even frightening. For small and medium businesses, it is a big step to take to move to an Open Source platform, and before any advantages can be gained there is often a knowledge gap that has to be bridged.

How can companies and system administrators overcome this? Well in my experience GNU/Linux has made it easy to start that learning process; but having help available when you need it most really helps. And the heavy load is cushioned because many skills are quickly transported - TCP/IP networking, for example, is the same whichever operating system is sending data over it. It's a small step from understanding the configuration of simple networks on other platforms to understanding them on GNU/Linux if you already understand the basic concepts behind the networking paradigm.

With the right support any system administrator from other server backgrounds can quickly pick up the necessary skills to bring Linux right into the heart of network. And that is where consultancy services such as that provided by Roxoff Linux Consultants can help best. Good consultants will plug that initial knowledge gap and pass on valuable skills and techniques to ease those migration headaches. And this works well for trainee administrators too; these guys come with far fewer preconceptions, and their fearlessness makes them quick learners.

The choice an organisation makes about which consultancy service to use can determine the speed with which they can bring their investment in GNU/Linux to fruition. so it pays to call upon experts. But what is clear is that there are big gains that can be made by any company bringing GNU/Linux into their organisation.

What makes GNU/Linux such a powerful contender as an operating system?

What are the barriers that prevent GNU/Linux being adopted more widely?