Linux Distributions

Linux is available in several formats. For the technically oriented, there is simply the kernel source code and the various programs and utilities that you can put together yourself. However, for those that do not wish to piece together their own system bit by bit there are various Linux distributions. These distributions are subtly different in the way they set things up and the way they package software. They are similar in that they provide you with some media, usually a set of CDs or floppy disks, from which you can install Linux. They also provide graphical tools to install the system and configure it.

The main Linux distributions are:

1. Red Hat Software

Red Hat produces Linux CD distributions that are oriented around simple management and total upgradability. Red Hat includes graphical and web based configuration tools, RPM package management, and extensive multiplatform support. LSB compliant with errata packages.

Platforms: Intel X86, Intel IA64, IBM PPC, IBM S/390
Kernel: 2.4

2. Conectiva

Conectiva Linux is Latin America's best-of-breed Linux distribution, taking strong parts from both Red Hat and Debian. This distribution uses the RPM packaging format with apt-get to automate software installation and upgrade.

Available in Portuguese, English and Spanish.

Platforms: Intel
Kernel: 2.4

3. Debian GNU/LINUX

Debian GNU/Linux is almost unique now in that it has no specific commercial backer. Instead the Debian project is maintained by a team of volunteers in the same manner as the kernel and anyone can take the images and make Debian CD's freely.

Platforms: Alpha, ARM, Intel, m68k, PowerPC, Sparc and more. (others under development)
Kernel: 2.4

4. Mandrake Soft

Mandrake Linux is targeted at both end users (with easy installation and internationalization) and cutting edge users (latest releases and fixes). A corporate version is also available. LSB compliant with errata packages.

Platforms: Intel x86, Alpha, Sparc
Kernel: 2.4

5. SuSE

SuSE produce a very comprehensive English and German language CD-ROM distribution and a collection of archive CD's. They also provide German and English language support and applications. Manuals and most applications are available in English, French, Spanish, Italian and German. LSB compliant with errata packages.

Platforms: Intel x86, Intel IA-64, Alpha, PPC, S/390

Kernel: 2.4

6. Walnut Creek

Authors of the “Official Slackware” CD-ROM. Slackware is also available as a free distribution over the Internet, but this CD comes with all the other Walnut Creek support.

Platforms: Intel only
Kernel: 2.4

7. LinuxPPC

LinuxPPC specialize exclusively in Linux for the PowerPC chip based machines including many of the Motorola, IBM and of course Apple machines.

Platforms: PowerPC/PowerMac
Kernel: 2.2

In order to get a better understanding of the way your Linux system works, or how to customize it to suit your needs, you should read the HOWTO documents. These documents explain how one does anything on a Linux system from choosing hardware to setting up as an ISP.

When in real trouble with Linux, though, you can always turn to the Linux community for help. This thriving international community is one of the biggest assets of Linux. The Linux community is not only helpful but incredibly active as well. There is new software being released for Linux all the time. In the last month alone there has been software for digital cameras, stock tracking, audio manipulation and cryptographic filesystems released, and this is only a small sampling. There is also a large amount of commercial software available for Linux. This includes the usual set of office suite software like word processors and spreadsheets.

Key Linux Features

• Protected 32bit* Multi-user Operating System. No 16bit code bottlenecks beyond the bootup routine.
• Advanced 32bit* virtual memory subsystem.
• No 640K limit. Linux can run 3 GB processes if you have enough virtual memory.
• Per user file and application security.
• Industry standard X windows networked GUI. Run applications across the network.
• POSIX.1 style API with both USL and BSD extensions. Porting almost all correctly written POSIX or UNIX API based programs is trivial.
• TCP/IP networking including both protocol layers and the standard BSD tool set.
• Wide set of internet World Wide Web tools.
• NFS server and client - the standard UNIX network file system.
• SAMBA SMB server for LAN manager and Windows for workgroups clients.
• MARS_UWE Netware sever clone for use on IPX networks.
• Netatalk AppleTalk server for AppleTalk networks.
• Internet SMTP mail server and clients - including MIME support.
• UUCP software for old style efficient store and forward traffic.
• DOS Emulator (will not run all DOS applications nor windows beyond real mode). **

·         Much faster swapping performance.

·         Symmetric Multiprocessing on Ultrasparc.

·         Fully merged in PowerMac and PowerPC support.

·         Read only NTFS support.

·         Gigabit Ethernet.

·         Kernel based NFS daemon.

·         Support for machines with 2Gig of RAM

·         IPv6 networking.

* 64bit on the Digital Alpha architecture
** Intel only at present

In Summary

Linux is cheap, flexible, powerful and scalable. It is useful in most areas of computing and new applications are being developed for Linux every day. It is not for everyone, though. There are times when a user will have to know a little bit more about the underlying operating system than they perhaps care to.