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Chapter 2. Choosing a Linux DistributionThe Linux operating system that's installed on your computer is not a single, huge program. It's a collection of many programs. You can get each component of the Linux system yourself, downloading and installing them separately to create exactly the system that fits your needs. However, it's not simple; you must know Linux well to do this. Most users don't install the pieces themselves. Rather, they install a Linux distribution. A distribution (often called a distro) is a collection of programs put together by a group or a company. It includes all the components needed to provide a complete Linux system when it's installed on your computer. However, distributions can differ in the components included, focusing on different aspects. For instance, one distribution may emphasize easy use and installation whereas another emphasizes providing a large set of applications. Fedora Core, the successor to the very popular Red Hat Linux, is the main distribution discussed in this book. In addition, the Mandrake and SuSE distributions are described. These three distributions are oriented toward desktop computer users and provide installation procedures similar to Windows installation procedures. Many, many other distributions are available. This chapter describes the major distributions. More complete coverage of distributions is available at www.distrowatch.org, which maintains a database of 320 distributions. |
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