Ten (10) Plus points about Linux Distributions when in USE

 Reproduction

Sunday, February 20, 2011

 Ten (10) Plus points about Linux Distributions when in Use

It is time I should write some important things about Linux that you may not read in books but only experience with regular use.

Even though most of the proprietary guys do not provide the necessary drivers for Linux or support Linux, the modules that are used in new kernels are robust and reliable and never fail. 

They look after the hardware without breaking them down, even if you use the system 24 /7 schedule unlike Microsoft counterparts.

Linux kernel is made to run 24 / 7 schedule without braking down (except normal maintenance). 

The maintenance jobs are done in the early hours of the day (they are called CRON Jobs) when system is not in use but when idling with power on. 

One of the biggest mistakes Linux newbies do is to switch off the computer in the night. 

Unfortunately running 24 hours is not practiced in our university setup since by evening and over weekends servers are switched off and junk that should have been removed automatically get collected, overnight and over the weekend.

1. One is able to run your computer 24 / 7 schedule is its strongest point and its strength.  

No need for restarts every time a minor configuration change is made unlike in windows. These changes are done in real time and no delay is contemplated, the moment a command is activated.

2. Linux look after the time scheduling to nanoseconds. 

For example if one is using K-torrents for downloading several files, it shares time allotment with the files. Faster files get a bigger share and slower files get a smaller share and the full band width is used. One can limit the upload and download speeds if the computer is used in a network.

3. Looks after the hardware and the processor well and if there are problems they are reported at boot time (one should be able to read these messages at boot time which are displayed for a fraction of a second). 

Once a major problem is detected the Linux has the canny habit of switching off instantaneously.

Once after a lightening and power outage (it ran through even the UPS battery) one of my computers had some electrical burns. The system never ran more than few seconds after this power outage, not even for me to read the boot menu. 

Only, after three days, I realized the problem but it had been telling me that the cooling had gone wrong on the first few seconds which I was not able to read fast enough. This problem was solved with the help of a young guy but I was all the time thinking of a boot virus since I fixed a second hand SATA hard disk 3 days before to up the capacity. 

Linux boot and grub file have a good warning systems, if one is careful to read them at boot time.

Not only that Linux is a work horse it looks after minor injuries to the horse.

4. What I really like about Linux is it looks after CD ROMs and CD/DVD writers well. It usually run on default setup but at write time it tests both the CD/DVD and uses the best and safe formula and writes in incremental or decremental speed. 

It does not start writing even if there is a minor fault in the CD or DVD.       

It does not do any job blindly, it assesses the processes and resources even to mini seconds.

5. It is really a multitasking Operating System unlike Windows and work with other computers in a network and synchronize work.

6. It is multi-user operating system.

Ubuntu lacks this due to changes to the desktop system and that is one of my reasons not favouring it in spite of the wider user experience. It is always runs on root and never lets one to use a user account.

I do not use Ubuntu at all except testing its new versions. 

 

I won't waste my time testing its 12.10 version.12.10 in fact is hopeless.

7. It records (keeps a history) and everything is measured to nanoseconds.

8. It uses RAM efficiently and when things are not favorable uses SWAP partition (not swap file as in Windows) to swap files and data. 

This is why it is much efficient than Windows.

One has to allocate a SWAP partition when installing. I have at least two.

9. It is secure from attack if the firewall is properly configured and it is almost free of viruses.

10. It keeps everything in a designated place and file structure is stable even though rigid and your data is in (need to be partitioned accordingly) a /home partition. I can upgrade or reinstall the system without any changes to the /home (data) partition. 

That was one reason I really liked it when I was testing many distributions in the early days of my Linux adventure.

I have never lost a file for 10 years. Would you believe it. Only problem is now I am short of short term memory and I forget with what name I have named a file. 

I have downloaded over two (200) hundred images and made mistakes in only 3 out of the fist 100 and nothing after that. It is almost zero after I started using K-torrent. 

I used PCLinux in my early days including Big Daddy.

I currently use Transmission of (Gnome) Debian.

If you want a work horse to do your jobs. 

It is always Linux.