Novell hits back at Microsoft claims of Linux unreliability

By Steve Malone

Posted on 21 Nov 2005 at 11:51

Novell has hit back at claims from Microsoft that the Suse Enterprise flavour of Linux was relatively unreliable and difficult to maintain compared with Windows Server. In a Novell company blog the Novell PR manager Kevin Barney says that the study is intended 'confuse the market about the value of Linux and downplay the various reliability, security and TCO issues Windows users are facing'.

At the Microsoft IT Forum last week, Microsoft published a survey attacking Linux's reliability. Comparing Windows with Suse Enterprise Linux, the survey concluded that the Microsoft product is not only more reliable but also offered better interoperability with applications.

Barney refutes a number of issues it has with the study by Security Innovation, which he points out is a Microsoft certified partner. He maintains that Suse Linux customers do not have the interoperability problems suggested by the report.

He does admit that interoperability issues exist but claims that Novell has over 1,800 products certified at the moment and says, 'it is just a matter of time' before the issue of Linux interoperability with third-party proprietary applications disappears..

Novell also attacks the underlying security philosophy that underpins Windows. He says that Security Innovation's applause for Microsoft's 'integrated innovation' philosophy is misplaced. Novell says that it is precisely the integrated nature of Windows, compared to the modular philosophy behind Linux that makes it inherently insecure as it allows hackers to attack Windows through applications like Internet Explorer. Integrated innovation is also the reason why delivery of Windows Vista and Longhorn Server continue to slip so badly.