Databreeze Platform Analysis

Linux as the Open Source Server Operating System

Linux is an Open Source Operating System, and implementation of Unix that runs on multiple CPU architectures. People like it because it is free, fast, powerful, reliable, scalable, well maintained and has lots of documentation.

Linux provides the source code, allowing the User to precisely customize the operating system to their exact application and hardware needs. This is an extremely important feature not found in closed source OS's like microsoft windows.

Remote Administration is a primary concern due to the fact that most target systems will be co-located directly at the backbone provider (ISP). All aspects of a remote Linux machine can be easily maintained through a secure yet lightweight SSH (Secure Shell) session. In contrast, microsoft windows requires bloated, slow and unsecure graphical tools for management that increase time and costs.

At DataFree we primarily use RedHat Linux for it's stability, dependability and support. Our Servers are each custom compiled for the exact hardware installed, extra options are left out. Each system will be installed with the latest updates in core software. After deployment ongoing administration and security will be necessary but simplified with Linux.

Important Components:

• Latest RedHat distribution with current Updates
• Latest Stable Kernel recompiled and custom optimized
• OpenSSH, OpenSSL for remote administration
• IPTables, Netfilter Firewalling for security