Educating Minds

We have seen that UNIX developed out of a need that existed in Bell Labs, and then Linux was developed, as a GUI interface to sit on tope of UNIX so the kernel within Linux is a development of GUI as well as the muscle of the UNIX kernel. Linux came into play as a way to compete with the Windows interface. Users wanted the power of UNIX but the ease of use of a Windows type GUI. However the bottom line would be that Windows will continue to dominate but needs to be watching behind them for the rapidly developing Linux systems which is getting a great deal of acceptance. As soon as Linux overcomes some of the issues, difficulty in enabling a wireless card for example, and enables wizards that will help users, the system could take off and legitimately compete with Microsoft Windows.

Hardware Requirements

Windows

Table 2: Windows Server Versions Overview, show on page 2, summarizes the different Windows 2000 Server platforms (Choosing the Right, 2005). Table 3: Windows 2000 Hardware Requirements, shown on page 2, summarizes the hardware requirements for the different server versions.

Table 2: Windows Server Versions Overview

Version Description

Windows 2000 Server • Best platform for file and print, web server, and group mail

• Scales from 1 to 4 processors and up to 4 gigabytes

• Reliable and available-components test through Microsoft’s Windows Hardware Compatibility Labs (WHCL)

• Cost - $1,199

Windows 2000 Advanced Server • Best platform for line-of-business and .com backend usage. Provides enhanced performance and scalability through SMP and extended memory support

• Scales from 1 to 8 processors and up to 8 gigabytes

• Enhanced reliability and availability – provided two-node clustering; 32-node network load balancing; components tested through WHCL

• Cost - $3,999

Windows 2000 Datacenter Server • Best platform for large-scale line-of-business and mission critical, enterprise applications

• Support server consolidation and enhanced scalability

• Scale from 1 to 32 processors and up to 32 gigabytes of RAM

• Maximum reliability and availability –Datacenter High Availability Program; four-node clustering; 32-nod network load balancing; systems