Linux is a free, open source operating system similar to the Unix operating system which has been around for decades. Red Hat and Ubuntu are two of the most popular distributions -- others include Debian, Suse, Mandrake, and more.
Linux is known for robustness; it's used in mission-critical tasks by many industries. It can cost nothing to download and install, or you may choose to have a vendor configure and support it for you.
For a robust, easy-to-try version, try http://www.ubuntu.org. For a powerful, commercially-supported version, try http://www.redhat.com.
Linux is a free Unix-type operating system originally created by Linus Torvalds with the assistance of developers around the world. Developed under the GNU General Public License , the source code for Linux is freely available to everyone.
Linux is an operating system that was initially created as a hobby by a young student, Linus Torvalds, at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Linus had an interest in Minix, a small UNIX system, and decided to develop a system that exceeded the Minix standards. He began his work in 1991 when he released version 0.02 and worked steadily until 1994 when version 1.0 of the Linux Kernel was released. The kernel, at the heart of all Linux systems, is developed and released under the GNU General Public License and its source code is freely available to everyone. It is this kernel that forms the base around which a Linux operating system is developed. There are now literally hundreds of companies and organizations and an equal number of individuals that have released their own versions of operating systems based on the Linux kernel. More information on the kernel can be found at our sister site, LinuxHQ and at the official Linux Kernel Archives. The current full-featured version is 2.6 (released December 2003) and development continues.
Apart from the fact that it's freely distributed, Linux's functionality, adaptability and robustness, has made it the main alternative for proprietary Unix and Microsoft operating systems. IBM, Hewlett-Packard and other giants of the computing world have embraced Linux and support its ongoing development. Well into its second decade of existence, Linux has been adopted worldwide primarily as a Server platform. Its use as a home and office desktop operating system is also on the rise. The operating system can also be incorporated directly into microchips in a process called "embedding" and is increasingly being used this way in appliances and devices.
Throughout most of the 1990's, tech pundits, largely unaware of Linux's potential, dismissed it as a computer hobbyist project, unsuitable for the general public's computing needs. Through the efforts of developers of desktop management systems such as KDE and GNOME, office suite project OpenOffice.org and the Mozilla web browser project, to name only a few, there are now a wide range of applications that run on Linux and it can be used by anyone regardless of his/her knowledge of computers. Those curious to see the capabilities of Linux can download a live CD version called Knoppix . It comes with everything you might need to carry out day-to-day tasks on the computer and it needs no installation. It will run from a CD in a computer capable of booting from the CD Drive. Those choosing to continue using Linux can find a variety of versions or "distributions" of Linux that are easy to install, configure and use. Information on these products is available in our distribution section and can be found by selecting the mainstream/general public category.
I think the Linux set of operating systems are great and they good at deflecting viruses. I like ubuntu best and I use hardy heron on my computer! did you know that windows is rubbish at deflecting viruses compared to Linux!chobbs
Linux is an operating system whose core is a most unsual piece of software called a "kernel". The kernel and fundamentals of the operating system (OS) were developed by Linus Torvalds. Torvald wanted to create a free, open-source OS based off of the previously common UNIX OS. Linux has now developed much further; it has evolved into many things for many uses. You could say a type of Linux would be called a distribution. Here is a list of common distributions:
There are other distributions called "live" distributions that are used to try out Linux, restore a computer, partition a hard drive, and several other good uses. A popular "live" distribution of Linux is called Knoppix.
Before installing Linux, you will need to research how to partition for it, how to burn ISO's to CD's, what type you want as well as what you will use it for, how easily you can do it on your own (will you need a tech-savvy friend or family member to help?) and several other considerations that are critical to installation