LINUX

Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of Linux is the Linux kernel.

Linux was originally developed as a free operating system for Intel x86-based personal computers. It has since been ported to more computer hardware platforms than any other operating system. It is a leading operating system on servers and other big iron.

The development of Linux is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software collaboration: the underlyingsource code may be used, modified, and distributed—commercially or non-commercially—by anyone under licenses such as theGNU General Public License. Typically Linux is packaged in a format known as a Linux distribution for desktop and server use. Some popular mainstream Linux distributions include Debian (and its derivatives such as Ubuntu and Linux Mint), Fedora (and its derivatives such as the commercial Red Hat Enterprise Linux and its open equivalent CentOS), Mandriva/Mageia, openSUSE (and its commercial derivative SUSE Linux Enterprise Server), and Arch Linux. Linux distributions include the Linux kernel, supporting utilitiesand libraries and usually a large amount of application software to fulfill the distribution's intended use.

Linux Distribution are based on

·         Debian-based

o   Knoppix-based

o   Ubuntu-based

§  Official distributions

§  Third-party distributions

·         Gentoo-based

·         Pacman-based

·         RPM-based

o   Fedora-based

o   Red Hat Enterprise Linux-based

o   Mandriva Linux-based

·         Slackware-based

o Slax-based