As a Linux and open source fan, I certainly would like to say that it's ready. But my experience last night with Linux prevents me from saying so. Apart from what the PC makers say that Linux doesn't change enough to encourage users to upgrade frequently (consumerism at its best).

I (according to my wife, foolishly) changed ISPs to Comcast from Verizon (because they had great offer for free HBO for 1 year at same price of Verizon, again consumerism at its best) and ran into trouble. I have a couple of laptops that I use and one of them is predictably Linux. I have to maintain the Linux on static IP as that box runs my webserver. But Comcast's proprietary router doesn't support static IP so I switched to DHCP, but still I failed to get internet. I spent hours with Comcast support who tried to tell me that I should not use Linux because they don't support it. Surely I would not stop using something I like just because an ISP does not support it. I'd rather switch ISPs and I told the person in as many words.

Being what I am, I refused to give up and looked at the problem from different end. To start with, I had assumed that the problem was at Comcast end where they had done some changes to block multiple computers or that the router was defective. Well the router was defective, but not in the way I hoped or thought it was. So then I started looking at Linux configuration files. After all, if it was getting and IP address correctly, there must not be much wrong with the router.

I checked the config files in /etc/sysconfig/networking and immediately saw the problem. When I changed my network card from static to DHCP Linux failed to update the configuration file for my interface eth0. The ifcfg-eth0 file was still sporting the old IP address. No wonder I didn't get any internet.

I made a copy of the original and deleted it, but still it was not able to get to the internet. After more searching, I found another file with the same name in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts. I cleared the file and restarted my network. And VOILA!! My internet was working.

As much as I like Linux and robust and secure it is, if it is not going to let users make changes easily, there's no way non-tech users are going to switch over. Maybe in corporate settings you don't need these things, so it may be easier decision there and mind you, all this tinkering was on Fedora Core 4 and not the latest one Fedora Core 5. I still have to test upgrading the Linux from FC4 to FC5 on a physical hard drive. I tested the upgrade on a virtual machine successfully. I will test those changes out on FC5 and see if things have improved.

I have since then asked Comcast to take away the router as it does not allow me use static IP and / or open ports that I want and give me a modem. I will buy my own router and customize the network just as I want it. More on that adventure to follow.

If you need help with your Linux installation. Give me a holler and I will see if I can help you.