Title: Reasons to Use Linux
Course: CIS 121: Linux/UNIX I: Fundamentals ~ For IGNITE Review > Section: Learning Modules

Reasons to Use Linux

You may wonder why a business owner would want to use Linux when Windows is so popular with businesses today. The following information helps answer that question.

Reduces Total Cost

One of the main reasons to use Linux is that it reduces the total cost of ownership (TCO).  Licensing is free as are upgrades and fixes. Software that runs on the Linux platform is either very low in cost or free. Support for Linux can be quickly found on the Internet in how-to documents, FAQs, news groups, blogs, and Linux user groups (LUGs). One good practice to adopt when you do not know how to do something in Linux is to go straight to the Internet and search for information. You often will find the answer. Overall, the TCO is a lot less than when using another operating system.

Software Availability

Another important reason that businesses like to use Linux is that most of the software that is needed in their business is free and readily available for installation. Most installations are not for the desktop user but for a business server. Linux can be used as a desktop since it has a GUI and all of the normal office-type applications such as text editors, presentation software, and spreadsheets. Linux software also offers audio and video editing software as well as various security options. One prominent reason that Linux is used is to provide web services.

Increases Security and Stability

Linux tends to be a very stable and secure operating system for a couple of reasons.

- First, any vulnerability found is fixed very quickly. There are numerous people involved with maintaining the security of Linux.  This is very different than the timeframe involved for an OS vendor to prepare and test fixes and then to push them out to the public. Businesses like Linux because they want secure assets and information.
- Another reason is there are not as many Linux systems in use as there are Windows.  Hackers go after what can provide the biggest impact with the least effort.  Until Linux becomes more widely used, it will not be as big a target as Windows.

Runs on Multiple Hardware Platforms

Almost every hardware platform can run Linux. In comparison, how many can you put Windows on? Intel and Itanium are present, but it cannot be installed on any of the other platforms. The specifications of the hardware are not nearly as stringent for Linux as are on other Oss. As a result, you can get by with less RAM and slower processors—even less hard drive space. Think about what that could do for businesses, as they usually have older hardware that cannot run another OS. They become too slow or do not have enough resources to satisfy the minimum requirements. These are still good machines on which to install Linux. Just imagine how much money that could save a business.

Some of the hardware platforms on which Linux can run are:

- Intel
- PowerPC
- SPARC
- Ultra-SPARC
- Itanium
- ARM
- MIPS
- Alpha

Some people have gone so far as to point out its benefit to the environment.  Linux is not boxed and sold to users as is most software.  It is downloaded from the Internet.  This keeps the boxes and packing materials from ending up in a landfill (“Linux adoption,”).