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Sunday, July 10, 2011

The Power of Linux

It is time when people will have to realize and accept the "Power of Linux". A few years back if someone would ask for an operating system, the obvious answers would have been Windows and Macintosh. But if today someone doesn't know what Linux is, then he is simply ignorant and outdated. we use Linux every day without knowing it. It has become such a fundamental part of our lives.
The world without Linux might be a very different place. One where computing is kind of crappy and homogeneous. It powers the devices in your hands to the supercomputers placed at the most famous places. It's a fact. Here are some less obvious and more offbeat things that depend upon Linux to function.

1) Android :-

The hugely popular operating system Android widely being used in smart phone is based on Linux.

2) Supercomputers :-

Approximately 90% of the supercomputers are using Linux. Organizations like NASA, Google and IBM have Linux to power their computers. The world's fastest Supercomputer(K-computer) is using Linux.

3) Transportation/Automobiles :-

Modern day high-tech traffic controllers are using Linux. The Japanese high speed rail uses Linux system to keep track of all the information. Toyota is making their cars smarter by using it. Not only road automobiles but also the Air Traffic controls use Linux to take people from one place to another. USA has Nuclear submarines that are powered by Linux.

4) Finances :-

The New York Stock Exchange(NYSE) is fully powered by Linux. Ever since its transition from the previous system in 2007, NYSE has been able to reduce IT cost, increase the flexibility and make the whole system more robust.

5) Science/Research :-

Due to its high performance and reliability, it is widely used in computers meant for research purposes. CERN, the world's largest particle physics laboratory, relies upon Linux to power its huge particle accelerator.

6) Internet/Servers :-

Internet giants like Google, Facebook and Amazon use Linux to host their web servers. Npne of the web query made by any user reaches back without passing through one or more Linux machines.