OSS in IT
What is OSS?
  Examples
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  Extreme
What is Linux?
  Distributions
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  Free? How?
  Stable? Secure?
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What is a Distribution?

  • A Distribution is the result of one or more people taking the Linux Kernel and various other software, and joining them together into a usable environment.

  • There are many distributions, each targeted to a different "solution space", audience and/or processor.
    • Red Hat - Most popular for Intel machines.
    • Caldera - Business oriented. Integrates well with Novel "out-of-the-box".
    • Debian - A "completely Free" distribution, with a non-profit society rather than for profit corporation behind.
    • SuSE - Popular German based distribution.

  • Which is best?
    • They're all good, and if you've used one, another will be pretty much the same.
    • Some, like Caldera, only have a single license for some included software, so should only be installed on one CPU.
    • Most are freely redistributable -- copy and install away.
Copyright 1999 Chris Halsall and the Victoria Linux Users Group. Reuse permitted for OSS promotion.