The first and most obvious job that pops up in the Linux field is a Linux System Admin. A System Admin can be a lucrative career, especially if you can couple some security knowledge/ certifications with it. Positions are advertising pay ranges of $80K per year with about 5 years of experience and $40k at the entry level.
Another category of Linux job is a Software Engineering. These jobs are paying around $80K per year as well, with a few years of experience. They require some type of programming knowledge in C+, Python and other languages to be coupled with Linux knowledge.
The highest paying job I found was a Linux Drive Architect, although this job required a masters or PhD in computer science. The pay range for that particular job was $120K and up and it was located in the bay area.
There are a wide variety of Linux jobs available, especially in the web based world. Many web servers are running Linux as it helps protect the website from becoming infected with the run of the mill Windows viruses that circulate the web constantly. Many web languages are also designed to run on Linux servers, so a person with some programing experience coupled with Linux is a valuable commodity.
Linux jobs are scattered all over the country, though the highest density of jobs is in the California Bay Area.
The Story of Tux
The short version of this story is that Linus Torvalds simply liked penguins. When Linux users began to mention the need for a logo. Mr. Torvalds suggested the penguin.
This website has an email to the Linux community from 1996 outlining his vision for how the penguin should look. To sum up what Mr. Torvalds was looking for, he wanted the penguin to look satisfied, as though he had just stuffed himself on a meal of herring.
But again, you may ask, why a penguin? Well. Mr. Torvalds explained that as well. He has always adored penguins, and he wanted to separate Linux from the corporate OS. He thought the best way to represent an open source OS was with something goofy and fun.
Mr. Torvalds also felt the penguin was very universal, very much like his OS. Tux can be dressed up, posed, and altered to fit the individual user's needs.
This website has an email to the Linux community from 1996 outlining his vision for how the penguin should look. To sum up what Mr. Torvalds was looking for, he wanted the penguin to look satisfied, as though he had just stuffed himself on a meal of herring.
But again, you may ask, why a penguin? Well. Mr. Torvalds explained that as well. He has always adored penguins, and he wanted to separate Linux from the corporate OS. He thought the best way to represent an open source OS was with something goofy and fun.
Mr. Torvalds also felt the penguin was very universal, very much like his OS. Tux can be dressed up, posed, and altered to fit the individual user's needs.
Open Source For America
Open Source For America is an organization dedicated to promoting the use of open source technology to the federal government. The first point that jumped out at me was the idea of test driving before you buy. I had never thought of that being and advantage of open source, but I have personally witnessed several situations where companies have spent large sums of money on technology that didn't fill their exact need. If they had utilized an open source option, they could have tried it before they sunk money into.
As a taxpayer, that really hits home. When I reflect on the money that was spent by a small business on failed technology, it is $20 or $30k. That is a big hit for a small business. The federal government may spend millions or more on software that didn't fill the role it was intended to fill. With an open source model, the software can be tested before purchased, and in many cases, modified if it needs to be in order to fill a need.
In reading some of the case studies, I was again moved as a taxpayer. Open source software for earthquake tracking near brilliant. Earthquakes affect so many people all over the world, why not let those folks volunteer their time on development rather than spend tax dollar on just a few developers of proprietary systems.
As a former military person, the case study about the NSA and SELinux also hit home. Our national security is in all of our best interest to protect. It makes sense to allow thousands of developers to search for and fix security holes in our infrastructure, rather than a few select folks. Especially in an ever changing electronic world. A piece of technology that is said to have no holes today may be cracked tomorrow. The more developers working on the patch, the faster it will get fixed.
In short, this website opened my eyes to all sorts of new advantages and usages for open source technology.
As a taxpayer, that really hits home. When I reflect on the money that was spent by a small business on failed technology, it is $20 or $30k. That is a big hit for a small business. The federal government may spend millions or more on software that didn't fill the role it was intended to fill. With an open source model, the software can be tested before purchased, and in many cases, modified if it needs to be in order to fill a need.
In reading some of the case studies, I was again moved as a taxpayer. Open source software for earthquake tracking near brilliant. Earthquakes affect so many people all over the world, why not let those folks volunteer their time on development rather than spend tax dollar on just a few developers of proprietary systems.
As a former military person, the case study about the NSA and SELinux also hit home. Our national security is in all of our best interest to protect. It makes sense to allow thousands of developers to search for and fix security holes in our infrastructure, rather than a few select folks. Especially in an ever changing electronic world. A piece of technology that is said to have no holes today may be cracked tomorrow. The more developers working on the patch, the faster it will get fixed.
In short, this website opened my eyes to all sorts of new advantages and usages for open source technology.
Samba
Samba is Linux based file and print server. The rather interesting thing about Samba is that it is interoperable with Windows systems; meaning a Windows client can access the server as if it were accessing a Windows server. This interoperability is achieved by the use of the TCP/IP protocol stack. This is the same protocol stack that computer use to communicate over the Internet.
Newer releases of Samba now include active directory. Active directory allows network administrators to make global changes to the network by making those changes only on the server. Changes such as permissions and updates can be pushed out to clients in this fashion saving the network administrator significant amounts of time.
Businesses can use Samba to allow users to share files, thereby reducing network traffic because users don't need to email or ftp those files to each other.
Samba is release under the GNU public license and is free and open source.
Newer releases of Samba now include active directory. Active directory allows network administrators to make global changes to the network by making those changes only on the server. Changes such as permissions and updates can be pushed out to clients in this fashion saving the network administrator significant amounts of time.
Businesses can use Samba to allow users to share files, thereby reducing network traffic because users don't need to email or ftp those files to each other.
Samba is release under the GNU public license and is free and open source.
Linux Network Management
OpenNMS is a Java based network management tool. OpenNMS provides polling, data collection and event notification.
It is supported for Linux systems and have a graphical monitoring feature allowing network administrators to view things like bandwidth utilization, system downtime and security events.
OpenNMS can be customized to provide monitoring for switches, routers, servers, and other network equipment. It can also be used to keep track of assets.
It is supported for Linux systems and have a graphical monitoring feature allowing network administrators to view things like bandwidth utilization, system downtime and security events.
OpenNMS can be customized to provide monitoring for switches, routers, servers, and other network equipment. It can also be used to keep track of assets.
Windows 7 vs Linux
Now that Windows has come out with Windows 7 (don't they have a cool name for this one?) the debate is on again that Linux is dead. What do you think?
I couldn't disagree more. Though I have not had the opportunity to work with Windows 7 yet, I have several reasons why I don't think Linux will ever die at the hands of any version of Windows.
1. Window has no plans of going open source. As long as this is true, you will never be able to truly customize Windows to fit your needs.
2. A quick check on Newegg proves that Windows 7 promises to sport a hefty price tag, just like all the other Microsoft products.
3. Windows 7 isn't a server OS, so it won't compete with Linux in Linux's largest market.
4. As long as Windows retains the largest market share, it will also retain the largest number of viruses and other attacks.
I think the summary answer to the question is that Windows 7 and Linux don't necessarily compete head to head. Both systems have niche markets and I don't think either system will penetrate the other's niche. Windows server edition is a greater threat to Linux than Windows 7.
Is there room for both Windows and Linux? And what about Apple?
Yes, and the answer goes back to niche markets. Windows is and probably will remain the primary business OS because of it's user friendliness and price point.
Apple has a market in the graphic design and multi media market.
Linux has the open source crowd. As long as all those different types of needs exist there will be room for all 3 operating systems.
Have you looked at Windows 7 yet? What are some of the new features that might make you upgrade your system to it?
I have not had an opportunity to work with 7 yet, but the advertised feature that jumps out at me right away is speed. I would definitely consider upgrading from Vista for a snappier OS.
The other advertised feature that I find very appealing is improved boot times. Waiting 2 or more minutes for Vista to finally load gets pretty old. Microsoft has a long way to go to keep up with distros like Xanros Presto! which claim boot times for a partial OS in just seconds.
I couldn't disagree more. Though I have not had the opportunity to work with Windows 7 yet, I have several reasons why I don't think Linux will ever die at the hands of any version of Windows.
1. Window has no plans of going open source. As long as this is true, you will never be able to truly customize Windows to fit your needs.
2. A quick check on Newegg proves that Windows 7 promises to sport a hefty price tag, just like all the other Microsoft products.
3. Windows 7 isn't a server OS, so it won't compete with Linux in Linux's largest market.
4. As long as Windows retains the largest market share, it will also retain the largest number of viruses and other attacks.
I think the summary answer to the question is that Windows 7 and Linux don't necessarily compete head to head. Both systems have niche markets and I don't think either system will penetrate the other's niche. Windows server edition is a greater threat to Linux than Windows 7.
Is there room for both Windows and Linux? And what about Apple?
Yes, and the answer goes back to niche markets. Windows is and probably will remain the primary business OS because of it's user friendliness and price point.
Apple has a market in the graphic design and multi media market.
Linux has the open source crowd. As long as all those different types of needs exist there will be room for all 3 operating systems.
Have you looked at Windows 7 yet? What are some of the new features that might make you upgrade your system to it?
I have not had an opportunity to work with 7 yet, but the advertised feature that jumps out at me right away is speed. I would definitely consider upgrading from Vista for a snappier OS.
The other advertised feature that I find very appealing is improved boot times. Waiting 2 or more minutes for Vista to finally load gets pretty old. Microsoft has a long way to go to keep up with distros like Xanros Presto! which claim boot times for a partial OS in just seconds.
What is Andriod
Android is Google's open source, Linux based, mobile OS for mobile phones. I most definitely believe there is a future in Android. It offers many of the same features that the Iphone offers, but on a completely open source platform. In addition Android is both carrier neutral and hardware neutral, allowing more vendors to utilize the technology and more customers the ability to purchase the technology.
For those who like a challenge - who is Alex Rubin and what does he have to do with android?
I'm not totally sure about this one, but as best I can tell, Alex Rubin is Andy Rubin's dog. Andy Rubin is a developer on the Android project, and currently the Director of Mobile Platforms at Google.
For those who like a challenge - who is Alex Rubin and what does he have to do with android?
I'm not totally sure about this one, but as best I can tell, Alex Rubin is Andy Rubin's dog. Andy Rubin is a developer on the Android project, and currently the Director of Mobile Platforms at Google.
Linux Kernel Numbering
The Linux kernel numbering system has changed a bit over the years. Originally, Linux kernels were numbered based on whether they are stable release or not. Even numbers were stable releases and odd numbers were more development based. The second number in the string is the one that indicates a stable release. For example, 2.6.31.1 is the current sable release. 2.5.X.X was a developmental release that 2.6.X.X was based on. This numbering system was officially scrapped with the 2.6.X.X release.
Now development has started on the 2.6.X.X kernel, and Linus Torvalds has indicated that he does not intend to go to a 2.7 release to denote the development release. Instead development is being done on the minor releases. A minor release is denoted by the third number in the 2.6.X.X format. The forth number of the format indicates bug fixes, security patches, and other corrections.
In the current numbering scheme, a developmental release is indicated by the letters "rc" followed by a number. RC stands for release candidate, indicated that it is not ready for a production environment.
Now development has started on the 2.6.X.X kernel, and Linus Torvalds has indicated that he does not intend to go to a 2.7 release to denote the development release. Instead development is being done on the minor releases. A minor release is denoted by the third number in the 2.6.X.X format. The forth number of the format indicates bug fixes, security patches, and other corrections.
In the current numbering scheme, a developmental release is indicated by the letters "rc" followed by a number. RC stands for release candidate, indicated that it is not ready for a production environment.
AppArmor
AppArmor is security software for Linux. AppArmor works by isolating applications so weaknesses in on application can not be exploited to affect the entire system. In AppArmor, each application is given a profile. The profile can then be customized to define which system resources can be accessed by that application.
Another cool tool that can be installed on Linux, and my personal favorite is Wine. Wine is an application that allows you to run most Windows applications on Linux. Wine is an open source application that is developed by an all volunteer force.
Another cool tool that can be installed on Linux, and my personal favorite is Wine. Wine is an application that allows you to run most Windows applications on Linux. Wine is an open source application that is developed by an all volunteer force.
Open Source and Making Money
How do companies like RedHat make money?
Many open source companies like RedHat make their money supporting their products in several different ways. Some of those ways include 24/7 tech support and training on their products. Many companies also publish books to train folks on their products.
What makes open source open?
Open source is open because the source code is available to the public. Developers can find and edit to the source code. This allows developers to alter the code to fit their specific needs and fix bugs they find in the code.
Why didn't Bill Gates consider going open source?
Why Bill Gates didn't consider going open source is a tough question to answer. In his own words, open source creates a license "so that nobody can ever improve the software,".
Many other would argue that by controlling the source code, Gates can in many ways control who can develop software to run on Windows and therefore maintain a monopoly on the money generated by the PC market.
Many open source companies like RedHat make their money supporting their products in several different ways. Some of those ways include 24/7 tech support and training on their products. Many companies also publish books to train folks on their products.
What makes open source open?
Open source is open because the source code is available to the public. Developers can find and edit to the source code. This allows developers to alter the code to fit their specific needs and fix bugs they find in the code.
Why didn't Bill Gates consider going open source?
Why Bill Gates didn't consider going open source is a tough question to answer. In his own words, open source creates a license "so that nobody can ever improve the software,".
Many other would argue that by controlling the source code, Gates can in many ways control who can develop software to run on Windows and therefore maintain a monopoly on the money generated by the PC market.
The Cathedral and the Bazaar
Research and find out what you can about "Cathedral and the Bizarre". Tell me in your own words what it is and why it might be important.
"The Cathedral and the Bazaar" is a book written by Eric S. Raymond. It makes a comparison between the traditional pay software development and open source. He has compared the open source model to a bazaar and the traditional software development model to a cathedral.
The cathedral model involves a team of developers, most likely in the same location, with a leadership team and a defined goal.
The bazaar model involves somewhat of an ad hoc team of folks, most times connected only by the internet, modifying a project to fit their individual needs.
It is important because these two methods of development are finding themselves in close competition more and more frequently. As Linux students, it is very important for us to understand the bazaar method, as that is how most Linux is developed. A programmer writes some codes, then posts the code and other developers are free to alter the code as they see fit for their particular needs.
"The Cathedral and the Bazaar" is a book written by Eric S. Raymond. It makes a comparison between the traditional pay software development and open source. He has compared the open source model to a bazaar and the traditional software development model to a cathedral.
The cathedral model involves a team of developers, most likely in the same location, with a leadership team and a defined goal.
The bazaar model involves somewhat of an ad hoc team of folks, most times connected only by the internet, modifying a project to fit their individual needs.
It is important because these two methods of development are finding themselves in close competition more and more frequently. As Linux students, it is very important for us to understand the bazaar method, as that is how most Linux is developed. A programmer writes some codes, then posts the code and other developers are free to alter the code as they see fit for their particular needs.
Week 2: Linux in the Business World
What functions does Linux and/or Unix provide in todays business world?
The presence of Linux is growing in today's business world. One of the more recent areas of growth for Linux has come with the creation of the Asterisk phone system. A company can now download a phone system and save thousands over what a traditional pbx would cost. In addition, with a traditional pbx, features tend to come in packages. If a business would like the functionality of a few extra features, they may be forced to spend thousands on the upgrade package on many features they will not user.
With a Linux based system, a company can hire a Linux developer to add the features they want, often times at a much lower price. The same is true for custom features. Every company can have the exact features they want customized to fit their needs. This is all possible because the source code is available and may be changed by anyone with the knowledge to do so.
Are there a lot of companies who use Linux?
According to Steve Ballmer CEO of Microsoft, about 60% of the world's servers.
According to the World Wide Web Consortium, the usage of Linux as a desktop environment is growing as well. While still lagging far behind Windows, some companies are choosing to make the switch. In part, I attribute this gain in momentum to computer manufacturers releasing machines that run Linux (mostly Ubuntu) natively. The price tag can run $100 less or more compared to a Windows machine. Over a large company, the cost savings can be substantial.
Who uses Linux and why?
Linux also has a large presence in the server market, especially in web servers. Most notably, Google claims to use mostly Linux servers to power their operations. Much of the reason for using Linux to run web servers is security.
Web servers, unlike many other servers, are open to the Internet with little security in place. That's the nature of a web server. However, with most common viruses being written for Windows, a Linux server will remain unaffected by such a virus.
Secondly, most effective attacks launched against a Linux server would be done from the CLI. That reduces the number of hackers who may attack a Linux machine to those who know Linux well.
The presence of Linux is growing in today's business world. One of the more recent areas of growth for Linux has come with the creation of the Asterisk phone system. A company can now download a phone system and save thousands over what a traditional pbx would cost. In addition, with a traditional pbx, features tend to come in packages. If a business would like the functionality of a few extra features, they may be forced to spend thousands on the upgrade package on many features they will not user.
With a Linux based system, a company can hire a Linux developer to add the features they want, often times at a much lower price. The same is true for custom features. Every company can have the exact features they want customized to fit their needs. This is all possible because the source code is available and may be changed by anyone with the knowledge to do so.
Are there a lot of companies who use Linux?
According to Steve Ballmer CEO of Microsoft, about 60% of the world's servers.
According to the World Wide Web Consortium, the usage of Linux as a desktop environment is growing as well. While still lagging far behind Windows, some companies are choosing to make the switch. In part, I attribute this gain in momentum to computer manufacturers releasing machines that run Linux (mostly Ubuntu) natively. The price tag can run $100 less or more compared to a Windows machine. Over a large company, the cost savings can be substantial.
Who uses Linux and why?
Linux also has a large presence in the server market, especially in web servers. Most notably, Google claims to use mostly Linux servers to power their operations. Much of the reason for using Linux to run web servers is security.
Web servers, unlike many other servers, are open to the Internet with little security in place. That's the nature of a web server. However, with most common viruses being written for Windows, a Linux server will remain unaffected by such a virus.
Secondly, most effective attacks launched against a Linux server would be done from the CLI. That reduces the number of hackers who may attack a Linux machine to those who know Linux well.
7 Things You Don't Need to Know About Me
This was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Usually introductions are who am I and why am I here. I really had to put some thought into "7 Things You Don't Need to Know About Me". Here is what I came up with.
1. I have downloaded Ubuntu and played around with it several times.
2. I got my CCNA about a month ago.
3. I moved to Sparks from San Diego about 6 years ago.
4. I am also taking A+ this semester.
5. I have done some blogging in the past.
6. I get very cranky when I don't get my morning workout.
7. I drink way too many energy drinks.
1. I have downloaded Ubuntu and played around with it several times.
2. I got my CCNA about a month ago.
3. I moved to Sparks from San Diego about 6 years ago.
4. I am also taking A+ this semester.
5. I have done some blogging in the past.
6. I get very cranky when I don't get my morning workout.
7. I drink way too many energy drinks.