Linux goes to university

Manchester Metropolitan University has turned to Linux for the backbone of one the largest online learning projects in the UK.

The University revealed Tuesday that it is using servers running SuSE Linux and IBM DB2 databases to allow students to access its learning facilities over the Internet.

A spokesman from the University said the thinking behind this decision was based on the multitudinous assets of the open source operating system. He said, "The University found that a combination of Linux and IBM DB2 was the only robust enough to provide the absolute reliability, security and speed needed by students learning via the Internet."

This spokesman also said a number of other databases, including Sybase and Oracle, were considered for the job but that IBM DB2 was felt to most the most effective available.

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