Summary

Linux is a free computer operating system that was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and has grown from contributions from software developers all over the world. Fedora Core and Red Hat Enterprise versions of Red Hat Linux are distributions of Linux that package together the software needed to run Linux and make it easier to install and use.

This book specifically describes Fedora Core 3, a complete version of which is included on the DVD that come with this book. Fedora Core includes cutting-edge Linux technology that is slated for inclusion in commercial Red Hat Linux systems. Features in Fedora Core 3 include a simplified installation procedure, RPM Package Management (RPM) tools for managing the software, and easy-to-use GNOME and KDE desktop environments. You can get Fedora Core from the Internet or from distributions that come with books such as this one.

Linux is based on a culture of free exchange of software. Linux’s roots are based in the UNIX operating system. UNIX provided most of the framework that was used to create Linux. That framework came from the POSIX standard, the System V Interface Definition, and the Berkeley Software Distribution, pieces of which have all found their way into Linux.