hi danny,
comments below
"Daniel O. Escasa" wrote:
> Sabi ni Edwin noong Mon, 24 Apr 2000 07:12:49 -0700 (PDT)
>
> > I dream linux 'cuz I can run with cheaper hardware
> > with better reliability.
>
> I won't argue with the cheaper hardware part of the equation, but I'll contest
> the better reliability. Linux is less than 10 years old -- can anyone point to a
> Linux machine that has been running non-stop for 10 years?
the main reason is still growing, lots of updates in the kernel area and still need
to reboot for that updates to take effect to improve reliability.
> On the other hand,
> there are mainframes that haven't rebooted -- I believe IBM calls it Initial
> Program Load, or IPL -- in over 20 years. Compaq has customers, inherited from
> Digital Equipment Corp, whose Alpha servers running OpenVMS likewise have been
> running non-stop from the day they bought them from Digital.
>
its really nice that you have a box that doesnt reboot since from its startup but
unfortunately in linux world, there is what we called a memory leak problem. memory
leak cause by a certain application that doesnt clean it up well after allocating
some portions of memory. this will leave a black hole in your memory area. even upto
date linux kernel has still a memory leak problem (and also NT server but i dont
know in mainframes but i believe there are also some memory leak problems too).
since you cannot control this, you have to reboot your box let say for every 3
months or once a month to clean the mess. well if linux has a excellent memory
manager that can keep track those memory black holes then i believe you dont have to
reboot your box.
like for example the HURD kernel (www.debian.org for more details) , you dont have
to reboot your box when updating the kernel but if there is a memory leak you have
to reboot your box to clean it up.
regarding to mainframes that doesnt reboot since startup, the same true to other
operating system if you already contended with your setup. why upgrade and reboot if
you already contended with your setup right?
fooler.
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