Linux Distributions
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution.
Today, Linux systems are used throughout computing, from embedded systems to virtually all supercomputers, and have secured a place in server installations such as the popular LAMP application stack.
Linux is also distributed under an open source license.so
· The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.
· The freedom to study how the program works, and change it to make it do what you wish.
Linux has a number of different versions to suit any type of user. From new users to hard-core users, you’ll find a “flavor” of Linux to match your needs. These versions are called distributions. Use of Linux distributions in home and enterprise desktops has been growing. Linux distributions have also become popular in the netbook market, with many devices shipping with customized Linux distributions installed, and Google releasing their own Chrome OS designed for netbooks and linux has some server The user interface, also known as the shell, is either a command-line interface (CLI), a graphical user interface (GUI), or controls attached to the associated hardware, which is common for embedded systems. Linux distributions support dozens of programming languages such as Perl, Ruby, Python, Java,php. Several operating systems for smart devices, such as smartphones, tablet computers, smart TVs, and in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems, are based on Linux. Major platforms for such systems include Android, Firefox OS, Mer and Tizen. The Linux kernel is a widely ported operating system kernel, available for devices ranging from mobile phones to supercomputers; it runs on a highly diverse range of computer architectures, including the hand-held ARM-based iPAQ and the IBM mainframes System z9 or System z10.
Issues
Linux does not dominate the market like Windows, there are some disadvantages to using the operating system. First, it’s more difficult to find applications to support your needs. This is an issue for mostly businesses, but more programmers are developing applications that are supported by Linux. Many more applications are available for the working world compared to what was available a decade ago. One main issue with Linux is drivers. Before you can install any hardware component in your computer, you must make sure the hardware has drivers available. Hardware manufacturers usually write drivers for Windows, but not all brands write drivers for Linux. This means that some of your hardware might not be compatible with Linux if you decide to switch. Support for open-source can also be an issue. While there are plenty of Windows support people, Linux is not supported out-of-the-box. The way Linux distribution companies make money is through their support channels. This means that companies must pay fees for support, if they cannot solve an issue. However, there are plenty of forums and blogs that support Linux issues. If your company has a good Linux administrator, the administrator can typically find answers through one of these free channels without paying for support.
breakthroughs
Net craft reported in September 2006, that eight of the ten most reliable internet hosting companies ran Linux distributions on their web servers,[99] with Linux in the top position. In June 2008, Linux distributions represented five of the top ten, Cellphones and PDAs running Linux on open-source platforms became more common from 2007
