Linux is free!
Centos 3.1 is currently supported.
Given the relatively low cost of high-end Intel based systems, Linux
delivers a superior performance to cost ratio.
Platforms
Linux is available
for Intel PCs.
Linux is currently installed on over 80 computers in the
department.
DeskTop
The K Desktop Environment
(KDE) for Linux is supported.
KDE has drag-and-drop functionality, lots of applications,
and is highly configurable.
StarOffice suite.
Full office suite with spreadsheet, wordprocessor, html editor, and more.
These programs can export and import most formats (MS Word, Excel, etc).
Sun has bought this software and is giving it away for free!
Local Experience
There are many faculty, postdocs, and graduate students
with Linux experience.
What they are saying
InfoWorld awards Red Hat Linux "Network Operating System of the Year".
Please consult with the
Computer Systems Manager to discuss vendors and systems.
A simple desktop with monitor would typically cost $1100-$1500.
A number-cruncher would be more like $2000-$3000.
Security
Linux supports NYS. This is a way to securely create
databases of host machines, user accounts, remote disk mounts, etc, so that
the network appears "seamless".
NYS is equivalent to NIS+ (in YP
compatibility mode) running on Solaris.
