Linux Blog: Digital Domain

Digital Domain is an advanced production studio that generates visual effects for movies, commercials, and new media applications. Before Digital began working on the project for the movie Titanic, it began the search for the right operating system. For the second stage of image creation, called batch-processing, Digital had to pick an operating system that would allow it to create the highest quality images within its financial and time constraints. Digital Domain chose Linux because it was able to handle every type of job that it was given. During the testing stage to determine which operating system to use, Linux's ability to emulate Digital UNIX applications was used to show that its performance would meet Digital's needs. Linux had an advantage over the other operating systems because of the existing devices and available source code. Digital chose to use the Linux distribution Red Hat 4.1.

Digital selected to use Linux because it helped the company to overcome its challenges both quickly and cost-effectively. Digital needed interoperability and compatibility with its SGI/Irix-based systems. Digital was able to port critical infrastructure elements that would support distributed processing to the Linux environment in a matter of days. Linux allowed Digital to increase its performance to the degree that it needed to handle the Titanic project within the current facilities. Linux was also extremely cost-effective for Digital because it only required half the amount of machines that another operating system would have needed.

Overall, Linux was an important risk taken by Digital that resulted in increased quality and saved time. Digital was able to incorporate a system that was compatible with its normal operating models and increased productivity.

Here is the link to the article: http://www2.linuxjournal.com/article/2494