The handful of distributions listed here are those which are most widely
known by the general public, or referred to most
often by the specialist media, or those most commonly found in retail
outlets in English-speaking countries.
What exact sales percentage of the total GNU/Linux distributions market
they represent is unknown — but it is certainly extremely high. Between
them, they account for almost all that the (generally uninformed) public
knows about "Linux".
Caldera is shipping OpenLinux 1.2 in a three-tiered family of
products: OpenLinux Lite, OpenLinux Base, and OpenLinux Standard.
OpenLinux Lite is a freely available evaluation of the OpenLinux
product (it includes a 90-day evaluation of the Caldera integrated
desktop — the full licensed version of the desktop is included in the
Base and Standard products). OpenLinux Lite can be downloaded from
Caldera's ftp site, or obtained on CD for the cost of shipping. It
is also designed for use by book and software publishers to provide
a commercially stable Linux offering with their books and software
products.
OpenLinux Base contains everything that is in Lite plus it is a
complete, easy-to-install Linux operating system, with integrated
desktop, Internet client and server components, and Intranet
connectivity. OpenLinux Base includes Netscape Navigator and full
documentation.
OpenLinux Standard includes what is in Base plus more high-end, name
brand, commercial software components (such as Netscape FastTrack Web
Server, Netscape Navigator Gold Web browser and authoring tools,
ADABAS D database, StarOffice productivity suite, Caldera OpenDOS, and
NetWare client and administration tools).
All three tiers of the OpenLinux 1.2 release are currently available.
With Caldera OpenLinux, you can see a whole world of powerful
new computing, even the power of a UNIX workstation on your PC!
By using a Linux kernel, OpenLinux gives you speed and stability
that compare to systems costing thousands of dollars. Open Linux
also gives you:
Real multi-tasking runs many text or graphical applications at
once; no application can cause another to crash, unlike less robust
systems.
The Linux 2.0 kernel gives super-fast TCP/IP access to the
Internet, plus loadable device drivers, for the most efficient use
of your system resources.
Easy-to-follow, quick installation with menu-based choices and
auto-detection of your hardware make installation a snap on most
systems. The Getting Started Guide (included) provides a
step-by-step illustrated procedure, with troubleshooting tips.
No other Linux system includes a complete, integrated desktop
interface with configuration tools and graphical editor. Its
powerful drag-and-drop capabilities come pre-configured with
thousands of icons and application settings. The Desktop provides a
convenient place where you can store your favorite programs and
data files for instant access. The Desktop gives you:
Drag-and-drop launching of programs with data files.
An integrated graphical text editor.
Easy access to an array of powerful system configuration tools.
A configurable icon bar, custom layouts, and preference settings.
Powerful file management using drag-and-drop or graphical dialogs.
Caldera is one of the only Linux distributors to offer E-mail and
telephone support. OpenLinux Base (E-mail only) and Standard
(Telephone and E-mail) users are fully supported (Standard users
receive 5 free incident calls during the first 30 days). There is
no technical support for the Lite product.
OpenLinux Base and Standard ship with full licensed versions of the
Caldera Desktop, which do not expire. OpenLinux Lite ships with a
90-day evaluation version of the Desktop.
Debian GNU/Linux is the result of a volunteer effort to create a
high-quality non-commercial Linux distribution. Debian GNU/Linux 2.2
is a complete and fully-functional Unix-compatible operating system
for the personal computer. It contains around 8000 packages, making
it by far the largest free software distribution.
Debian GNU/Linux is available for the IBM PC architecture
(386/486/Pentium), m68k, SPARC, Alpha, PowerPC, and ARM. Ports to
MIPS, HP PA-RISC, IA64 and GNU/Hurd are under way and are likely to be released with the next distribution (Debian 3.0, codename "Woody"), undergoing extensive testing at this time.
Debian GNU/Linux is an easy-to-upgrade distribution that consists of
freely redistributable software from a number of different sources and
systems. Non-free packages may also obtained, making Debian a
well-rounded system. It is noteworthy that the Debian Free Software Guidelines formed the basis of the Open Source definition. Debian proper consists only of free packages which are freely distributable and freely modifiable - Debian "main"; and some packages which, though in themselves free software, rely on non-free software - Debian "contrib".
The benefits of Debian GNU/Linux are its upgradability, well-defined
dependencies between packages, and its open development. It is the
only GNU/Linux distribution that is being developed co-operatively by
many individuals over the Internet, in the same spirit as the Linux kernel and
other open-source operating systems. More than 900 package maintainers
are working on over 8000 packages and improving Debian GNU/Linux. A
sophisticated bug tracking system allows users to easily report bugs
and security concerns which are quickly dealt with by the Debian
community. A command-line tool, 'apt-get', can be used to dynamically
upgrade your system from the large Debian archive network.
Debian GNU/Linux is a very dynamic distribution, although it does prefer
well-tested stability to having the very latest available. Major releases
are generally made about every year, point releases and security fixes are released as appropriate, averaging one every few months. The current "stable" release is 2.2 release 5 - i.e. major release 2.2, but point release 5. The Debian archives are updated daily ; and upgrading discrete elements of the system is a common and supported operation. A recent change designed to speed the release process has been the creation of package pools.
Debian now has three development streams:
* "unstable" - changing daily;
* "testing" - tracking unstable, but with a delay of a few days and significant further testing; and
* "stable" - released as a major version, as above.
The move between each of the development streams also ensures a smooth update process when moving from "old stable -> testing -> new stable release.
For more information about Debian GNU/Linux, please visit our World Wide
Web page at http://www.debian.org/.
There is also a book, Running Debian GNU/Linux, from
O'Reilly & Associates.
If you're interested in joining this project, you are invited to subscribe to
either debian-user@lists.debian.org, or
debian-devel@lists.debian.org by sending a mail to
debian-user-request@lists.debian.org
(or
debian-devel-request respectively)
with the word "help" in the subject line.
A number of vendors
can provide CD-ROMs or snapshots.
Support:
Aside from self-serve support
via mailing lists, IRC, or the online Bug Tracking System, there is also a number
of consultants providing
support.
Last freeze date:
10 January 2002 (2.2r5)
Entry last modified:
14 January 2002
Reviewer's comments:
What can I say? I use it every day; the wikiweb version is running on a Debian box; all my machines at home (except one) run Debian; I regularly use it for training Linux sysadmins. All in all, it's cooler than a penguin's backside in mid-winter. -- msw(mailto:msw@startext.co.uk)
Mandrake is inspired by Red Hat(tm) Linux, with many
improvements and pre-configured applications which make it easier to
use for beginners, and faster for everyone.
Mandrake is available both in the GPL Edition and in the PowerPack
Edition which includes 5 CDs and commercial applications. The GPL
Edition CD (base system and applications) is freely available from
the Internet as an iso image.
Mandrake 6.0 won two LinuxWorld Editors' Choice Awards and
was a runner up at LinuxWorld Expo, San Jose, CA in August 1999:
Best Linux Product of the Year.
Best Distribution/Server.
finalist for Best Distribution/Client.
Mandrake 6.1 (Helios) features:
Linux-Kernel: 2.2.13 (pre4)
XFree86: 3.3.5
Glibc: 2.1.1
RPM: 3.0.3
Bash: 2.03
KDE: 1.1.2 (with Mandrake customization)
Gnome: built from 1.0.4->1.0.14 versions (with Mandrake
customization)
In Mandrake, packages have been compiled with CPU optimizations for
pentium-class (intel, amd, cyrix, winchip...) and higher processors
resulting in speed improvements up to 30%.
Free download available from Internet.
The Linux-Mandrake PowerPack price is typically between $45 and $50.
Payment method depends on the distributor.
Distributor lists available at:
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/fsinglecd.php3.
Support:
The PowerPack is provided with 100 days of support by e-mail.
Several specialized mailing-lists and a USENET newsgroup
(alt.os.linux.mandrake) are available for support
between users.
Bynari Systems Group and LinuxCare also provide complete support
for Mandrake.
Last freeze date:
Sep 17, 1999 for Mandrake 6.1 (Helios).
Update frequency: about 4 months.
Red Hat 6.1 is based on the 2.2 kernel and is available for
Intel, Sparc and Alpha platforms.
Four installation innovations make Red Hat the easiest Linux to
install ever. Our graphical installation mode brings you straight
up into X for most of the installation. Our boot disk creation script
eases selection of the proper boot disk, and it saves your existing
network configuration information and XF86Config so you don't have to
configure TCP/IP or X! Our FTP install allows you to install simply
by downloading 3 floppy disk images — the rest is done automatically!
And finally, the installation includes seamless support for PCMCIA
devices — install Red Hat on your laptop as easily as on your
desktop machine!
After installing Red Hat Linux once, you will never need to reinstall
Linux again! The new RPM packaging system is sophisticated enough to
allow upgrading to new Red Hat releases without reinstalling your
system - no partitioning, no backing up all your files, no headaches.
Internet access:
Ordering:
Available directly from Red Hat Software and most distributors
of Linux related products. Please contact Red Hat Software for
ordering details (on-line ordering is available through Red Hat's
Web). Suggested retail price for the Standard version is
$29.95; for the Professional (server) version
$149.95; for the Deluxe version $79.95.
Support:
Last freeze date:
Unknown.
Entry last modified:
1 Nov 1999.
Reviewer's comments:
The big selling point of this distribution is RPM, the Red Hat
Package Manager. This piece of software is a remarkable advance;
it allows you to cleanly install and de-install applications and
operating-system components, including the kernel and OS base
itself. RPM is now used as well by essentially all other
distributions except Debian. [esr]
Ftp.cdrom.com is the home of Slackware Linux. We are the publishers
of the Official Slackware Linux CDROM. Our distribution is a 4-disc
set with the current version being Slackware 96. The current disc
is based on the 2.0.34 kernel.
Slackware Linux is a full-featured distribution
of the Linux operating system designed for 386/486 computers with a
3.5" floppy and CD-ROM drive.
The cost of the CD-ROM set from Walnut Creek is $39.95.
Support:
Last freeze date:
July 1998 (3.5)
Entry last modified:
13 August 1998.
Reviewer's comments:
Unfortunately, Walnut Creek was sold to WindRiver? - who bought the site for the rights to FreeBSD and had no interest in Linux. This meant that Slackware was homeless for a while and is now found at ftp.slackware.com. The lack of commercial support has meant that Patrick Volkerding has had to scale back the project.
S.u.S.E. Linux offers users of all levels, from novice to expert,
quick and easy entry into the world of Linux and Unix. Resources such
as a menu-driven installation from CD-ROM, a modular boot diskette,
400-page reference book and S.u.S.E.'s own system administration
tool YaST, allow one to quickly get Linux installed and running,
and to keep it running smoothly.
Furthermore, S.u.S.E. offers a series of supported X servers, which
support the newest graphics cards. These servers are created in
co-operation with the XFree86 (tm) development team. See the
following url for more details:
http://www.suse.de/XSuSE/.
New in S.u.S.E. Linux 5.3:
Kernel 2.0.35
KDE 1.0
GIMP 1.0
SaX (SuSE advanced XF86 configuration tool)
Quick overview of other features:
The Linux OS, over 875 software packages, including complete
sources and live file system on 4 CD-ROMs
400 page reference book
Packages in RPM format; TGZ packages installable
System V compatible boot concept, compliance with file
system standard
Installation and administration utility 'YaST' configures
network, ISDN, e-mail, printer, X Window System
S.u.S.E. X servers which support new graphics cards
Administration of file systems, users, groups
Automatic configuration of several window managers
Online help system and documentation
Demo mode, either directly from CD-ROM, or on DOS partition
Internet access:
Ordering:
You can download from
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/SuSE-Linux.
For the CD-ROM with support, order vphone, secure WWW order form,
fax, or post. Price is $49.95, or $34.95 per edition by
subscription. Use order code LSUE520 for the English version,
LSUD520.
Also available: OSF Motif 2.1 for $129.95 (price for update to be
determined; order code: LMEA210
Support:
60 days of free installation support are included with each
purchase of S.u.S.E. Linux. See the web page for contact info and
conditions.