By Chad Miller
CornDancer & Company

Ever since its conception, Linux has been constantly redesigned and reprogrammed. Never being set in its ways, it remains the operating system of choice for the fiddler, the tinkerer, and the radical innovator.

Linux has grown into a mainstream concept despite its one major disadvantage: installation difficulties. It does not matter how well designed it is, how powerful it is, or how affordable it can be: If you can't put a system on your computer, then it is little more than a toy for the few or the obstinate.

The concept of user-friendliness was never much of an issue in the beginning. The only ones using Linux were a few kernel coders and computer "geeks" around the world. As the OS developed, however, the idea behind it began to gain a deeper foothold. More and more individuals and a few corporate bravehearts introduced Linux to their computing environments. When entrepreneurs decided to bundle its disparate elements onto CDs and market Linux as a unified kernel, the die was set. Simpler methods of installation were a natural next-step forward.

No longer the sole refuge of the geek, Linux still can be a bit difficult to install. A few issues that can hamper a Linux installation are hardware conflicts, technical support (or rather the lack of), and the absence of an automated installation.

The Expanding List of Compatible Hardware.
Hardware conflicts are generally the primary concern. If your hardware is compatible, then installation should occur without a hitch. When Linux first came to be, hardware support was just about nil. You would have to have very specific types of hardware or the OS simply would not work.

As development proceeded, support for hardware became more and more abundant, so now you can install Linux on just about any PC, Macintosh, or server platform.

The easiest way for new PC buyers to get a good Linux install is to buy from a Linux computer vendor or check to make sure your current hardware is compliant. Checking for hardware compatibility is usually a bit more tedious. The best way to do this is to find the compatibility list for the version of Linux you are installing and compare it to your computer. I personally suggest checking out the modem, video card, sound card, and any other peripherals to make sure the parts are compliant.

The largest hardware compliance issue I have encountered with Linux installations involves Plug-n-Play devices. Some of these devices might be capable of running with Linux, but others might not. The best way to avoid this potential problem is to avoid Plug-n-Play all together.

Cheap Winmodems Are a Major Offender.
The major offender I have encountered with Plug-n-Play incompatibility is this strange thing called a "winmodem." Winmodems are Plug-n-Play imitation modems for use with the Microsoft Windows3.X, 95, and 98 operating systems(note: Windows NT is not plug and play). These imitation modems are stripped-down models with almost all of the necessary onboard hardware gutted for price efficiency. The winmodem then relies entirely upon the operating system for processing signals and commands that otherwise would have been accomplished by a full-fledged modem card. This is unfortunate for Linux users because most of the factory installed modems that are shipped with PCs featuring pre-installed versions of Windows 9X are cheap winmodems.

Ok, so let's assume your hardware is compliant and it is time for installation.

Installation used to be a difficult and intensive task. That was a long time ago. The emergence of distribution wars in the Linux community has forced the major players to pursue easier installs for their imagined customer base.

Distributors of commercial versions of the Linux OS are racing to reach the consumer first with their user-friendly installation software. (He who implements the fastest and easiest install may very well win the race.) What used to be a user-intensive session that tested one's knowledge of computer commands and logical structures is now a much simpler task that involves the press of an enter key or the click of a mouse.

Don't Be Put Off by the Penguin!
Do not be scared! Do not be put off by the Penguin! Putting Linux to work on your PC isn't as difficult as Microsoft's "un-biased" research teams would lead you to believe.

The only thing that I see that can hamper Linux in the field is its appalling lack of technical support.

Linux comes with thousands of pages of online documentation, dutifully installed in the innards of the OS. In my opinion, the average computer user is not very adept at comprehending these "man" files. Even those die-hard nerds and geeks among us don't care to read hundreds and hundreds of lines of technical instruction on the scroll.

There is no substitute for a well-developed technical support team. Because the OS is open source, a difficult issue arises: How can the companies that distribute commercial versions of Linux afford to offer technical support? They can't. I have seen a few of the online technical support areas for Linux, and it just can't hold up for new users.

So, if you run into a big problem with an install, you better know how to read a book, or search the internet, or call a friend who's been-there-done-that, because it's highly likely that no one will be at the other end of the support-desk phone to help you.

On the Other Side of the Installation.
That said, let's look at the other side of the hurdle, the feeling of satisfaction (and relief) that rushes over you after everything is installed correctly and you are up and running. Great. Now let's look at some of difficulties of having Linux in the business environment.

Now that you have this new and mysterious Linux thingy on your computer, what are you going to do with it? You sure aren't going to install Microsoft Excel! Linux has a small, but growing list of mainstream office programs that have been ported over to it. Chances are you are going to have to throw out all of those office suites you have already bought for Microsoft Windows.

Linux on a PC level is just as good as any other operating system. In today's society, however, computers are not just personal devices any more. They are predominant appliances in business, linked to all aspects of the workday world and connected to massive networks in pursuit of maximum productivity for the company. If you are thinking about installing Linux on a Local Area Network for use by business end users, then I urge you to pay close attention to my next three paragraphs.

The Real-World Issues of Linux for Business.
Let's say you decide to look long and hard at the prospect of installing Linux on your company's networked computers. You compare prices, discover the real-world value of Linux for business, and prepare to purchase one of the capable office productivity suites that will work well with the OS.

Stop. Step back. Ask yourself: "Can my people use it?"

A major issue with Linux is its position as a marketplace latecomer. The vast majority of end users have learned Microsoft Windows or the Macintosh OS and don't want to learn another -- it's just too confusing or troublesome for them. This means you're going to have to teach your staff how to use Linux. If you get lucky, your people will be versatile and open-minded and learn quickly. Just how lucky will you have to be to make it happen?

I've recently considered a fundamental question about the Linux phenomenon:
"If Linux is supposed to be hard to install and there isn't much software available for it, then why would I use it?"

My answer is brief, logical, and based firmly on factors that many managers and decision makers would appreciate: Linux is stable, it is cost efficient, it is secure, and it is upgradeable.

No Crash, No Invoice, No Hack-Attack.
Linux is the most stable operating system on the market. My system has crashed only once since I installed Linux in January, 1999. It cost me nothing! Developers put new utilities and programs on the open source platter every single day. It is easy to lock down and secure.

If you had the choice to install a closed source operating system with thousands of known bugs and fixes that breed new bugs or an open source operating system with very few bugs and innovative and responsive free fixes, which would you choose? I'd put my money on the pony that is stable and reliable: Linux.

For the price of a single installation of Microsoft Windows 98 and all of the attendant software, you could set-up at least 4 Linux-based computers, perhaps more, and accomplish the same tasks. The best distributions of Linux will top out at $45 dollars (excluding the $100 mammoth, Redhat) with all of its productivity software already installed. Otherwise, you can get these distributions for free if you download them from the Internet. No matter what the situation, it is almost impossible to beat Linux at the pricing game.

If security is one of your prime concerns, Linux is designed from the ground-up to tackle and solve this key issue. The OS is based on a user/group concept similar to that employed in the UNIX environment. Linux sets-up file permissions to allow pre-defined classes of users or groups to access files. Anyone who isn't given permission to access a file will be denied access. The administrator (root) maintains complete control over the functions of the computer and can tailor those functions to meet any specific security need.

Updating the Linux Kernel Is Standard Procedure.
The last issue on my list of Linux positives was upgradability. The vast majority of Linux distributors regularly release new versions of their product. The OS kernel itself is constantly being tested and revised, which allows the computer to keep up-to-date coding.

Because the kernel is the brain of the operating system, keeping it fresh and dynamic is essential. By not upgrading your system, you open your operations is to security leaks and system errors that could cost you or your business dearly.

One last note: If your favorite productivity software has not been ported over to Linux, chances are that it will be soon. As Linux continues to broaden its user base and market share, it demands the attention of the major software developers and retailers. Consumer demand will take care of that issue before too long.