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Subject: Re: [suse-security] the next study from MS about Windows and Linux ....
From: Nix (susenix.hispeed.com)
Date: Wed Dec 20 2000 - 17:09:46 CST

At 01:42 PM 20/12/2000 +0100, you wrote:
>Come on guys, let's give credit where credit's due. First of all,
>designing a test at which Winblows would outperform Linux takes a lot of
>effort. Then to find some "unpartial", "expert" Microsoft employees to
>declare that it does. It should comfort us all to know that an out of the
>box installation of Microsoft (no mention of security updates!) is way
>more secure than that of a linux installation. And of course it offers a
>lot more functionality (??????! Did they even install linux?).
>
>Sigh, let's not take this seriously, ok ;-)

Unfortunately, as I can only understand english, I was not able to read the
article
under discussion, however I would like to make a few points here.
However first, let me say, that as most of you know I am a BIG linux proponent,
and use it extensively, however I do try to keep an open mind on things...

You said:
"First of all, designing a test at which Winblows would outperform Linux
takes a lot of
effort."

This is not the case. There are still quite a few areas where Windows (and
other OS's
like solaris) far out perform Linux.
As the mindcraft tests showed convincingly, Linux 2.2 series kernels SUCK
at high
throughput TCP due the the single threaded nature of the Kernels tcp stack.
In other words, put 2 cpu's with 2 100Mb NIC's in a machine pumping bulk
amounts
of TCP and NT will run rings around linux. Put 4 cards and 4 cpus and it
becomes even more
apparent.
Now, thanks to the hard work of Dave Miller and Alexi, the 2.4 series is
going to KICK BUTT
all over NT (and 2000).
See http://www.linux.org.au/projects/calu/cdrom/papers/davem/ for the text
of a talk I was present
at CALU (Conference of Australian Linux Users) in July 99 where he talks
about this...
I'm sure there is more up-to-date stuff somewhere...
(If you want to hear what he's up to these days come and join me in
Janurary at the next
CALU (http://linux.conf.au)
DaveM will be talking on "A Zero-copy and Delayed Fragment Reassembly
Framework for Linux"

WOO!

Anyway... (Got a little sidetracked there)
There are still areas (even in 2.4 series kernels) where NT (and other
enterprise class OS's)
will legitimately outperform Linux. By 2.6 series Linux might be the most
scalable OS out there,
but don't stick your head in the sand... Linux is good.. great even, but
it's not the Ultimate do
EVERYTHING os..... yet....

-End morning rant here-

-Nix 

-- 
Microsoft is to operating systems & security ....
                                       .... what McDonalds is to gourmet cooking

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