Table 1-1
(continued)
Distribution
Description
Fedora Core
This distribution is the successor to Red Hat Linux -- the Linux distri-
bution from Red Hat. Fedora Core 1, released in November 2003, was
the successor to the Red Hat Linux 9. Fedora Core is freely available.
Fedora Core uses the Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) format for its
software packages. You can download Fedora Core from
http://
fedora.redhat.com
.
Gentoo Linux
This is a noncommercial, source-based (meaning that all software is
provided in source code form) distribution that first appeared in 2002.
The installer provides some binary packages to get the Linux going,
but the idea is to compile all source packages on the user's computer.
This makes it time consuming to build a full-fledged Gentoo system
with the latest graphical desktops, multimedia, and development tools
because all the packages have to be downloaded and compiled.
Gentoo Linux is freely available from
www.gentoo.org
.
Knoppix
This Live CD distribution is based on Debian and named after its
developer, Klaus Knopper, of Germany. Knoppix can be used as a
recovery tool (to fix problems with an already-installed Linux system)
because you can run Knoppix directly from the CD without having to
first install it on the hard drive. The Knoppix CD stores software in
compressed format, and Knoppix decompresses the programs on the
fly. Using this approach, Knoppix can pack up to 2GB of software on
a CD. Knoppix uses the Debian package management. For informa-
tion on downloading Knoppix free of charge, visit the Knoppix Web
site at
www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
.
Linspire
This commercial distribution was first released in 2002 under the
name LindowsOS. Linspire uses the Debian package format and offers
software download for a fee through what it calls the Click-N-Run
Web-based interface. You can download a Live CD version called
LindowsLive! via BitTorrent, a peer-to-peer, file-sharing system. For
more information about Linspire, visit
www.linspire.com
.
Mandriva Linux
This popular distribution began life as a 1998 release of Red Hat Linux
with an easy-to-use installer and with KDE as the default desktop.
Until recently, this distribution was called Mandrakelinux. Mandriva
Linux uses the Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) format for its soft-
ware packages. You can get the Mandriva Linux Download Edition
(a 3-CD/DVD set) at
www.mandrivalinux.com
. Click the
Download
link for more information.
MEPIS Linux
This Debian-based Live CD distribution was first released in July
2003. It also includes a graphical installer that can be launched from
the Live CD to install MEPIS on the hard drive. MEPIS has good hard-
ware detection and it comes with Java and multimedia software,
which makes it popular. MEPIS uses the Debian package format.
You can download the SimplyMEPIS Live CD free of charge from
www.mepis.org
.