Linux Plays in the Storage Arena

Linux initially gained attention as an OS server for noncrucial applications (primarily Web serving); however, its suitability as an OS for all computing applications—from handheld devices to data center platforms—is widely debated. Several large-scale projects are exploring Linux’s suitability as an enterprise-class platform. A case in point is the Beowulf Project, which is geared toward generating supercomputer performance from commodity computer components running Linux.