Server Configuration and Functionality, Research Paper Example

Linux Today

Today Linux is operated by millions of organizations, developers, and desktop users. The success story of Linux is the immaculate fundamentals of design, powerful, inexpensive, stable, open source, in expensive hardware, and integrates nicely. According to (“Nasa Goddard Space Center Selects Linux Networx Supersystem.” 8-8), The National Aeronautical Space agency of USA has selected Linux for computational sciences. The system is implemented to increase the throughput of the applications related to weather and climate variability and simulating astrophysics phenomena. Linux has now started to contribute to the cell phone industry. Motorola launched the modern mobile Linux development platform named “Motomagx”. This platform will facilitate the developers to build portable applications. Senior Vice President of Motorola, Mr. Alan Mutricy said “We know that software is just as important as hardware, through the introduction of our Motomagx platform, we are reinforcing our firm commitment to Linux,” (Wilson 16)

The community of Linux programmers has evolved in recent years making Linux more reliable, efficient and organized as time passes by. Linux has emerged to be a powerful and secure system for businesses and as well as high performance computing sector.

Linux Server Environment Advantages

Linux is widely implemented on a wide range of different purpose servers. The advantages of Linux, which make it a safe choice for the organizations, are:

• Security
• Open Source
• Legacy Hardware Compatible
• Stability
• Low Cost

Linux Server Environment Disadvantages

Implementing Linux on server environments contains certain factors. These factors fall in the category of some of the disadvantages Linux has, listed as follows:

• Learning Curve
• Technical Ability required
• Not all hardware compatible
• No Variety of built in Utilities

Linux and Windows Comparison

Linux and Windows can be compared on various factors. The question is “What are the factors which influence the organizations to select the better operating system?” The comparison is conducted on enterprise servers.

Windows Platform (Software Applications)

Linux Platform (Software Applications)

The total cost for purchasing application in a Microsoft Windows environment = 6444 $

The total cost for purchasing applications in a Linux environment = 59.95 $

Cost saved by implementing Linux environment = 6384.05 $

Linux and Windows Hardware and Support Comparison

Linux and windows both can be installed on the same hardware architecture. The major difference between Linux and Windows hardware support is the drivers and devices compatibility issue. The manufacturers provide extensive support of their equipment and hardware on the Windows environment. Manufacturers also provide support of the devices on Linux platform as well, but many still not able to provide support of their equipment in the Linux environment.

Linux Compatibility with Existing Hardware

Linux is a prominent application platform. It provides enormous operational flexibility to the organizations. It can be implemented easily with the existing Windows or UNIX architecture. Linux has capabilities to operate on desktop users, server and cloud computing. Linux is a powerful and efficient system providing better security and at the same time saving cost for the organization.

Linux Installation

Figure 6.1

Figure 1.1 shows the startup screen when installing Red hat Linux. There are three options to start for installing Linux in graphical mode enter key is pressed once.

Figure 6.2

After selecting the installation type, the language selection screen will appear as shown in the figure 1.2. User can select the language according to their requirement.

Figure 6.3

After selecting the language options, keyboard layout needs to be selected as shown in Figure 1.3.

Figure 6.4

Disk partitioning setup as shown in Figure 1.4 is extremely important. User must make sure to do it correctly otherwise data on the hard drive can be lost permanently. If Windows XP is already installed, user will select the “Manually partition with Disk Drive” as shown in Figure 1.4

Figure 6.5

In this option, the user will manually create three partitions. The first Partition will be the boot partition with 100 MB in size. As shown in Figure 1.5.

Figure 6.6

The second partition is the swap partition which will be 1.5 times larger than physical memory which will be 750 MB as shown in Figure 1.6

Figure 6.7

In Figure 1.7 the third partition is the root partition options are set. The size of the root partition will be 100 MB. For additional space user will select the option “fill to maximum allowable size” as seen in Figure 1.7

Figure 6.8

After configuring the partitions, the boot loader configuration option needs to be set as shown in Figure 1.8. There is no need to change in the GRUB boot loader.

In figure 1.9 Linux is asking for the root password. This is the administrator password.

Difficulties Encountered and Lessons Learned

Linux does not represent the existing hard drive partitions and data in a proper way. It does not have any wizard which may create partitions and install Linux keeping the current operating system and data intact. There is no indication to the user regarding the hard drive space which will be left after the Linux installation. The rest of the wizard is unpretentious and easy to follow. The lesson learned is to be cautious while installing Linux on the existing operating system. If the user is not careful, all the data on the hard drive can be lost.

Linux Network configuration

Figure 8.1

After clicking the “Wired network connections” icon, the options appear as shown in Figure 8.1. User has to click “edit connections”

Figure 8.2

After clicking the “Edit connections” another dialogue box appears as shown in Figure 8.2 displaying all the network types and connections.

Figure 8.3

For adding or configuring a new connection user will click the Add button as shown in Figure 8.3

Figure 8.4

After clicking the add button, a new dialogue box appears containing method, IP address, Gateway, Net mask, DNS server, and DHCP Client ID

Figure 8.5

In figure 8.5 IP address, net mask and gateway is configured with the manual method.

Figure 8.6

After clicking “apply” connection is established.

Difficulties Encountered and Lessons Learned

The network configuration is relatively easy. IP address, Net mask, gateway, DNS server IP addresses are the parameters for configuring the computer on the network. The user must enter the values correctly on order to connect the system to the network. There are other methods which can be configured. DHCP server can also be configured by giving the IP addresses range for clients to connect.

Linux IP Tables and Firewall

Linux IP tables provide the functionality to deny and allow websites and protocols. Following are the commands initialized to deny and allow different network resources.

For blocking/Unblocking the ping command

On the root console, type command

For blocking

SUDO Iptables –t filter –A OUTPUT –p icmp –j DROP

As seen in the above snapshot ICMP request are blocked.

For unblocking ICMP

SUDO Iptables –t filter –D OUTPUT –p icmp –j DROP

The above snapshot shows the ICMP request is allowed.

For blocking/Unblocking TCP

On the root console, type command

For blocking

SUDO Iptables –t filter –A OUTPUT –p tcp –j DROP

For unblocking

SUDO Iptables –t filter –D OUTPUT –p tcp –j DROP

Work Cited

“Nasa Goddard Space Center Selects Linux Networx Supersystem.” UNIX Update 17.6 (2006): 8-. Print.

Wilson, Richard. “Motorola Predicts Bright Future for Linux in Handsets.” Electronics Weekly.2300 (2007): 16. Print.