[NTLUG:Discuss] Free Linux and microkernel distributions.

[william jones]

I had a bad time talking to the NTLUG Beginner Group Saturday, February 17, because I could not remember the download sites for free (as in beer) distributions.  Here are some:

Open SUSE 10.2    http://www.opensuse.org.    Click Welcome English.

Ubuntu (and Kubuntu, Edubuntu, Xubuntu)    http://www.ubuntu.com/

DSL    http://damnsmalllinux.org/

Knoppix    http://knoppix.com    Also check Related Projects on this site.

Freespire    http://freespire.org/


And for those who would investigate microkernels, which are the opposite of monolithic Linux:

Hurd    http://www.debian.org/ports/hurd/hurd-cd/

Minix    http://www.minix3.org/

Microkernels have very little in the kernel, and virtually all drivers must be loaded as modules.  Linux writes as many drivers as possible into the kernel for efficiency.  Free software (both definitions) allows choice.  Have a great time.

William L. Jones