Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 2.1 for AMD Opteron

Mike Angelo -- 23 April 2003 -- (C)

MandrakeSoft has released its Linux Corporate Server 2.1 for AMD Opteron. There does not seem to be much difference between the Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 2.1 released in February 2003 and its new AMD Opteron offering -- other than it is optimized to run on AMD 64-bit Opteron based machines. According to the Mandrake announcement, Linux Corporate Server 2.1 for AMD Opteron allows users to run both 32- [sic] and 64-bit Linux applications.

In an e-mail discussion with Mandrake Linux founder Gaël Duval we asked: How does Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 2.1 for the AMD Opteron processor differ from the Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 2.1 that y'all released in February 2003?

He replied: It's the same product which has been rebuilt for the AMD Opteron . . . The Mandrake Corporate Server 2.1 for Opteron is really the x86 version ported to the Opteron. It offers a long product life and a big stability for deployment inside corporations, and at the same time it benefits from the additional power of the Opteron . . . the biggest interest for now is to have a full Mandrake Linux distribution ported to the Opteron. And fully functional, just like the x86 version, with everything to compile applications for instance. Mandrake is really one of the very first OSs to be available for this new processor . . . the version for Opteron benefits from the extra power of the Opteron and support for more memory. As for features, they just are the same.

However, this is not Mandrake's only venture into the world of 64-bit processors.

MozillaQuest Magazine: Does Mandrake have an Intel 64-bit offering?

Gaël Duval: Yes - we already have an old [Mandrake Linux] 8.1 for IA-64 and our MandrakeClustering offer is being ported to IA-64.

SuSE released its AMD 64-bit Opteron based SuSE Enterprise Linux Server 8 edition yesterday, and apparently a few hours before MandrakeSoft released its Opteron optimized product. It is rather interesting that at least two, major, Linux distribution providers, Mandrake and SuSE, now have editions of their server/enterprise offerings specially optimized for the AMD 64-bit Opteron processor.

The Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 2.1 for AMD Opteron announcement states the-Mandrake Linux Corporate server offers the tools needed to create a full-featured [sic] enterprise network, complete with the latest up-to-date software and security updates.

In an almost identical statement, the February Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 2.1 release announcement stated the new Corporate Server offers all the tools needed to create a full-featured [sic] enterprise network, complete with the latest up-to-date software and security updates.

MandrakeSoft also produces and distributes Mandrake Linux 9.1, which comes in two-CD Standard ($40), seven-CD PowerPack ($69), and eight-CD plus one workstation DVD ProSuite ($199) editions. The basic, core, version is available for free downloading now.

The Mandrake Linux PowerPack and Standard editions are designed for individual users, and the ProSuite Edition is created for small and medium-sized enterprises. The February Corporate Server release announcement stated that Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 2.1 is a comprehensive and versatile Linux solution that provides large accounts with critical business server functions . . . The Corporate Server includes MandrakeClustering tools.

The AMD Opteron Corporate Server release announcement adds: Mandrake Corporate Server 2.1 for the AMD Opteron processor is aimed at businesses that require high-performance systems for intensive computing applications, especially in the field of critical server functions such as web-servers, database deployment (with MySQL-64), and application & file servers.

MozillaQuest Magazine: Why cannot a user do all this with . . . Mandrake Linux 9.1?

Gaël Duval: Mandrake 9.1 is a versatile product, but not strictly oriented towards server deployment, and its support options are not adapted to large corporations.

The Mandrake Corporate Server 2.1 for the AMD Opteron processor announcement notes that it is a flexible solution that simplifies migration from the 32-bit world to the 64-bit world as it allows users to run both 32- [sic] and 64-bit Linux applications.

MozillaQuest Magazine: How does the Mandrake Corporate Server 2.1 for the AMD Opteron processor simplify the migration from the 32-bit to the 64-bit environment?

Gaël Duval: As it supports both 32-bit and 64-bit applications, you don't have to port every piece of your software to 64-bit when you don't need the benefit of this port. This is a gain of time and resources, and as a result it simplifies the migration process.

According to the Mandrake Web site, Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 2.1 for AMD Opteron is based upon the 2.4 Linux kernel and features:

Easy to install with intuitive graphical interface
Configure services with easy to use wizards
Administer with any secure web browser
Linux kernel 2.4
Choice of several journalized filesystems
DHCP Server
Apache Web Server -- pre-configured with PHP (scripting language) and MySQL (database) for dynamic, easy to maintain websites
Postfix Email Server -- a secure replacement for Sendmail
ProFTP FTP Server
Squid Proxy Server
Samba File and Print Server -- share resources with networked computers running Microsoft operating systems
LDAP mail directory -- contacts directory server
Firewall and router -- security and Internet sharing
POP3, IMAP and Webmail Email -- a reliable and robust corporate messaging system
and much more

This list also is the same features list found on the Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 2.1 Web page.

MozillaQuest Magazine has not reviewed Mandrake Linux Corporate Server, or the AMD64 version of it. We have, however, reviewed Mandrake Linux 9.0. For links and more information about Mandrake Linux 9.0, please see our article Mandrake Linux 9.0, Desktop Magic You Can Use: A First Look.

You can purchase Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 2.1, or the AMD Opteron optimized version, from the Mandrake on-line store. They are sold on a subscription basis, which includes support and software updates. For $749 you get a one-year Standard option that includes five support incidents. The Unlimited edition of Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 2.1, or AMD Opteron optimized version, is $1499 and gets you unlimited support for one year.