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Greg Haerr on "What is Linux?"
Greg Haerr, CEO of Century Software     (July 17, 2000)

The following is Greg Haerr's answer to the question, "What is Linux?" . . .

Linux is many things. It's an operating systems kernel. It's a distribution. It's a community. It's a movement. Today, I feel that using the word "Linux" refers to the general community-based developmental movement forward of anything that runs on or is associated with a Linux kernel.

Technically, I suppose you could say that Linux is anything that Linus Torvalds releases as Linux on www.kernel.org. But, nowadays, Linux is the name of several major distributions of kernels and many associated free tools, mostly from GNU. So anything that is released under these distributions could be reasonably called Linux. So Red Hat, Debian, Caldera, MontaVista, and others now get more of a say in what is "Linux."

Of course, there are many, many people working on enhancements to the Linux kernel and programs that will run on it. Some of these people make changes to the kernel, and release their changes to the public, not available through any other distribution. These kernels are Linux, although they may be "Linux-temporary," depending on whether they ever get merged into a kernel.org tree, or a tree from a major distribution provider. The Linux community is a democracy and is very much driven by usefulness, and some people manage to produce enhancements that are quickly used by many. These creators find themselves automatically (autocratically?) picked up by the community and their enhancements and positions become "Linux."

So, there are various levels and degrees by which something or somebody attains or is associated with Linux. All of Linux, however, shares a common history: the kernel and many of it's applications provided on the distributions are enhancements and changes to something that existed in a previous distribution. So, although Linux has a defined API and ABI (still changing), a kernel or RTOS that emulated this API/ABI wouldn't be Linux, it would be Linux-like, since it doesn't have it's roots with Linux. There are many examples of this emulation in software, such as the Wine Project. However great, they remain emulations of the Real Thing. Because they're not attached to the growing tree of Linux, they must always be kept up after-the-fact, and can't attain the following Linux has. And why should they? With the entire Linux source open, an RTOS vendor that built a Linux-like system rather than just using Linux is obviously prioritized around their own operating system, and this goes against the Linux movement!

Linux is certainly a technology, and a rapidly customizable one. Linux's greatest asset is the number of people it's been able to attract, and most these people are developmentally oriented. What a way to produce software!

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FUEL Database on MontaVista Linux
Whether building a mobile handset, a car navigation system, a package tracking device, or a home entertainment console, developers need capable software systems, including an operating system, development tools, and supporting libraries, to gain maximum benefit from their hardware platform and to meet aggressive time-to-market goals.

Breaking New Ground: The Evolution of Linux Clustering
With a platform comprising a complete Linux distribution, enhanced for clustering, and tailored for HPC, Penguin Computing¿s Scyld Software provides the building blocks for organizations from enterprises to workgroups to deploy, manage, and maintain Linux clusters, regardless of their size.

Data Monitoring with NightStar LX
Unlike ordinary debuggers, NightStar LX doesn¿t leave you stranded in the dark. It¿s more than just a debugger, it¿s a whole suite of integrated diagnostic tools designed for time-critical Linux applications to reduce test time, increase productivity and lower costs. You can debug, monitor, analyze and tune with minimal intrusion, so you see real execution behavior. And that¿s positively illuminating.

Virtualizing Service Provider Networks with Vyatta
This paper highlights Vyatta's unique ability to virtualize networking functions using Vyatta's secure routing software in service provider environments.

High Availability Messaging Solution Using AXIGEN, Heartbeat and DRBD
This white paper discusses a high-availability messaging solution relying on the AXIGEN Mail Server, Heartbeat and DRBD. Solution architecture and implementation, as well as benefits of using AXIGEN for this setup are all presented in detail.

Understanding the Financial Benefits of Open Source
Will open source pay off? Open source is becoming standard within enterprises, often because of cost savings. Find out how much of a financial impact it can have on your organization. Get this methodology and calculator now, compliments of JBoss.

Embedded Hardware and OS Technology Empower PC-Based Platforms
The modern embedded computer is the jack of all trades appearing in many forms.

Data Management for Real-Time Distributed Systems
This paper provides an overview of the network-centric computing model, data distribution services, and distributed data management. It then describes how the SkyBoard integration and synchronization service, coupled with an implementation of the OMG¿s Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard, can be used to create an efficient data distribution, storage, and retrieval system.

7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.

 


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