Re: Dual-Licensing Linux Kernel with GPL V2 and GPL V3

Dave Neuer
2007-06-20T04:05:36Z

On 6/19/07, Al Boldi <a1426z@gawab.com> wrote:
> Scott Preece wrote:
> > On 6/19/07, Al Boldi <a1426z@gawab.com> wrote:
> > > Nicolas Mailhot wrote:
> > > > Tivo didn't make the Linux success. More Tivos can definitely undo it.
> > >
> > > I don't think so.
> > >
> > > First, it's not Linux that made success, but rather GNU that uses Linux
> > > as its kernel. And, believe it or not, when people say Linux, they
> > > really mean GNU. People could care less what kernel they were running,
> > > as long as the system is up and runs the procs that offer their
> > > services.
> >
> > ---
> >
> > Actually, for use in devices (like TiVos or cell phones), it is very
> > definitely the kernel that is of interest. Many such devices use
> > little or no GNU software (some manufacturers have consciously avoided
> > it because of the possibility of shifts like the GPLv3 changes).
>
> Sure, but was it Linux in embedded devices that made Linux what it is today,
> or was it GNU/Linux?

It was Apache. Apache showed corporate users and small businesses
desperate to cash in on the Interweb c. 1995-1998 that they could do
it w/out paying some proprietary vendor and get better performance,
security and support to boot (I reported a bug in Apache JServ in 1998
and a fix was released by the time I came back from lunch 1/2 hour
later). Linux was a tool for UNIX sysadmins and admin wannabes to
practice their UNIX chops at home - or a conveniently inexpensive
platform on which to run Apache. Companies -- other than Linux
distributors -- didn't bet their business on it.

Apache's success greatly contributed to the corporate acceptance of Linux, IMHO.

Dave