The OSS Paradigm ShiftThe OSS Paradigm Shift

Sherif El-KassasSherif El-Kassas

Department of Computer ScienceDepartment of Computer Science

The American University in CairoThe American University in Cairo

Open Source SoftwareOpen Source Software

The Open Source DefinitionThe Open Source Definition1)1) Free RedistributionFree Redistribution2)2) Source CodeSource Code3)3) Allow the creation and distribution of Derived Allow the creation and distribution of Derived

WorksWorks4)4) Integrity of The Author's Source Code Integrity of The Author's Source Code 5)5) No Discrimination Against Persons or No Discrimination Against Persons or

GroupsGroups6)6) No Discrimination Against Fields of No Discrimination Against Fields of

EndeavorEndeavor7)7) ……

http://opensource.org/docs/def_print.php

What are typical examples?What are typical examples? Operating systems: Linux, FreeBSD Specialized servers: Apache, Sendmail, Samba,

OpenLDAP Tools: GCC, Perl, PHP, XML processors Office: OpenOffice, StarOffice, Middlewares: JONAS DBMS: MySQL, PostgreSQL Graphics: GIMP Security: Nessus, nmap, Snort, GPG, OpenSSL, Security: Nessus, nmap, Snort, GPG, OpenSSL,

OpenSSHOpenSSH

Who is using them?Who is using them?

Business:Business:AmazonAmazonHotmailHotmailYahooYahooService providers (TE DATA)Service providers (TE DATA)

Universities (AUC’s new email system)Universities (AUC’s new email system)GovernmentsGovernments IndividualsIndividuals

Motivation and supportMotivation and support

http://banners.noticiasdot.com/termometro/boletines/docs/paises/europa/ue/2001/ida/OSS_Fac_sheet-usage_and_experience_made.pdf

http://banners.noticiasdot.com/termometro/boletines/docs/paises/europa/ue/2001/ida/OSS_Fact_sheet-market_structure.pdf

http://banners.noticiasdot.com/termometro/boletines/docs/paises/europa/ue/2001/ida/OSS_Fact_sheet-market_structure.pdf

http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6261-1055898.html

http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6261-1055898.html

http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6261-1055898.html

http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6261-1055898.html

http://news.netcraft.com/archives/web_server_survey.html

IT VendorsIT Vendors

HW/SW vendors supporting LinuxHW/SW vendors supporting Linux

IBMIBM Linux on Intel servers, mid-range AS/400 (iSeries) and Linux on Intel servers, mid-range AS/400 (iSeries) and

mainframesmainframes should unify IBM heterogeneous platformsshould unify IBM heterogeneous platforms

SUNSUN Linux on low- to medium-end, Solaris on high-endLinux on low- to medium-end, Solaris on high-end compatibility with Solariscompatibility with Solaris

HPHP Linux in addition to HP-UX and WindowsLinux in addition to HP-UX and Windows develop on Linux, deploy on Linux, Windows and HP-UXdevelop on Linux, deploy on Linux, Windows and HP-UX

http://www.idei.asso.fr/Commun/Conferences/Internet/OSS2002/Papiers/Valduriez.PDF

SW vendorsSW vendors

NetscapeNetscapeClient software made OSS in 1998Client software made OSS in 1998

Mozilla.org to manage developmentMozilla.org to manage developmentNPL = compromise GPL/BSDNPL = compromise GPL/BSDsale server software, services and content (with sale server software, services and content (with

AOL)AOL)

OracleOraclecommitment to Linux, in addition to other OScommitment to Linux, in addition to other OShigh-value proprietary software

http://www.idei.asso.fr/Commun/Conferences/Internet/OSS2002/Papiers/Valduriez.PDF

Service vendorsService vendors

Linux distributorsLinux distributorsRedHat, Caldera, SuSe, Conectiva, RedHat, Caldera, SuSe, Conectiva,

TurboLinux, MandrakeSoft, etcTurboLinux, MandrakeSoft, etcSale customer supportSale customer supportUnitedLinux.com to unify the various UnitedLinux.com to unify the various

distributionsdistributionsApplication Service ProvidersApplication Service Providers

ASP1ASP1OSS and proprietary software as serviceOSS and proprietary software as service

http://www.idei.asso.fr/Commun/Conferences/Internet/OSS2002/Papiers/Valduriez.PDF

Open source vs. closed source Open source vs. closed source security!security!

““demand open source code for anything demand open source code for anything related to security”related to security”

““Open Source Software certainly does Open Source Software certainly does have the potential to be more secure than have the potential to be more secure than its closed source counterpart. But make no its closed source counterpart. But make no mistake, simply being open source is no mistake, simply being open source is no guarantee of security.”guarantee of security.”

http://www.dwheeler.com/secure-programs/Secure-Programs-HOWTO.pdf

OSS In EducationOSS In Education

AT AUCAT AUC

The AUC mail systemThe AUC mail systemComputer science coursesComputer science courses

Operating SystemsOperating SystemsSecuritySecurityStudent ProjectsStudent ProjectsOthers…Others…

http://otp.inlimine.org/

Paradigm ShiftsParadigm Shifts

Mainframes

Client/Server

WebTech

P Zero

OO

OpenSourceWireless

?

““As the rule goes, As the rule goes, when a when a paradigm shift occurs, paradigm shift occurs, everyone goes back to zeroeveryone goes back to zero, , which brings people back which brings people back onto a onto a level playing field or the same level playing field or the same starting blockstarting block.”.”

http://www.transknowformance.com/page.cfm?http://www.transknowformance.com/page.cfm?name=aprilnewslettername=aprilnewsletter

ConclusionsConclusions

Is it a paradigm shift?Is it a paradigm shift? It will not totally replace what we knowIt will not totally replace what we knowBut we can benefit from it greatly in:But we can benefit from it greatly in:

CS and IT educationCS and IT educationResearchResearch IT securityIT security

Questions?Questions?

Links:Links:sherif@aucegypt.edusherif@aucegypt.edu

www.cs.aucegypt.edu/~skassas/osswww.cs.aucegypt.edu/~skassas/oss