Windows and Linux Comparison

This article addresses features, capabilities Suse Linux Enterprise Server, Opensuse with some of the major comparisons to Microsoft Windows.

Suse Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) and Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED) are products offered by Novell in Provo, Utah, the same company that was on of the industry leaders in Networking technologies beginning with its release of Novell Netware in the late 1980's and early 1990's.

Some early releases of Novell gained a world wide reputation for its rock solid stability and Novell's Suse Linux appears to have the same stability. Reports irculated where Novell servers would be unknowingly enclosed without access by builders and would continue to run for 3 to 4 years, only shutdown because the IT staff couldn't find the servers. This author personally saw a Netware server with 1056 days uptime --that's nearly 3 years. Other releases by Novell were 4.1, 4.2 then beginning with 5.0 Novell implemented TCP/IP as its protocol with IPX. IPX was eventually phased out. As of Netware 6.5, Novell is migrating it's Netware product to Suse Linux Enterprise Server, more specifically the Open Enterprise Server which includes the best of Novell Netware while adding the huge resource support of the Linux users.

In 2002, Novell had come to the realization that the Microsoft marketing machine had ate it's lunch. Novell's market share was on a decline from Microsoft's Johnny-come-lately Windows NT server released long after Novell Netware. Many are baffled how Microsoft supplanted Novell Netware in view that security and stability clearly did not measure up to Novell standards. For many years Windows NT did not meet minimum U.S government requirements for security.
This author attempts to inform how the best of Novell Netware has been incorporated into Suse Linux OpenSuse.

OpenSuse is Novell's open source Linux product available for free download at http://www.Opensuse.org. This author has been awed by the vast repository of software available for free download. The OpenSuse.org website is extremely well designed making it a snap to find the desired package available for your version of Suse OS, not just a big pile of software to painfully find which one will work. Most packages are rpm's which makes them quite easy to install as well. Many packages such as the Mysql administrator and Professional level audio processing comes available for the download as well, such as 1/3 octave equalizers, active filters for example 12db /octave butterworth, the JACK suite and a host of others. This author has found the management of the Suse OS is quite robust as well as easy to find things.

Novell's Open Enterprise Server
Novell's Open Enterprise Server is a product add on to Suse Linux Enterprise Server. OES incorporates the best qualities of Novell Netware and makes them available as a product option for the Suse Linux Enterprise Server -- SLES. Some highlights of OES are as follows:
Edirectory -- which manages user accounts, data access and security through an enormously scalable database. Tests ran Edirectory into several billion (not million) objects and was still functioning as expecting while continuing to add objects.
NSS -- Novell's high performance file system, runs well with the SLES / OES suite.
Ifolder -- a real time desktop data synchronization backup solution.
Additional features supported on OES are as follows: Full Apache web server, JBoss, Perl, FTP, SOAP, UDDI, XEN virtual server, DNS, DHCP, Ifolder, Iprint, Novell client for Windows, Linux and Vista, Directory Integrated DNS/DHCP server, Apple File Protocol support, CIFS, 64 bit edirector, Domain Services for Windows, Yast, Auditing, Storage scalability, 4gb file support, Snapshot, Cluster services, Multi Processor Support, support for more than 4gb ram and 64 bit processor support.
A few of the highlighted products are described as follows:

Edirectory
Edirectory runs on Novell's Suse Linux Enterprise Server. Novell offers its Edirectory as a product option for the Suse Linux Enterprise Server. Edirectory remains the gold standard for security and stability in the industry. Microsoft's Active Directory which look quite similar in architecture and management. Edirectory is a distributed database which manages user accounts, security, data access and network security. It has gained a reputation for it's reliability and stability with low overhead of resource requirements.
NSS
Novell Storage services is Novell's file system which has gained a reputation for stability, security and top rated performance now available as a product option in Novell's Open Enterprise server.

High Availability Clustering
This author has installed clustered systems on Novell Netware guaranteeing less than approximately 10 minutes downtime per year or .99999 percent uptime. These systems systems are intended for mission critical systems such as government or corporate systems requiring high performance. Novell as one of the industry leaders in clustering, has ported this system over to SLES as an add on product. Other flavors of clustering exist to make it affordable for the leaner budget as well.
Ifolder Ifolder runs a small client on the desktop which automatically backs up user data to the server as users make changes only, not the whole data file which would be a waste of bandwidth. This adds another layer of user confidence that when the anvil falls on the users computer their data remains safe. This also reduces total cost of ownership by utilizing the desktop / server combination more efficiently while reducing the management cost of the System administrators busy day.
Apache Web Server / Tomcat / LAMP
SLES comes with a full Apache web server including a Mysql database and Perl scripting support. The Apache / Tomcat / Lamp runs approximately 75 percent of the worlds websites.
High Availability Clustering
Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop - SLED
This author found that initially opening SLED, it took about an hour to feel comfortable with accomplishing comparable operations in Windows. The SLED gui is designed with similar, but not identical arrangement as the Windows system most users a comfortable with. The SLED OS can reduce the total cost of ownership since it comes with a full Office Suite -- the Novell version of OpenOffice which is more comprehensive than the regular OpenOffice. While a few exotic compatibility issues have surfaced in recent years such as spreadsheet macros or mail merges, Novell has made great strides in address those issues; however, this author did not run into those compatibility issues.
Windows Comparison with Suse Linux
Pricing is a no brainer that Suse Linux will save you money. It will save both on the server and desktop side. The real world reality comes in where most environments have some specific requirement for Windows, so most of the time Windows will still be a necessity . . . however, consider Wine.
Wine
Wine is something to consider as a type of software shim that allows many (not all) Windows to run on top of Linux. OpenSuse has a package available for the 11.0 version. There are other Windows / Linux compatibility programs as well. But also consider, the real world is getting to the point where some of our beloved Windows programs don't run on Vista, Vista programs won't run on Win2000 or XP or some combination. In this economy, a less expensive option for IT services is a welcome bonus.
For more information feel free to contact us. Contact information is at http://www.avnetmedia.net

Linux and Windows comparison
This article addresses features, capabilities of Linux, primarily Suse Linux Enterprise Server, Opensuse with some of the major comparisons to Microsoft Windows.
Suse Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) and Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED) are products offered by Novell in Provo, Utah, the same company that was on of the industry leaders in Networking technologies beginning with its release of Novell Netware in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Some early releases were Novell 3.11, 3.2 and 3.3 which gained a world wide reputation for its rock solid stability.
Stories circulated where Novell servers would be unknowingly enclosed without access by builders and would continue to run for 3 to 4 years, only shutdown because the IT staff couldn't find the servers. This author personally saw a Netware server with 1056 days uptime --that's nearly 3 years. Other releases by Novell were 4.1, 4.2 then beginning with 5.0 Novell implemented TCP/IP as its protocol with IPX. IPX was eventually phased out. As of Netware 6.5, Novell is migrating it's Netware product to Suse Linux Enterprise Server, more specifically the Open Enterprise Server which includes the best of Novell Netware while adding the huge resource support of the Linux users.
In 2002, Novell had come to the realization that the Microsoft marketing machine had ate it's lunch. Novell's market share was on a decline from Microsoft's Johnny-come-lately Windows NT server released long after Novell Netware. Many are baffled how Microsoft supplanted Novell Netware in view that security and stability clearly did not measure up to Novell standards. For many years Windows NT did not meet minimum U.S government requirements for security.
This author attempts to inform how the best of Novell Netware has been incorporated into Suse Linux
OpenSuse
OpenSuse is Novell's open source Linux product available for free download at http://www.Opensuse.org. This author has been awed by the vast repository of software available for free download. The OpenSuse.org website is extremely well designed making it a snap to find the desired package available for your version of Suse OS, not just a big pile of software to painfully find which one will work. Most packages are rpm's which makes them quite easy to install as well. Many packages such as the Mysql administrator and Professional level audio processing comes available for the download as well, such as 1/3 octave equalizers, active filters for example 12db /octave butterworth, the JACK suite and a host of others. This author has found the management of the Suse OS is quite robust as well as easy to find things.
Novell's Open Enterprise Server
Novell's Open Enterprise Server is a product add on to Suse Linux Enterprise Server. OES incorporates the best qualities of Novell Netware and makes them available as a product option for the Suse Linux Enterprise Server -- SLES. Some highlights of OES are as follows:
Edirectory -- which manages user accounts, data access and security through an enormously scalable database. Tests ran Edirectory into several billion (not million) objects and was still functioning as expecting while continuing to add objects.
NSS -- Novell's high performance file system, runs well with the SLES / OES suite.
Ifolder -- a real time desktop data synchronization backup solution.
Additional features supported on OES are as follows: Full Apache web server, JBoss, Perl, FTP, SOAP, UDDI, XEN virtual server, DNS, DHCP, Ifolder, Iprint, Novell client for Windows, Linux and Vista, Directory Integrated DNS/DHCP server, Apple File Protocol support, CIFS, 64 bit edirector, Domain Services for Windows, Yast, Auditing, Storage scalability, 4gb file support, Snapshot, Cluster services, Multi Processor Support, support for more than 4gb ram and 64 bit processor support.
A few of the highlighted products are described as follows:
Edirectory
Edirectory runs on Novell's Suse Linux Enterprise Server. Novell offers its Edirectory as a product option for the Suse Linux Enterprise Server. Edirectory remains the gold standard for security and stability in the industry. Microsoft's Active Directory which look quite similar in architecture and management. Edirectory is a distributed database which manages user accounts, security, data access and network security. It has gained a reputation for it's reliability and stability with low overhead of resource requirements.
NSS
Novell Storage services is Novell's file system which has gained a reputation for stability, security and top rated performance now available as a product option in Novell's Open Enterprise server.
High Availability Clustering
This author has installed clustered systems on Novell Netware guaranteeing less than approximately 10 minutes downtime per year or .99999 percent uptime. These systems systems are intended for mission critical systems such as government or corporate systems requiring high performance. Novell as one of the industry leaders in clustering, has ported this system over to SLES as an add on product. Other flavors of clustering exist to make it affordable for the leaner budget as well.
Ifolder Ifolder runs a small client on the desktop which automatically backs up user data to the server as users make changes only, not the whole data file which would be a waste of bandwidth. This adds another layer of user confidence that when the anvil falls on the users computer their data remains safe. This also reduces total cost of ownership by utilizing the desktop / server combination more efficiently while reducing the management cost of the System administrators busy day.
Apache Web Server / Tomcat / LAMP
SLES comes with a full Apache web server including a Mysql database and Perl scripting support. The Apache / Tomcat / Lamp runs approximately 75 percent of the worlds websites.

High Availability Clustering

HA clustering offers 99.999% uptime for servers in high demand applications. The 99.999% uptime translates into about 10minutes downtime per year. Data paths are redundant and high performance. Novell clustering is among the highest performing.

Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop - SLED
This author found that initially opening SLED, it took about an hour to feel comfortable with accomplishing comparable operations in Windows. The SLED gui is designed with similar, but not identical arrangement as the Windows system most users a comfortable with. The SLED OS can reduce the total cost of ownership since it comes with a full Office Suite -- the Novell version of OpenOffice which is more comprehensive than the regular OpenOffice. While a few exotic compatibility issues have surfaced in recent years such as spreadsheet macros or mail merges, Novell has made great strides in address those issues; however, this author did not run into those compatibility issues.

Windows Comparison with Suse Linux
Pricing is a no brainer that Suse Linux will save you money. It will save both on the server and desktop side. The real world reality comes in where most environments have some specific requirement for Windows, so most of the time Windows will still be a necessity . . . however, consider Wine.
Wine
Wine is something to consider as a type of software shim that allows many (not all) Windows to run on top of Linux. OpenSuse has a package available for the 11.0 version. There are other Windows / Linux compatibility programs as well. But also consider, the real world is getting to the point where some of our beloved Windows programs don't run on Vista, Vista programs won't run on Win2000 or XP or some combination. In this economy, a less expensive option for IT services is a welcome bonus.
I am a senior Engineer, working as one of senior network consultants. The services our company provides are Windows Linux Sales and support, Data recovery, Sarasota laptop repair and Business Website starters.
Contact the Author:

visit us at http://www.AVNetmedia.net

Email Deliverability Tips

Email Deliverability Tips

Posted by Tom Kulzer (AWeber CEO) Ensuring requested opt-in email is delivered to subscriber inboxes is an increasingly difficult battle in the age of spam filtering. Open and click thru response rates can be dramatically affected by as much as 20-30% due to incorrect spam filter classification.

Permission

Confirming that the people who ask for your information have actually requested to be on your list is the number one step in the battle for deliverability. You should be using a process called confirmed opt-in or verified opt-in to send a unique link to the attempted subscriber when they request information. Before adding the person to your list they must click that unique link verifying that they are indeed the same person that owns the email address and requested to subscribe.

Subscriber Addresses

When requesting website visitors to opt-in ask for their “real” or “primary” email address instead of a free email address like Yahoo or Hotmail. Free emails tend to be throw away accounts and typically have a shorter lifetime than a primary ISP address.

List Maintenance

Always promptly remove undeliverable addresses that bounce when sending email to them. An address that bounces with a permanent error 2-3 times in a 30 day period should be removed from the list. ISP’s track what percentage of your newsletters bounce and will block them if you attempt to continually deliver messages to closed subscriber mailboxes.

Message Format

Usage of HTML messages to allow for text formatting, multiple columns, images, and brand recognition is growing in popularity and is widely supported by most email client software. Most spam is also HTML formatted and thus differentiating between requested email and spam HTML messages can be difficult. A 2004 study by AWeber .com shows that plain text messages are undeliverable 1.15% of the time and HTML only messages were undeliverable 2.3%. If sending HTML it is important to always send a plain text alternative message, also called text/HTML multi-part mime format.

Content

Many ISP’s filter based on the content that appears within the message text.

Website URL:Research potential newsletter advertisers before allowing them to place ads in your newsletter issues. If they have used their website URL to send spam, just having their URL appear in your newsletter could cause the entire message to be filtered. Words/phrases: Choose your language carefully when crafting messages. Avoid hot button topics often found in spam such as medication, mortgages, making money, and pornography. If you do need to use words that might be filtered, don’t attempt to obfuscate words with extra characters or odd spelling, you’ll just make your messages appear more spam like. Images: Avoid creating messages that are entirely images. Use images sparingly, if at all. Commonly used open rate tracking technology uses images to calculate opens. You may choose to disable open rate tracking to avoid being filtered based on image content. Attachments: With viruses running rampant and spreading thru the usage of malicious email attachments many users are wary of attached documents. It’s often better to link to files via a website URL to reduce recipient fear of attachments and reduce the overall message size.

CAN-SPAM Compliance

The January 2004 Federal CAN-SPAM law introduced a number of rules regarding the delivery of email. It’s important you have your legal counsel review your practices and ensure you are in compliance. The two most important rules include having a valid postal mail address listed in all commercial messages and a working unsubscribe link that is promptly honored to remove the subscriber from future messages.

Reputation

Reputation services are often used by large ISP’s as a way to vet email senders regarding their email practices and policies. Businesses listed with these services are then given less stringent filtering or no filtering at all. Several reputation services are:

• http://www.isipp.com/iadb.php
• http://www.bondedsender.com
• http://www.habeas.com

Relationships & Whitelisting

Contact with major ISP’s and email providers is essential in letting them know about your requested subscriber email. Many large providers such as AOL and Yahoo have specific whitelisting programs and postmaster website areas to ensure your email is delivered as long as you meet their policies and procedures in handling your opt-in list.
Email deliverability is about ensuring requested opt-in email is delivered to the intended recipient. While no single tip will enable you to get 100% of your email delivered each one utilized as a group can go a long way to reaching that goal.

For further information see http://www.avnetmedia.net/  click on the email marketing software link or test drive.   see also http://www.ReGenesisRadio.com for internet streaming radio.

Linux and Windows comparison

This article addresses features, capabilities of Linux, primarily Suse Linux Enterprise Server, Opensuse with some of the major comparisons to Microsoft Windows.

Suse Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) and Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED) are products offered by Novell in Provo, Utah, the same company that was on of the industry leaders in Networking technologies beginning with its release of Novell Netware in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Some early releases were Novell 3.11, 3.2 and 3.3 which gained a world wide reputation for its rock solid stability.

Stories circulated where Novell servers would be unknowingly enclosed without access by builders and would continue to run for 3 to 4 years, only shutdown because the IT staff couldn’t find the servers. This author personally saw a Netware server with 1056 days uptime –that’s nearly 3 years. Other releases by Novell were 4.1, 4.2 then beginning with 5.0 Novell implemented TCP/IP as its protocol with IPX. IPX was eventually phased out. As of Netware 6.5, Novell is migrating it’s Netware product to Suse Linux Enterprise Server, more specifically the Open Enterprise Server which includes the best of Novell Netware while adding the huge resource support of the Linux users.

In 2002, Novell had come to the realization that the Microsoft marketing machine had ate it’s lunch. Novell’s market share was on a decline from Microsoft’s Johnny-come-lately Windows NT server released long after Novell Netware. Many are baffled how Microsoft supplanted Novell Netware in view that security and stability clearly did not measure up to Novell standards. For many years Windows NT did not meet minimum U.S government requirements for security.

This author attempts to inform how the best of Novell Netware has been incorporated into Suse Linux

See http://www.ReGenesisRadio.com for a demo of an Internet radio station running on Suse Linux. This system has demonstrated no unexpected downtime in the six months it has been running.

Gary

November 20, 2009 7:39 PM

Welcome to Novell Suse Linux and Netware

Hello and Welcome,

This blog is dedicated to those with interest in Novell's Suse Linux as well as Novell Netware. It is sponsored by AVNetmedia located in Sarasota, Fl a Novell authorized partner specializing in Novell's Open Workgroup suite which includes Novell Netware, Zenworks, Groupwise and Bordermanager; on the Suse side including Suse Enterprise server, Suse desktop and Groupwise.

To start with... Please let us know the Top 10 Software Vendors you need supported on Suse Linux, and which software applications would most benefit your business and customers if they were ported to linux.www.novell.com/partners/topten.

This blog is looking for your comments so fire away!

Happy blogging!

Gary
AVNetmedia