Introducing Linux
What Is Linux?
13
Distribution
Description
Slackware Linux
This is one of the oldest distributions, having been first released in
1992. Slackware uses compressed
tar
files for its packages and
provides a text-based installer with limited automatic detection of
hardware. You do all software configurations by editing text files.
Slackware is freely available from
www.slackware.com
.
SUSE Linux
This commercial distribution switched to a community development
project called openSUSE in August 2005. SUSE Linux Open Source
Software (OSS) is now freely available, and the retail SUSE Linux is
based on the open source version. SUSE comes with the YaST instal-
lation and configuration tool. SUSE Linux uses RPM packages. The
openSUSE project provides the ISO image files for SUSE Linux
OSS from various mirror sites (see
www.opensuse.org/
Download
). Visit
www.opensuse.org
for more information
about SUSE Linux.
Ubuntu Linux
This is a relatively new Debian-based, noncommercial Linux distribu-
tion that has become popular in a short time since its initial release in
2004. Ubuntu is available as both an install CD and a Live CD. Because
it's Debian based, you can install the basic desktop system from the
install CD and then use the
apt-get
tool to install other packages
as well as keep the system up to date. You can download Ubuntu free
of charge from
www.ubuntulinux.org
.
Xandros Desktop OS
This distribution is the successor to Corel Linux and is based on
Debian. Xandros is aimed at first-time Linux users, with an installer
that can repartition the hard drive. The versatile Xandros File
Manager is a key selling point of Xandros. However, Xandros includes
some proprietary components that prevent redistribution. A limited
version of Xandros Desktop, called the Open Circulation Edition, is
available for free through BitTorrent. Visit
www.xandros.com
for
more information about Xandros.
As you can see from the brief descriptions in Table 1-1, some of the Linux
distributions, such as Knoppix and MEPIS, are in the form of Live CDs. A Live
CD (or Live DVD) includes a Linux kernel that you can boot and run directly
from the CD or DVD without having to first install it on your hard drive. Such
Live CD distributions can be handy if you want to try out a distribution
before you decide whether to install.
This book's companion DVD works as a Knoppix Live DVD. You can run
Knoppix by simply booting your PC from the DVD and pressing Enter.
Many Linux distributions, such as SUSE Linux and Xandros Desktop, are
commercial products that you can buy online or in computer stores and
bookstores. If you have heard about open source and the GNU (GNU's Not
UNIX) license, you may think that no one can sell Linux for profit. Luckily for
companies that sell Linux distributions, the GNU license -- also called the