Advantages and Disadvantages of Open Source Software

One looking to enter the foray of open source software must be aware of all that is required and what goes in to Open Source Software. There are many different reasons why one would want to join it and reasons why one may want to avoid it. On the outer side, ostensibly, it seems as a great bargain.

Open Source software is the practice of creating a new software program and allowing it to be open to modifications from all types of people in all different places. It also means that free redistribution must be encouraged, so that the software is open and it can be displayed, used, and modified by many other people. There are many reasons such as this that will allow many different people to get access to software which might eventually lead to a much better software. Though there are so many positives, there may be some negatives within it, and those must be realized in order for someone to join an open source software project. First off, it is important for someone to start off with the advantages of open source software. Open source software can be so especially beneficial because it can lead to many things and there are few barriers to entry.

It allows people with bright minds and or great ideas to share their work all over the world. The work that is shared is able to be edited, and this makes for a great investment. Those who have had a great idea but could never quite find the last link to make an amazing project may find that someone out there was able to make a crucial modification that would make that application top notch and put it over the hump. Additionally, it is very easy to destroy a project if one decides that it is not worth it or for whatever reason. These are reasons that allow for one to go ahead to listen to a friend that has been recommending open source software seeing that it can be beneficial in more than one way.

However, there is always a downside to the great side There can be a power struggle with the rights to the application. These power struggles can get quite ugly as certain people may claim an application that has ascended to the point where it can acquire a heavy amount of funds. There are also many different reasons in which it would be hard for a single application to claim a single entity. Once an application had been worked on by so many potential people, it would be increasingly hard for someone to learn how to claim it or how to share the credit and in bad times, the blame. For such reasons, someone with a great idea should be wary of joining an open source project for the simple fear of the nasty backlash that may occur as a result of miscommunication. There are many reasons to join an open source software project and many reasons to avoid it. For some, the best way is to avoid it and for others the opposite is true.

Advantages of 64-bit Hardware and Software

You like to use something that you are comfortable with, other than to use something that you are not. Of late, there has been widespread apprehensions about the use of the 64-bit with Microsoft Office Share Point Server 2007. The main reason for that, I believe, is because of the investment in time and effort that went into installing the 32-bit hardware and software.

They don’t want a repeat of that by installing the 64-bit hardware and software, as it will be expensive, time-consuming, and incompatible with the existing software. You will find out after reading this article that these apprehensions are far outweighed than the potential benefits by installing the 64-bit hardware and software.

For that, you ought to first of all understand the working of the 64-bit environment properly. It consists of both hardware and software components and though the conversion of the 64-bit hardware alone may improve performance, the maximum benefit can be derived only when both the 64-bit hardware and software are together.

A 64-bit CPU (central processing unit) can calculate tasks faster than a 32-bit. These benefits can only be got completely if the software that you have installed is designed to for all the features of the hardware. Office Share Point Server 2007 and database software have installation options for 64-bit computers.

The main advantages of 64-bit hardware and software are as follows:

Memory addressability
Physical memory
1) 32-bit system architecture can address only a 4-GB address space, while 64-bit system architecture can address up to 1,024 GB of physical and addressable memory. You can see the difference.

2) If a server is using 32-bit architecture, then it is limited up to 32 CPUs at the same time a 64-bit architecture can support 64 CPUs and can also provide linear scalability with each additional processor. That is more than double of what a 32-bit architecture can provide you.

3) A 64-bit architecture can provide wider general-purpose registers which can improve the overall application speed. The application speed is very important for getting more work from your servers.

4) The 64-bit architecture is more secure than 32-bit. They allow the following security features which make them safer:

Buffer overflow protection
Data execution protection
Patch Guard
5) The 64-bit architecture allows you to manage more data and run more applications. You can do all this with reduced hardware. When you can do this with reduced hardware, you also reduce your infrastructure costs that occur.

6) It is possible to run a 32-bit software on 64-bit hardware. For example, the Windows 64-bit (WOW64) translation layer enables 32-bit software and 64-bit software to run at the same time on the same system.

Overall, if 32-bit servers are performing adequately and users are satisfied with their operations, applications, and search requests, then there is no need to convert the Office Share Point Server 2007 to a 64-bit. But if the performance of the server is not meeting your expectations, then it’s time to advance to change the equipment and software to a 64-bit environment.

As you can see, the apprehensions are just mere baseless information. The advantages for you are more when you change to a 64-bit environment.