Debian GNU/Linux	Desktop Survival PDF Edition

Debian GNU/Linux Distributions

The reference distribution for this book, and my preferred distribution, is Debian GNU/Linux, the Linux for the GNU Generation.

I originally started with Slackware in the early 90's but migrated through Red Hat and then quickly on to Debian in 1995. Red Hat is a good distribution and is quite popular but has limitations. Debian conforms to the open and distributed development model making it a very open distribution where even you can make a change to it if you so desired. Debian is the basis of a number of commercial distributions and it also powers quite a few web sites including Linux.com.

Distributions involving Debian GNU/Linux are listed at http://www.debian.org/misc/children-distros and include:

Demo Linux

This is a CD based GNU/Linux that allows one to run GNU/Linux without installation or disk partitioning. See http://www.demolinux.org/.

Gibraltar

The Gibraltar project produces a Debian-based firewall/router that runs entirely off of a bootable CD-ROM. See http://gibraltar.vianova.at/.

Knoppix

The Knoppix distribution, based on Debian, allows one to run Debian without installing it! Just boot from the CD-ROM and Debian will run from there. If you decide to then install Debian, you can do so from the Knoppix CD-ROM. Knoppix works on most but not all hardware, trying its best to automatically identify hardware and set things up appropriately. See http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html.

Libranet

Linux by Libranet packages commonly used applications onto an easy to install CD and includes, for example, Gnome. See http://www.libranet.com.

Linex

A Debian-based distribution being developed by the regional government of Extremadura (Spain) with the goal of migrating all the computer systems, from government offices, to businesses to schools into Linux.

Morphix

Morphix is a modular LiveCD derived from Knoppix, with install images for Games, Gnome, KDE, and LightGUI. It is available from http://www.morphix.org.

Stormix

Storm Linux is built around Debian GNU/Linux, ``the most stable and secure distribution available.'' See http://www.stormix.com/.

ThinkNIC

This is a $200 new Internet computer (NIC) which runs from a CD-ROM using Debian GNU/Linux. See http://www.thinknic.com.

TuxTops

This distributor of laptops pre-installs Debian GNU/Linux on their laptops. See http://www.tuxtops.com/.

Related distributions include Amirix (http://www.amirixlinux.com/), Embedded Debian (http://www.emdebian.org/), TimeSys for real time GNU/Linux (http://timesys.com/products/linux.html) and the VA Linux Systems, O'Reilly and SGI collaboration (http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/debian/index.html).