Linux (redirected from GNU Linux)

Linux

Nonproprietary operating system (OS) for digital computers. In 1991 Linus Torvalds of Finland began asking for volunteer programmers over the Internet to collaborate on the development of a UNIX-like OS for personal computers; the “1.0” release of Linux was in 1994. A true multiuser, multitasking system, Linux contained features (e.g., virtual memory, shared libraries, memory management, and TCP/IP networking) formerly only found on mainframe computers. With its source code freely available, thousands of volunteers, as well as several companies that sell prepackaged Linux products, have contributed to the OS. A reliable, fast-performing system with good security features, Linux is popular for corporate computer network and Web servers.

---

Linux

A very popular open source operating system that runs on a variety of hardware platforms including x86, Itanium, PowerPC, ARM and IBM's entire product line. Based on many design principles used in the Unix operating system, and thereby often called a "Unix clone" or "Unix variant," Linux is widely deployed as a server OS and as an embedded OS. For example, Linux runs in most of the servers on the Internet and in countless appliances and consumer electronics devices (see embedded Linux). In the desktop market, Linux has nowhere near the same penetration; however, it gains ground slowly and steadily.

Linux is a multitasking, multiuser operating system that is known for its stability. Although modified by numerous people, its robustness stems from its Unix-like architecture that keeps peripheral software components isolated from the core software (the kernel).

Licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), Linux is the flagship product of the open source community (see open source and GNU General Public License). Numerous groups work on their own flavor of Linux, modifying it for various purposes, and several commercial organizations "distribute" Linux for a fee (see Linux distribution). Linux is an outstanding success because it embodies the major features of Unix in a modifiable open source package, including its compliance with the POSIX standard (see POSIX).

Not Just One User Interface
Linux employs the X Window rendering system for displaying data on screen. Because X Window provides only the basic window creation, it relies on third-party user interfaces to provide the window borders and buttons, menus, icons and desktop that users see and manipulate. KDE and GNOME are two of the most popular (see KDE and GNOME). A Linux distribution may include more than one user interface, all of which appear on screen somewhat similar to the Windows and Mac interfaces. See X Window.

From Minix to GNU/Linux
In 1990, Finnish computer science student Linus Torvalds created the Linux kernel (see kernel). He was inspired by Minix, a popular classroom teaching tool that was very close to Unix. Although Torvalds created the kernel, many of the supporting libraries, utilities and applications came from the GNU Project, which is why Linux is often designated as GNU/Linux. Over the years, a huge number of programmers have contributed to the GNU/Linux system. For more information, visit www.linux.com and www.gnu.com.

Torvalds maintains the official Linux kernel, which continually integrates patches and enhancements from the Linux community. For more information, visit www.kernel.org.

Linux Is Really "Lee-Nooks"
If you lived in Finland, you would say "lee-nooks" because Linus is pronounced "lee-noose." Since the English pronounce Linus as "line-iss," some call it "line-icks." More common is "lynn-icks," which splits the difference. No matter how you say it, Linux is very popular. See embedded Linux, KDE, GNOME, X Window, Lintel, Minix, Ubuntu, SuSE Linux, UnitedLinux, GNU, open source, Linux Foundation, Trinux, SCO and Red Hat.

A Lot of Server

This innovative Linux appliance from Net Integration Technologies packs a lot into a small box. Running the Nitix OS, it includes built-in Web, e-mail, VPN and remote access servers, a firewall and file and print services for Windows, Mac and Linux. It connects two ISPs to the LAN and provides automatic failover if one goes down. (Image courtesy of Net Integration Technologies Inc., www.nitix.com)

A Linux Laptop

In 2005, System76 was the first hardware vendor to offer packaged Linux laptops, desktops and servers. This laptop comes with the Ubuntu version of Linux and a variety of applications that most people use all the time (see Ubuntu). (Image courtesy of System76, www.system76.com)

The Penguin Is Everywhere!

The Linux mascot happens to be a penguin, and the penguin is everywhere, even on an iPod. iPodLinux is an open source project that enables the iPod to boot up into a tiny version of Linux. (Image courtesy of the iPodLinux Project, www.ipodlinux.org)

---

Linux [′lin·əks]

(computer science)

A freely available, open-source Unix-like operating system kernel capable of running on many different types of computer hardware; first released in 1991.

---

(operating system)

Linux - ("Linus Unix") /li'nuks/ (but see below) An implementation of the Unix kernel originally written from scratch with no proprietary code. The kernel runs on Intel and Alpha hardware in the general release, with SPARC, PowerPC, MIPS, ARM, Amiga, Atari, and SGI in active development. The SPARC, PowerPC, ARM, PowerMAC - OSF, and 68k ports all support shells, X and networking. The Intel and SPARC versions have reliable symmetric multiprocessing. Work on the kernel is coordinated by Linus Torvalds, who holds the copyright on a large part of it. The rest of the copyright is held by a large number of other contributors (or their employers). Regardless of the copyright ownerships, the kernel as a whole is available under the GNU General Public License. The GNU project supports Linux as its kernel until the research Hurd kernel is completed. This kernel would be no use without application programs. The GNU project has provided large numbers of quality tools, and together with other public domain software it is a rich Unix environment. A compilation of the Linux kernel and these tools is known as a Linux distribution. Compatibility modules and/or emulators exist for dozens of other computing environments. The kernel version numbers are significant: the odd numbered series (e.g. 1.3.xx) is the development (or beta) kernel which evolves very quickly. Stable (or release) kernels have even major version numbers (e.g. 1.2.xx). There is a lot of commercial support for and use of Linux, both by hardware companies such as Digital, IBM, and Apple and numerous smaller network and integration specialists. There are many commercially supported distributions which are generally entirely under the GPL. At least one distribution vendor guarantees Posix compliance. Linux is particularly popular for Internet Service Providers, and there are ports to both parallel supercomputers and embedded microcontrollers. Debian is one popular open source distribution. The pronunciation of "Linux" has been a matter of much debate. Many, including Torvalds, insist on the short I pronunciation /li'nuks/ because "Linus" has an /ee/ sound in Swedish (Linus's family is part of Finland's 6% ethnic-Swedish minority) and Linus considers English short /i/ to be closer to /ee/ than English long /i:/ dipthong. This is consistent with the short I in words like "linen". This doesn't stop others demanding a long I /li:'nuks/ following the english pronunciation of "Linus" and "minus". Others say /li'niks/ following Minix, which Torvalds was working on before Linux. More on pronunciation. LinuxHQ. slashdot. freshmeat. Woven Goods. Linux Gazette. funet Linux Archive, US mirror, UK Mirror.