What is Linux?

[ajbrun]

I've heard about Linux, but still don't know much. I know that it's an open source operating system that is freely avaliable. This means that people are able to change it to how they want.

What I want to know is what are the different variation. How do they differ?

Also, can it be used like windows, or is it completely different?

Thanks

[mike_w]

Hexus recently did 3 articles about Open Source Software, and talked about Linux in quite a ot of detail I think. I'll go dig the link out for you...

Edit: This thread has links to all three parts.

[r1zeek]

This means that people are able to change it to how they want.

You pretty much said it yourself. The different versions or "distros" are variations of Linux (which is a type of core) basically you get different stuff with different distros.

It can be used like windows, but windows programs do not work on Linux unless you use an emulator.

Hope that helps a bit

[ajbrun]

What other kind of stuff can you get?

[ajbrun]

I'm downloading knoppix now, but from what I've seen, it looks quite compicated. I'll have a play around and see what I think. I'm only asking because an uncle said that using linux could benefit me as a lot of employers are looking for people with linux experience.

I said "What other kind of stuff can you get?", but I meant how do the versions differ?

[directhex]

linux is an open-source kernel (a kernel being the core brain of an operating system, like ntoskrnl on windows or mach on macosx).

differnet companies and people stick different things on top with differnet aims - for example, "damn small linux" isn't pretty, but it runs from a 50mb business card cd. knoppix is designed as a fairly fully-featured bootable cd, with as much stuff on it as can fit. if one person or group wants to take a linux distribution in a differne tdirection to the official, then they can usually do so - for example, the popular mandrake linux is based on red hat linux, knoppix is based on debian, etc.

there are lots and lots of apps available, some the same as with windows (for example Realplayer exists for linux as well as windows), some originally linux then moved to windows (such as the mozilla firefox web browser), some which perform similar tasks (rhythmbox is a similar media player to itunes), or some which are completely different.

[ajbrun]

Erm - I'm planning to only run it off the disk, like privatepyle said. Are there two different version - one to run from a disk, and one to install? Or is there an option?

I REALLY don't want to install it - just to sample it.

[ajbrun]

I tried to download it, but after a while, it says it timed out. I'll try again tonight.

[directhex]

use a download manager of some sort

[Dorza]

Here - Scroll down a bit and you will come to "What is Linux?" and "New to Linux".

This is probably a better alternative: Here .


If you dont get along with Knoppix you could try Slax which is also run from CD. There are less apps with it than Knoppix but it still provides plenty of programs to give you a feel of Linux (Screenshots). Ive used it and can reccommend for first time users to linux

[myth]

I am giving this a shot! I'll instal it on a 2GHz Celly I have lying around... Thanks guys for showing me this!

Edit: So is kon.. thingy Debian? I am runing it from a CD right now on my main rig! It is VERY interesting! I will instal it on my celly rig in a minute....

Edit 2: well I read that in order to instal I needed to wait until it was up and runing from the Cd then hit "crtl-alt-f1" then type "knx-hdinstall" Well that got me no where! I then read on a help file on the Cd that there is no GUI to install it to the hard drive and that while it can be done......... Ok, so I give up! I am now searching for a linux I can actualy instal with ease!

http://www.freenet.org.nz/misc/knoppix-install.html

[directhex]

knoppix isn't debian. it's based on debian, but isn't debian.

and it's really not designed for installing to disk.