[Gllug] Article: Linux is NOT windows

[John Hearns]

Richard Jones wrote:
> Quite an entertaining essay to pass on to any newbie you know who is
> switching to Linux:
> 
> http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm
> 

Boogle. I don't think I'm even going to finish reading this.

"As a simple example, consider driver upgrades: one typically upgrades a 
hardware driver on Windows by going to the manufacturer's website and 
downloading the new driver; whereas in Linux you upgrade the kernel."


On Tuesday I upgraded the software for Infinipath (*) cards on a Beowulf 
cluster at a UK national laboratory, Woodcrest machines if anyone is 
interested.
To upgrade the drivers - just guess what I did.
Visited the manufacturers site, downloaded the drivers, and compiled 
them against the kernel on the machines. Then loaded up the new kernel 
modules.

OK - I'll give you that I had to compile against the kernel on the 
machines, but given that this comes as an RPM it was pretty painless.
No change to the kernel. None. Zilch.


(*) http://www.pathscale.com/infinipath.php

-- 
      John Hearns
      Senior HPC Engineer
      Streamline Computing,
      The Innovation Centre, Warwick Technology Park,
      Gallows Hill, Warwick CV34 6UW
      Office: 01926 623130 Mobile: 07841 231235
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