Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Menu
Search
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Servers

    Linux on the Loose

    By
    Peter Galli
    -
    December 11, 2000
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      As linux creator linus Torvalds prepares the 2.4 kernel for final release later this month, testing of the kernel and bug fixing are proceeding at a rapid pace.

      The preparation bodes well for this kernel, which will include a slate of enhancements that improves Linuxs robustness and goes a long way toward proving its suitability for enterprise-level applications.

      Nevertheless, developers and testers cautioned that the release could be held back if Torvalds and his team discover any last-minute problems prior to release or if they feel it still contains bugs that will affect its stability and reliability.

      In an interview with eWeek in mid-October, Torvalds said he wanted to avoid “any nasty surprises” and that he was allowing about two months prior to launch for pure testing. That two months is up this week, but Torvalds could not be reached for comment.

      While Torvalds has told the Linux kernel mailing list he intends to release 2.4.0 some time this month, he is unlikely to issue a press release when he does. “He will simply upload it to the Linux Kernel Archives and then make an announcement on the Linux kernel mailing list,” said a Linux user and developer working with Torvalds, who declined to be named.

      But things are looking good for a December release. Michael K. Johnson, the manager of kernel engineering for Linux vendor Red Hat Inc., in Research Triangle Park, N.C., said the testing process has been going well, and bugs are being quickly identified and fixed. “The code is advancing rapidly, and I am confident that it will be stable and perform as expected,” Johnson said.

      Among the most significant new features of the 2.4 kernel is SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) scalability. While the new kernel has a CPU limit of 32 processors on the large X86 Intel Corp.-based servers, it is expected to be largely used at the eight-way level.

      Also included will be large file system support, even on 32-bit architectures; the ability to address up to 64GB of physical memory on the X86 Intel servers and IA-32 platforms; expanded hardware support, with various new drivers for hardware like Universal Serial Bus and accelerated three-dimensional-graphics cards; and various new architectures, such as IBMs S/390 mainframe, IA-64 and, eventually, the Advanced Micro Devices Inc. X86-64.

      From an enterprise standpoint, the SMP scalability took Linux to a new level and would make it more robust, Johnson said. It was also being continuously and rigorously tested.

      “We have machines with lots of CPUs, memory and hard drive space running really heavy stress tests the whole time, keeping up with the latest kernels. Thats going to make a real big difference to enterprises using Linux,” he added.

      In addition to all this, Torvalds is planning to include the ReiserFS journaling file system in the 2.4.1 release, expected within two weeks of 2.4s release, the Linux developer said.

      Red Hats Johnson said the Ext3 journaling file system would also be included in an early 2.4.x release, and both would be supported.

      Peter Galli
      Peter Galli has been a financial/technology reporter for 12 years at leading publications in South Africa, the UK and the US. He has been Investment Editor of South Africa's Business Day Newspaper, the sister publication of the Financial Times of London.He was also Group Financial Communications Manager for First National Bank, the second largest banking group in South Africa before moving on to become Executive News Editor of Business Report, the largest daily financial newspaper in South Africa, owned by the global Independent Newspapers group.He was responsible for a national reporting team of 20 based in four bureaus. He also edited and contributed to its weekly technology page, and launched a financial and technology radio service supplying daily news bulletins to the national broadcaster, the South African Broadcasting Corporation, which were then distributed to some 50 radio stations across the country.He was then transferred to San Francisco as Business Report's U.S. Correspondent to cover Silicon Valley, trade and finance between the US, Europe and emerging markets like South Africa. After serving that role for more than two years, he joined eWeek as a Senior Editor, covering software platforms in August 2000.He has comprehensively covered Microsoft and its Windows and .Net platforms, as well as the many legal challenges it has faced. He has also focused on Sun Microsystems and its Solaris operating environment, Java and Unix offerings. He covers developments in the open source community, particularly around the Linux kernel and the effects it will have on the enterprise.He has written extensively about new products for the Linux and Unix platforms, the development of open standards and critically looked at the potential Linux has to offer an alternative operating system and platform to Windows, .Net and Unix-based solutions like Solaris.His interviews with senior industry executives include Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Linus Torvalds, the original developer of the Linux operating system, Sun CEO Scot McNealy, and Bill Zeitler, a senior vice president at IBM.For numerous examples of his writing you can search under his name at the eWEEK Website at www.eweek.com.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Android

      Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: Durability for Tough...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 5, 2020 0
      Have you ever dropped your phone, winced and felt the pain as it hit the sidewalk? Either the screen splintered like a windshield being...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Why Data Security Will Face Even Harsher...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 1, 2020 0
      Who would know more about details of the hacking process than an actual former career hacker? And who wants to understand all they can...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      How Veritas Is Shining a Light Into...

      eWEEK EDITORS - September 25, 2020 0
      Protecting data has always been one of the most important tasks in all of IT, yet as more companies become data companies at the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      How NVIDIA A100 Station Brings Data Center...

      Zeus Kerravala - November 18, 2020 0
      There’s little debate that graphics processor unit manufacturer NVIDIA is the de facto standard when it comes to providing silicon to power machine learning...
      Read more
      Apple

      Why iPhone 12 Pro Makes Sense for...

      Wayne Rash - November 26, 2020 0
      If you’ve been watching the Apple commercials for the past three weeks, you already know what the company thinks will happen if you buy...
      Read more

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×