Why is linux used in supercomputers?

Replies

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  Ankita Katdare

  #-Link-Snipped-# You are right on the part that most modern supercomputers use the Linux operating system. But you may see that each company makes its own specific changes to the Linux-derivative they use. Therefore, no industry standard exists, partly due to the fact that the differences in hardware architectures require changes to optimize the operating system to each hardware design.
  
  I think the primary reason behind using Linux could be that it’s open-source. They don't have to work from scratch because they can modify existing drivers.
  Other reasons could be that Linux has been used by millions of users, so it has best support and the widest selection of available software packages and libraries.
  Take a look at this - #-Link-Snipped-#
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  Kaustubh Katdare

  I agree with above. Linux basically offers a lot of customization and it's basically a UNIX based system. No super-computer will use 'Linux' or its flavors without adding their own bit of customization to it.
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  Sumitha Sweety

  yeah..I agree with above... but also it is a virus free opeating system..
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  Kaustubh Katdare

  Sumitha Sweety

  yeah..I agree with above... but also it is a virus free opeating system..

  I doubt that's the consideration made while picking the operating system for Super Computers. It's of course not going to be uBuntu or kBuntu operating out of the box on any supercomputer; but Linux Kernels rewritten for the specific needs.
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  yorha 2b

  First of all .. its "Free"
  Second, you can customize it according to need
  Third, Virus free software
  Fourth, Wide selection of rpm packages & libs.