| Linux and Windows share many characteristics. | | | | under Windows but it is unlikely to contain the full |
| For example, most people have little interest in | | | | functionality. At the time of this writing the |
| knowing how they work. These operating | | | | Windows version of Apache has some problems |
| systems make the computer available for the | | | | concerning its cryptographic functions. Apache is |
| applications that people want to apply; such as | | | | undergoing constant development; its new |
| running an Internet server, browsing the Internet, | | | | features, security enhancements, and bug fixes |
| creating and accessing data bases, writing | | | | will be available first on the Open Source (LAMP) |
| programs, playing music, or, or, or. These tasks | | | | version. And then filter down to the Windows |
| are coordinated by the operating system and | | | | version. |
| require specialized programs that drive hardware | | | | MySQL is the most popular Open Source |
| efficiently and correctly. We'll talk about Linux's | | | | Database Management System. The MySQL |
| closely integrated "friends" and compare them to | | | | Community Server is free. The more powerful |
| the similar but oh so different Microsoft offerings. | | | | MySQL Enterprise Server starts at $595 per |
| The Linux group is called LAMP, an acronym | | | | server per year, a very reasonable price for a |
| standing for Linux, Apache, MySql, and PHP. There | | | | commercial product. Microsoft's competitive |
| is no similar Microsoft acronym for their set of | | | | database management system is Microsoft SQL |
| interacting products. Could that be a symptom of | | | | Server. Licensing of this software is fairly |
| their relatively low level of integration? In contrast | | | | complicated and believe me, costs a lot, lot more |
| Linux is closely integrated with the other LAMP | | | | than does MySQL Enterprise Server. Microsoft |
| components. In a sense these companions grew | | | | often makes you pay for purchasing the server |
| up together. Improvements to one component | | | | and client software and then pay annual server |
| are easily transmitted to the others. These | | | | licenses and client licenses for system access. |
| programs are all Open Source meaning that the | | | | MySQL runs on a wide range of hardware in |
| actual code for all components is readily available. | | | | conjunction with various operating systems. You |
| When a problem such as a security breach occurs | | | | can guess from its name that Microsoft SQL |
| (don't let anybody tell you there are no security | | | | Server runs only under Windows. Both of these |
| breaches in Linux and friends) people work on the | | | | database management products are constantly |
| problem and may post corrections rapidly. Now | | | | upgraded and many technical features that once |
| let's look at the other LAMP components. | | | | were available only on SQL Server now run on |
| Apache is a highly regarded web server. It has | | | | MySQL. In the past SQL Server clearly surpassed |
| been the most popular web server on the | | | | MySQL for enterprise-level systems, while itself |
| Internet since April, 1996. Believe me, if Microsoft | | | | often losing out to Oracle or other database |
| with its virtually unlimited resources cannot | | | | management systems. Today's reality is more |
| dislodge Apache from the top of the pack this | | | | complicated and MySQL Enterprise Server |
| software must be doing a lot of things right. Of | | | | manages many huge database systems. |
| the four LAMP components Apache is the one | | | | Talking about size, we didn't finish discussing LAMP |
| that non-specialists are least likely to try to learn. | | | | components in this article. PHP is the subject of |
| But if you want to play with it, guess how much | | | | the next one in this series. |
| it costs. You can download a version which will run | | | | |