[mdk-re] [JT]Intel, Linux, Napster...

[Romul]

Enter Napster.

Shortly after Napster appeared, Intel began developing its own software that, 
like Napster, would allow employees to download certain files from each 
other's computers.

"Absolutely," Busch said, when asked whether Napster was the inspiration.

"I couldn't afford to send big files over the wide area network. It didn't 
fit into my budget. Now employees just look for the file on a PC closest to 
theirs, which can be in the same office. It's cheaper. It's faster."

Intel's peer-to-peer network improved performance and reduced costs by around 
10 times, he said, adding storage costs on PCs were also 10 times cheaper 
than on big central servers.

Alternatives designed to reduce network bills, such as caching servers which 
store popular files on computers around the world, were not attractive for 
Intel, which has many small offices. Intel would need contracts with 
different caching companies, offering little value to the company, Busch 
added.

Meanwhile, Linux was another unexpected result from ad hoc Internet 
collaboration that has been embraced by Intel, saving the chipmaker $200 
million, Busch said.

The company ditched expensive Unix servers with proprietary Unix software and 
replaced them with cheaper servers equipped with Intel's own chips that run 
Linux software.

Linux was developed by Linus Torvalds, and has been steadily improved upon by 
volunteer programmers on the Web. Everyone is free to use the program, study 
the source code and suggest improvements.

Busch said it was easy to switch to Linux because of its similarities with 
Unix. The Linux servers are used in the engineering and scientific 
departments of Intel. The company's business lines, which rely on accounting 
software and other office software, still use Microsoft's Windows 2000 as the 
operating system of choice.

There are not enough robust office software packages that run under Linux, he 
said.

In any case, using Linux is not much cheaper than Windows 2000. Although 
Linux is free, the real costs are related to the computers, as well as 
support and maintenance, he said.

Looking to the future, Busch said the company is developing a method for 
prioritizing video over e-mail on its data networks in an effort to make 
video conferencing more attractive.

Intel is also encouraging employees to work from laptop computers rather than 
desktops, because it makes staff more productive, Busch said.

Copyright

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	ROmul,
	    The rubberheart... <-Exit project->
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