How Open Source Contributes to Microsoft’s Cloud Strategy

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September 6, 2017

This article was sponsored by Microsoft and written by Linux.com.

Julia Liuson, Corporate Vice President of Developer Tools & Services at Microsoft, says Microsoft’s support for open source is evolving in every dimension. In this interview, ahead of her Open Source Summit North America keynote presentation — Open Source & Cloud Application Platform: Our Learnings from a Developer-First Journey — Liuson provides an insider view about how open source and the cloud intersect at Microsoft, where, she says, developers are focusing on building and maintaining the best hybrid cloud they can make.

The Open Source Summit conference combines LinuxCon, ContainerCon, CloudOpen, and the new Open Community Conference under one roof. Attendees and presenters alike are gathering in Los Angeles from Sept. 11-14 to explore and discuss Linux, containers, cloud technologies, microservices, and more.

Here are some interesting insights Liuson had to share on how open source contributes to Microsoft’s cloud strategy.

Linux.com: Tell us a little about the early days of open source at Microsoft.

Liuson: I started at Microsoft as a developer 25 years ago. Roughly five years ago, as a developer I needed permission from the powers-that-be to even to look at open source code. We knew a major change was in progress when an executive vice president sent an email to developers that said there would be no consequences for looking at open source code. The company encouraged us to go explore. It was a mind-boggling cultural shift.

The journey since has revealed very striking changes. Support for open source is evolving in every dimension. The latest example is the expansion of the Microsoft and Red Hat alliance on simplifying containers. The synergies and innovations are amazing — so much so that now open source developers are attracted to working at Microsoft. Just think about that for a moment. What a long way we’ve all come!

Linux.com: Give us some examples of how open source contributes to Microsoft’s cloud strategy.

Liuson: What we’re doing at Microsoft is focusing on building and maintaining the best hybrid cloud we can make. We have open source elements across the entire Azure service. And, Azure can run anything from a developer’s perspective. But we want to always target all possibilities and frameworks, and we want to deliver the tools, editors, and services needed to work with them.

Take our recent announcement about expanding our alliance with Red Hat on containers, for example. Windows Server containers will be natively supported on Red Hat OpenShift, which is an enterprise platform for Docker and Kubernetes. It is also the first container application platform built from the Kubernetes project that supports both Linux and Windows Server container workloads. That is huge because it breaks down silos and simplifies the work in a cloud-native agenda.

Another example, and there are many, is our Visual Studio Code, which is a code editor for building and debugging web and cloud applications. It was launched in April 2015 and now has 2 million monthly active users, and 40 percent of them are non-Windows developers.

It’s a surprise to many people to learn that companies like Google and Facebook use Visual Studio Code and are strong advocates.

There is also strong adoption from the Node.js community. We build on top of Node — some people don’t realize that — and there are lots of uses for all the popular languages.

Linux.com: What is Microsoft doing to help developers move to or do their work in the cloud, with hybrid clouds, or multi-clouds?

Liuson: We’re aiming to make it easier to build and release code in any cloud environment. We support multiple languages such as Node.js, PHP, Python, and Java, so developers can work in languages they prefer.

We’re also working on making Visual Studio Code tighter and easier than it already is. We’re constantly working on the tools for the latest concepts such as continuous integration and continuous deployment so that they not only carry over to cloud, but can be cloud-native, too.

Linux.com: What is the most striking thing Microsoft is doing in terms of using open source to influence its cloud strategy?

Liuson: We get involved early in open source projects and work hard at making meaningful contributions along the way, because those are very important. We do work hard to earn influence in projects so we can help shape things so that projects work out well for our own customers but for others, too. But beyond that, we are designing projects in the open now with .Net. This lets developers see what we are doing and give us immediate feedback so we can improve and adopt developer suggestions on the fly. We are evolving run time in the cloud so that everything works really well. You can expect to see more open source influences in our culture and products, and especially in all things cloud.

Check out the full schedule for Open Source Summit here. Linux.com readers save on registration with discount code LINUXRD5. Register now!

3 Android Apps to Help You Learn Linux

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Tech Republic

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September 6, 2017

Everyone learns in different ways. For some the best means is by doing, while for others it’s all about reading. No matter your preference, there’s an app for that.

Even for learning the Linux operating system.

That’s right, Linux. If you’re a systems administrator, an understanding of Linux has become unavoidable. To that end, it’s time you start boning up on the platform. If you happen to have an Android device in your pocket, take it out and start learning; because I’m going to introduce you to a collection of apps that will help school you on the open source operating system.

Are you ready?

The Forgotten Secret to DevOps Success: Measurement

By

InformationWeek

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September 6, 2017

The enterprise DevOps market is shaping up to be one of the fastest growing markets in technology. According to Gartner it reached $2.3 Billion in 2015, up 21% over 2014. As companies invest more in digital transformation to stay relevant, the need to build their own software to drive growth is paramount.

However, a recent study from Forrester Research and Blueprint paints a confusing picture: While DevOps is anecdotally adding value, 50% of practitioners struggle to link DevOps with positive ROI. How can that be the case when so many believe DevOps is no longer a nice-to-have but a need-to-have in order to stay in business?

Measuring the end-to-end DevOps value stream is the key to delivering value and tracking its ROI. Since IT teams can focus on only a few initiatives at a time, it’s critical to identify existing constraints and focus on the most important work to accelerate your transformation and deliver true business value with DevOps.

Maneuvering Around Run Levels on Linux

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Network World

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September 6, 2017

On Linux systems, run levels are operational levels that describe the state of the system with respect to what services are available.

One run level is restrictive and used only for maintenance; network connections will not be operational, but admins can log in through a console connection.

Others allow anyone to log in and work, but maybe with some differences in the available services. This post examines how run levels are configured and how you can change the run level interactively or modify what services are available.

Facebook to Open Source LogDevice for Storing Logs from Distributed Data Centers

By

TechCrunch

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September 6, 2017

Facebook is planning to open source LogDevice, the company’s custom-built solution for storing logs collected from distributed data centers. The company made the announcement as part of its Scale conference.

Logs are used to track database events. If a server suffers an outage for any reason, companies need a way to debug, perform security audits and ensure consistency between servers. This is particularly important to Facebook, which holds immense amounts of your content across its massive data centers around the world.

LogDevice is capable of recording data regardless of hardware or network issues. If something breaks, it will simply hand-off the task of collecting logs. And when everything turns back on, LogDevice can restore records at between five and 10 gigabytes per second.

From Safety to Savings, Blockchain Technology Will Disrupt the Food Scene

By

The Spoon

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September 6, 2017

Behold the blockchain. The disruptive new technology promises to make traditional paper ledger-based transactions obsolete, replaced by digital ledgers. Headlines appear every day heralding how blockchain technology will revolutionize financial services markets, which remain burdened by unwieldy paper trails and costly proprietary software applications. But blockchain technology will also have a transformative impact on the food industry and many other industries. From cost savings to removal of intermediaries to more efficient and precise tracking of contamination, the food business will derive many benefits from blockchain.

None of this is lost on titans in the food industry and technology giants are focused on blockchain, too. IBM has announced a blockchain collaboration with food giants including Walmart, Unilever and Nestle. Big Blue has announced that it will help global food businesses use its blockchain network to trace the source of contaminated food instantly. Because blockchain uses digital means to track transactions and trace the flow of food, contamination trails can be solved by data-centric means rather than paper-based ones. Officials from Walmart have demonstrated how this kind of contamination tracking can take place in under three seconds.

A Checklist for Building Your Enterprise Logging Layer

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OpenSource.com

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September 6, 2017

In any discussion about big-picture topics such as cloud migration services, data centers, and microservices, the topic of enterprise logging can get relegated to an afterthought. But you do so at your peril, because without logging, you won’t have critical visibility into your services in order to diagnose and debug efficiently. What’s more, if you’re a large enterprise, you may be violating compliance requirements.

As you add applications and infrastructure components to your data centers, the amount of log data you collect will grow enormously. Combine that with the movement toward ephemeral components with Docker, containers, and Kubernetes, and log data becomes essential.

Proprietary tools for logging layers haven’t kept up with cloud-native trends, so many enterprises are turning to open source software to meet their logging requirements.

If Machine Learning Is the Question, Open Source Is the Answer

By

The Register

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September 6, 2017

In the early days of Linux, for example, the director of IBM’s Linux Technology Center told me that for open source to be successful, you had to have a sufficient body of developers with aptitude and interest in a given area. Every developer needs an operating system, for example, so there tends to be a large body of developers with interest and aptitude in contributing to something like Linux. Ditto databases, app servers (remember them?), and so on.

More recently, Apcera chief executive (and Cloud Foundry architect) Derek Collison told me: “Open source is a natural progression for ecosystems where there’s a lot of innovation and breakthroughs. The market eventually becomes democratized and open source alternatives emerge.” …

Early on, Google made its intentions clear when it open sourced TensorFlow. “We hope this will let the machine learning community – everyone from academic researchers, to engineers, to hobbyists – exchange ideas much more quickly, through working code rather than just research papers,” Google said. With TensorFlow and other open source ML/AI code in mind, Google breeds familiarity with ML and then encourages developers to run their projects on Google Cloud.

Linux Kernel 4.13: Don’t Use SMB1

By

Paul Brown

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September 5, 2017

Linus Torvalds pushed out version 4.13 of the Linux Kernel on Sunday, right on schedule and almost exactly two months after 4.12.

Among all the changes, Torvalds highlights the one concerning the implementation of the SMB protocol in the kernel: The CIFS behavior in kernel 4.13 defaults to SMB3 as opposed to SMB1, which was the default in previous kernels.

SMB is a protocol used to access and share files, printers, and other services over a network, and the reason for the switch is that SMB 1 has aged horribly and is rife with vulnerabilities. The number of servers that still use it was one of the reasons the WannaCry ransomware spread like wildfire back in May. However, SMB1 is still accessible from kernel 4.13 for those that really, really have to use it. If you can’t make the change (although you are highly encouraged to find a way to do so), you may need to add an explicit

vers=1.0

to your mount options in your /etc/fstab file.

Another security-related feature that has found its way into 4.13 is the kernel-based TLS implementation. TLS, which stands for Transport Layer Security, provides privacy over a network when, for example, you to a web server. TLS encrypts data flowing from the client to the server and back, it authenticates the server so you make sure you are really connecting to what you think you are connecting to, and the connection ensures integrity, meaning that each message comes with a code that either side can use to check that there has been no data loss or changes along the way.

With all this encrypting and checking going on, using TLS is much more CPU-hungry than the old insecure way of sending and receiving messages. By building TLS into the kernel, you get better performance for HTTPS and other protocols that use TLS.

Other stuff that’s new in Kernel 4.13

The kernel now supports HDMI Stereo 3D output courtesy of the new Nouveau drivers. To be able to enjoy 3D Stereo output, you will of course need hardware (a video card and a display) that supports 3D. Kudos to the Nouveau team.
The EXT4 file system now has the largedir feature. This means a single EXT4 directory can now support 2 billion entries, over the prior limitation of 10 million entries of prior kernels.
As usual, there’s a whole slew of new ARM devices that get native support in kernel 4.13, including the NanoPi NEO2, Orange Pi Prime, LicheePi Zero dock board, Orange Pi Zero Plus 2, SoPine SoM and the NanoPi M1 Plus. Especially interesting is the support for the BeagleBone Blue, a single board computer developed by Texas Instruments which is specially designed for use in robotics and drones.

To find out more and get a full list of changes and what they mean, you can check out the writeups at Kernel Newbies and Phoronix.

Connect with the Linux kernel development community at Open Source Summit. You can check out the full schedule here. Linux.com readers save on registration with discount code LINUXRD5. Register now!

Future Proof Your SysAdmin Career: Getting Certified

By

Sam Dean

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September 5, 2017

In today’s rapidly changing system administration landscape, skills and credentials count for a lot, but professional certification can also make a difference. With that in mind, let’s take a look at five valuable types of certification for sysadmins along with relevant training options.

Linux credentials

As mentioned previously, Linux provides the foundation for many servers and cloud deployments, as well as mobile devices. And, several salary studies have shown that Linux-savvy sysadmins are better compensated than others.

Meanwhile, training options for Linux-focused sysadmins are expanding. For professional certification, CompTIA Linux+ is an option, as are certifications from Linux Professional Institute. The Linux Foundation’s Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS) is another good choice. These educational options delve into everything from managing file permissions and partitioning storage devices to troubleshooting filesystem issues.

Sysadmins without much previous experience may want to consider the Introduction to Linux online course, which is delivered through a partnership between The Linux Foundation and edX. The course is hugely popular and can help with basic preparation for the Linux Foundation Certified SysAdmin Exam.

Platform-specific certification

Many organizations are in need of sysadmins who have specialized and specific skillsets surrounding the core technology platforms that they run. For example, organizations based on Red Hat’s platform technology may prefer to hire a Red Hat Certified System Administrator. This credential is earned after successfully passing the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) Exam (EX200). Likewise, training and certification are available for SUSE Certified Administrators, for Microsoft-focused administrators, for VMware administrators, and for numerous other platforms.

CompTIA Server+ hardware, network and security certification

Today’s IT environments demand more planning, better security, and more maintenance than ever before, and CompTIA offers an array of entry-level certifications, including A+ for hardware technicians, Network+ for network admins and Security+ for security specialists. These certification have earned recognition among hiring managers, and they can help a sysadmin land a job or serve as a good platform for obtaining a more targeted type of certification. HP, Intel, and the U.S. Department of Defense are all among organizations that employ CompTIA Server+-certified staffers.

Cloud certification

Salary studies show that sysadmins fluent with the cloud command more pay. As mentioned previously, 51 percent of surveyed hiring managers said that knowledge of cloud platforms has a big impact on open source hiring decisions, according to the 2016 Linux Foundation/Dice Open Source Jobs Report. If you search recruitment sites for sysadmin positions that demand cloud skills you’ll see that opportunities abound. There are positions that require strong cloud monitoring skills, and jobs that demand facility with both open source and popular public cloud platforms.

A sysadmin who holds the Red Hat Certified System Administrator in Red Hat OpenStack credential has demonstrated the skills, needed to create, configure, and manage private clouds using Red Hat OpenStack Platform. Red Hat’s training for this certification covers configuring and managing images, adding compute nodes, and managing storage using Swift and Cinder.

Mirantis and other vendors also offer certified OpenStack administrator curriculum. The Linux Foundation offers an OpenStack Administration Fundamentals course, which serves as preparation for certification, and the course is available bundled with the COA exam. The OpenStack Foundation works directly with The Linux Foundation to make the Certified OpenStack Administrator (COA) exam available.

Cloud Foundry Developer Certification

Many sysadmins have experience with scripting, and some have experience with full-blown application development. For those with some scripting and development skills, Cloud Foundry Developer Certification is an emerging credential worth looking into. It’s a professional cloud-native developer certification that can be earned through a performance-based exam that evaluates knowledge of the Cloud Foundry platform.

Next time, we’ll consider some non-technical skills that are equally important for sysadmins looking to advance their careers.

Learn more about essential sysadmin skills: Download the Future Proof Your SysAdmin Career ebook now.

Future Proof Your SysAdmin Career: New Networking Essentials

Future Proof Your SysAdmin Career: Locking Down Security

Future Proof Your SysAdmin Career: Looking to the Cloud

Future Proof Your SysAdmin Career: Configuration and Automation

Future Proof Your SysAdmin Career: Embracing DevOps

Future Proof Your SysAdmin Career: Getting Certified

Future Proof Your SysAdmin Career: Communication and Collaboration

Future Proof Your SysAdmin Career: Advancing with Open Source