Comparison of Linux distributions: Difference between revisions

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Ways to explore different Linux distributions are discussed in Linux distribution.

The many available Linux distributions differ for a range of reasons including technical, organizational, and philosophical.

Technical variations include support for different hardware devices and systems or software package configurations. Organizational differences may be motivated by technical decisions but also by philosophical or even historical reasons. Some distributions specialise in use on desktops, servers or routers. Other criteria include security, including how quickly security upgrades are available; ease of package management; and number of binary packages available.

These tables compare the latest stable release of major distributions on a range of objective criteria. It does not cover the subjective merits of each operating system, branches marked as unstable/beta, nor compare Linux distributions with other operating systems.

General

Basic general information about the distributions: creator/producer, release date/latest version, cost/license etc.

	Creator	Producer	First Public Release (yyyy-MM-dd)	Predecessor	Latest Stable Version (Release Date)	Cost (USD)	Preferred license	Target audience	Origin
aLinux	Jay Klepacs		? (pre-1999-08-19 (1.1))	Red Hat Linux	12.6 (2005-11-20)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Server, Windows users	Canada
ALT Linux	ALT Linux Team		2001-03-21	Mandrake Linux	3.0 (2005-12-08)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	Russia
Annvix	Vincent Danen		2003-Nov	Mandrake Linux	1.1-RELEASE (2005-10-28)	Free	GPL	Server	Canada
Arch Linux	Judd Vinet	dev team	2002-March	CRUX	0.7.2 (2006-05-23)	Free	GPL	Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	Canada
Ark Linux	Bernhard Rosenkraenzer	dev team	2003-01-25	None	2006.1-rc2 (2006-06-01)	Free	GPL	Beginners, Desktop, Workstation, Windows users	Switzerland
Arudius	Haidut	dev team	2005-11-04	None	0.5 (2006-02-06)	Free	GPL	Information assurance, information security users	USA
Asianux	Miracle Linux, Red Flag Linux, Haansoft Linux	dev team	2004-June	RHEL	2.0 (2005-08-31)	Free	GPL	Server, good for Desktop	East Asia
Aurox	Software-Wydawnictwo Sp. z oo	Aurox Sp. z oo	2002-September	Red Hat Linux	11.1 (2006)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	Poland
Caixa Mágica	Daniel Neves José Guimarães Paulo Trezentos	Caixa Mágica	2000-Oct	None	10 (2006-02-01)	Free (download editions)		Desktop, Server (not free)	Portugal
CentOS	CentOS Project	CentOS Project	2003-Dec	RHEL	4.3 (2006-03-21)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	USA
CRUX	Per Liden	CRUX Linux community	2001-Jan-20	None	2.2 (2006-04-09)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	Sweden
Damn Small Linux	John Andrews	dev team	2003	Knoppix	2.0 (2005-11-20)	Free	GPL	Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	USA
DARKSTAR Linux	DARKSTAR Linux Project	DARKSTAR Linux Project	2004-February	Slackware	1.0-DOT3 (2005-06-14)	Free	GPL	Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	Romania
Debian	Ian Murdock	Debian Project	1993-August	none	3.1 (sarge) (2005-06-06)	Free	any DFSG-free	Desktop, Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	USA
DeLi Linux	Henry Jensen		2002-November	None	0.7-TP3 (2006-04-04)	Free	GPL	Desktop	Germany
DeMuDi	dev team	AGNULA	2002-April	Debian	1.2.1 (2005-11-03)	Free	GPL	DAW, Desktop, Workstation	Europe
dyne:bolic	Jaromil		2001-June	none	2.0 (2006-06-06)	Free	GPL	Windows users, DAW, Desktop, Workstation	Italy
Fedora Core	Fedora Project		2003-November	Red Hat Linux	5 (Bordeaux) (2006-03-20)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	USA
Finnix	Ryan Finnie		2000-March	Debian	87.0 (2006-03-31)	Free	GPL	Administration, Server	USA
Fox Linux	Dev team, supported by ILDN network		0.5 (2004-09-30)	Fedora	0.8 (2005-05-24)	Free	GPL	Desktop	Italy
Frugalware	Miklos Vajna	dev team	2004-September	Slackware	0.4 (Wanda) (2006-03-30)	Free	GPL	Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	Hungary
Gentoo Linux	Daniel Robbins	Gentoo Foundation, Inc.	2002-March	none	2006.0 (2006-02-27)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	USA
Gnoppix	Klaus Knopper	dev team	? (pre-2003-07-17 (0.4))	Debian, Knoppix & Ubuntu	2.12.b1 (2005-09-07)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Windows users	Germany
GoboLinux	Hisham Muhammad, Andre Detsch	dev team	2002-June	none	012 (2005-06-06)	Free	GPL	Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	Brazil
ImpiLinux	Gauteng Linux Users Group	ImpiLinux (Pty) Ltd.	2003-November	Debian, Gnoppix, Knoppix & Ubuntu	2005 UP2 (2005-06)	Free	GPL	Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	South Africa
Kanotix	Kano	dev team	2003-12-24	Knoppix	2005-4 (2005-12-31)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Windows users	Germany
Knoppix	Klaus Knopper	dev team	? (pre-2003-01-19 (3.1))	Debian	4.0.2 (2005-09-23)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Enthusiast, Windows users	Germany
Kurumin Linux	Carlos Morimoto	GuiadoHardware	2003-January	Knoppix	5.1 (2005)	Free	GPL	Desktop	Brazil
Linspire	Lindows.com, Inc.	Linspire, Inc	2002-March	Debian	5-0 (2005-03-16)	$49.95	GPL/Commercial	Beginners, Desktop, Windows Users	USA
Lunar Linux	Chuck Mead, Lunar Penguin Project	dev team	2002-March	Sorcerer	1.6.0 (2006-04-06)	Free	OSI Approved	Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	USA
Lycoris Desktop/LX	Redmond Linux Corp.	Lycoris, Inc., Mandriva S.A.	2001-December	Caldera OpenLinux	1.4	$40-$75	Lycoris License	Workstation	USA
Mandriva Linux	Mandrakesoft S.A.	Mandriva S.A.	1998-July-23 (5.1 (venice))	Red Hat Linux	2006 (2005-10-06)	Free (Download edition)	GPL	Beginners, Desktop, Workstation, Server	France, Brazil
MeNTOPPIX	Galuh Prasetyawan	Galuh Prasetyawan	2006-March-30 (1.1 (malang))	Debian, Knoppix	1.3 (2006-03-30)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Windows users	Indonesia
MEPIS	Warren Woodford	MEPIS LLC.	2003-September-05	Debian	SimplyMEPIS 3.4-3 (2006-02-08)	Free (Download edition)	GPL	Beginners, Desktop, Windows Users	USA
NimbleX	Bogdan Radulescu		2005-December	Slackware	2005 (2005-12-26)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Newbie, Enthusiast, Windows Users	Romania
PCLinuxOS	Texstar	dev team	2003-October	Mandriva	Preview .92	Free	GPL	Desktop, Windows Users	Texas, USA
PLD Linux Distribution	PLD Linux Distribution		2002-November-19	none	2.0 RC1 (2006-03-03)	Free	GPL	Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	Poland
Puppy Linux	Barry Kauler	Puppy Foundation	2002-July-12 (0.4)	none	1.0.7	Free	GPL/LGPL	Beginners, Desktop, Embedded, Enthusiast	Australia
Red Flag Linux	Institute of Software, Chinese Academy of Sciences, NewMargin Venture Capital	Red Flag Software Co., Ltd.	1999-September-20	Red Hat Linux	5.0 (2005-11-11)	Free, desktop version	GPL	Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	China
Red Hat Linux	Red Hat	replaced with Fedora Core	1995-May-13 (1.0)	?	9 (Shrike) (2003-03-31)	$40, Obsolete	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	USA
RHEL	Red Hat & Fedora Project		2000-March-27 (RHL 6.2E (Zoot))	Red Hat Linux	RHEL 4 (Nahant) (2005-02-15)	$180-2,500	GPL	Workstation, Server, Businesses	USA
Rxart	Pixart SRL	Pixart SRL	2000-March	Debian	3-0 (2006-04-16)	$14.95	GPL/Commercial	Desktop, Workstation, Server, Enthusiast, Windows users	Argentina
Scientific Linux	CERN, Fermilab, dev team		2004-October	Fermi (LTS) & RHL/RHEL	4.2 (Beryllium) (2005-11-22)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Server	Switzerland, USA
Slackware	Patrick Volkerding	dev team	1993-July	SLS	10.2 (2005-09-14)	Free	GPL	Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	USA
Source Mage GNU/Linux	Ryan Abrams, Eric Schabell	dev team	2002-June	Sorcerer	0.9.6 (2006-03-13)	Free	GPL	Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	—
openSUSE	Novell, Inc and OpenSource community		1994-March	Jurix	10.1 (2006-05-11)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	Germany
Symphony OS	Ryan Quinn	Ryan Quinn & Jason Spisak	?	Debian	2006-05 Beta (2005-05-18)	Free	GPL Version 2	Desktop, Workstation	?
Trustix Secure Linux	Comodo Group Inc.		?	?	3.0 (2006-06-13)	?	?	Server	?
Ubuntu Kubuntu Edubuntu Xubuntu	Canonical Ltd.		2004-October	Debian	6.06 (2006-06-01)	Free	GPL	Beginners, Desktop, Workstation, Enthusiast, Server	Isle of Man
Ultima Linux	Martin Ultima		2005-March-18	Slackware	4 SP3 (2005-11-06)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Enthusiast, Server	USA
UTUTO	Diego Saravia & Daniel Olivera	UTUTO dev-team	2000	Gentoo	XS 2006.1 (2006)	Free	GPL-2 or later	Freedom lovers, Desktop, Workstation, Server, Enthusiast	Argentina
Vector Linux	Robert S. Lange	dev team	1999	Slackware	5.1 Standard (2005-07-27)	Free (download editions)	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Enthusiast	Canada
Xandros Desktop OS	Xandros Corp.	Xandros Inc.	2002-October-22	Corel	3.0 (2004-12-08)	$50-$90 or free for Open Circulation Edition.	Commercial/GPL	Beginners, Windows Users, Desktop, Workstation, Server	Canada
Zenwalk	Jean-Philippe Guillemin	dev team	2006-August-23 (as Minislack)	Slackware	2.6 (2006-05-23)	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation, Enthusiast	(unknown)
	Creator	Producer	First Public Release (yyyy-MMMM-dd)	Predecessor	Latest Stable Version (Release Date)	Cost (USD)	Preferred license	Target Audience	Origin

Technical

Information on technical aspects of the distributions.

	Linux kernel	Default file system	Other major file systems supported	Architectural support	Default online update tool	Default package management/ software installation tool
aLinux	2.6.12	user determined	ext2, ext3, ReiserFS, Reiser4	x86, AMD64	none	RPM
ALT Linux	2.6.12	user determined	ext2, ext3, ReiserFS, Reiser4, JFS, XFS	x86	APT	RPM
Annvix	2.4.32	user determined	ext2, ext3, ReiserFS, XFS	x86, AMD64	urpmi	RPM
Arch Linux	2.6.16	ext3	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, Reiser4, XFS	x86	Pacman	Pacman
Ark Linux	2.6.17-rc5	ext3	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	x86	APT and Kynaptic	RPM and APT
Arudius	2.6.13	ext3	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	x86	Slackware Pkgtools	TGZ
Asianux	2.6.9	ext3	ReiserFS, XFS	x86, IA-64	mlupdater (with 90-day-free trial)	RPM
Aurox	2.6.9	ext3	ext2, ReiserFS	x86	yum	RPM, yum
CentOS	2.6.9	ext3	ext2, ReiserFS, JFS, XFS* (*) Denotes CentOSPlus Repo	x86, AMD64, IA-64, S/390, Alpha	yum, up2date	RPM,yum
Damn Small Linux	2.4.31	ext3	ext2	x86	myDSL	dpkg and APT
DARKSTAR Linux	2.4.26	ReiserFS, ext3/ext2	JFS, XFS	x86	?	?
Debian	2.6.8	ext3	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	x86, 68k, Alpha, ARM, IA-64, MIPS, PA-RISC, PPC, SPARC, S/390	APT	dpkg, Synaptic, and APT
DeLi Linux	2.4.32	ext3/ext2	?	x86	none	installpkg, upgradepkg, ports tree
DeMuDi	2.6.12	ext3	JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	x86	Synaptic, APT	Synaptic, dpkg, APT
dyne:bolic	2.6	SquashFS, ext3	ReiserFS	x86	none	none
Fedora Core	2.6.16	ext3	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	x86, AMD64, PPC	up2date, yum, APT (limited)	RPM, yum
Finnix	2.6.16	SquashFS	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	x86, PPC	APT	dpkg, Synaptic, and APT
Frugalware	2.6.16	user determined	ext2, ext3, ReiserFS	x86, AMD64	Pacman	Pacman
Gentoo Linux	2.6.16.14	user determined	ext2, ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	x86, Alpha, AMD64, ARM, IA-64, MIPS, PA-RISC, PPC, PPC64, SPARC, SPARC64, SuperH, S/390	emerge	Portage
GoboLinux	2.6.11.9	ReiserFS	ext2, ext3, JFS, XFS	x86	Manager	Compile
ImpiLinux	2.6.11.7	?	?	?	?	?
Kanotix	2.6.14.5	user determined	ext3, ReiserFS, JFS	x86, AMD64	APT	dpkg and APT
Knoppix	2.6.12.4	XFS	ext2, ReiserFS, XFS	x86	APT	dpkg and APT
Kurumin Linux	2.6.14	ReiserFS	ext2, ext3	x86	APT	dpkg, APT, Synaptic, KPackage
Linspire	2.6.10	ReiserFS	ext2, ext3, JFS, Reiser4, XFS	x86	CNR "click and run" (apt-get)	CNR "click and run" (apt-get)
Lunar Linux	2.6.12	user determined	ext2, ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	x86	lin	lin
Lycoris Desktop/LX	2.4.27	ext3	?	x86	Update Wizard	RPM/Software Installer
Mandriva Linux	2.6.11.6	ext3	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	x86, AMD64, PPC	urpmi	RpmDrake
MEPIS	2.6.10	ReiserFS/ext3	ext2, JFS, XFS	x86	APT	dpkg and APT
NimbleX	2.6.11	SquashFS	FAT32, ext2, ext3, XFS, ReiserFS, Reiser4	x86	none	tgz
PCLinuxOS	2.6.11	ext3	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	x86	APT/Synaptic	RPM
PLD Linux Distribution	2.6.11.10	ext3/ext2/XFS	JFS, ReiserFS	x86, Alpha, AMD64, PPC, SPARC, SPARC64	Poldek	Poldek, RPM
Puppy Linux	2.4.29	ext2	?	?	?	?
Red Flag Linux	2.6.9	ext3	JFS, ReiserFS	x86, IA-64	Red Flag Installer System	RPM
Rxart Desktop	2.6.11	ext3	ext2	x86, IA-64	APT, Red de Rxart, Club de Rxart	APT
Scientific Linux	2.6.9	ext3	ext2, XFS	x86, IA-64	APT/YUM	RPM
Slackware	2.6.13	ReiserFS, ext3/ext2	JFS, XFS	x86, IA-64, S/390	Swaret, Slapt-get, many other not official	installpkg and upgradepkg
Source Mage GNU/Linux	2.6.13.1	ext2	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	x86, AMD64, PPC	Sorcery Package Manager	Sorcery Package Manager
SUSE Linux	2.6.16	ReiserFS	ext2, ext3, JFS, Reiser4, XFS	x86, AMD64, IA-64, PPC, S/390	YaST2	RPM, YaST
Symphony OS	?	ReiserFS	?	x86	APT	APT, OneClick
Ubuntu Kubuntu Edubuntu Xubuntu	2.6.15.6	ext3	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	x86, AMD64, PA-RISC, IA64, PPC, SPARC	Ubuntu Update Manager (APT)	Synaptic Package Manager (Adept for Kubuntu)
Ultima Linux	2.4.31	ext3, ReiserFS	ext2, ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	x86	ulupdate	See Slackware
UTUTO	2.6.15	ext3, ReiserFS	ext2, JFS, Reiser4, XFS	x86, AMD64, IA-64	UTUTO Package Manager	UTUTO Package Manager
Vector Linux	2.6.13	ReiserFS, ext3/ext2	JFS, XFS	x86	slapt-get, gslapt	slapt-get, installpkg
Xandros Desktop OS	2.6.9	ReiserFS	ext2, ext3, JFS, XFS,	x86	Xandros Networks (APT)	Xandros Networks (APT)
	Linux kernel	Default file system	Other major file systems supported	Architectural support	Default online update tool	Default package management/ software installation tool

Features

Information on features in the distributions.

	Packages	GUI installation procedure	Default file manager	Default desktop environment	Default window manager	Default GUI styling	Default office suite
aLinux	about 1200	No	Konqueror	KDE	kwin	?	KOffice
ALT Linux	8381 (as of Compact 3.0)	Yes	Konqueror	KDE	kwin	Plastik	OpenOffice.org
Arch	about 5700	Yes	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
Ark Linux	3000 (core) + 500 (contrib)	Yes	Konqueror	KDE	kwin	Selectable (default Plastik)	OpenOffice.org (KOffice available)
Arudius	over 150 security tools	No	Rox	Fluxbox	Fluxbox	Selectable (default MAC OS X)	none
Asianux	?	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	?	none (OpenOffice.org available)
Aurox	about 3000	Yes	Nautilus*	GNOME	*Metacity	Bluecurve theme	none (all optional)
CentOS	?	Yes	Nautilus*	GNOME	*Metacity	Bluecurve theme	OpenOffice.org
Damn Small	?	No	emelFM	?	Fluxbox	?	none (all optional)
DARKSTAR	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Debian	about 18000	Yes^[1]	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
DeLi Linux	about 150	No	Midnight Commander,XPlorer	none	IceWM	?	Siag Office
DeMuDi	about 875	Yes	Nautilus*	GNOME	*Metacity	DeMuDi	none
dyne:bolic	?	Yes	Xfe	GNUStep	WindowMaker	Dynebolic	OpenOffice.org (optional)
Edubuntu	Uses Ubuntu's repositories	Yes^[2]	Nautilus*	GNOME	*Metacity	Human	OpenOffice.org
Fedora Core	5581^[3]	Yes	Nautilus*	GNOME	*Metacity	ClearLooks theme for GNOME Bluecurve theme for KDE	OpenOffice.org (KOffice & GNOME Office optional).
Finnix	about 350	No	none (all optional)	none	none	none	none
Frugalware	about 3000	Yes	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
Gentoo	about 12000	Yes^[4]	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
	Packages	GUI installation procedure	Default file manager	Default desktop environment	Default window manager	Default GUI styling	Default office suite
GoboLinux	about 1500	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Plastik theme	OpenOffice.org
ImpiLinux	?	No	?	KDE	*kwin	?	OpenOffice.org
Kanotix	CD: about 1000	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Plastik	KOffice
Knoppix	CD: about 1000 DVD: about 2600	No	none (all optional)	KDE	*kwin	Keramik	OpenOffice.org/KOffice/GNOME Office
Kubuntu	Uses Ubuntu's Repositories	Yes^[2]	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Lipstik Theme	OpenOffice.org
Kurumin	?	Yes	Konqueror	KDE	*kwin	Plastik	OpenOffice.org
Linspire	over 2200	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Linspire's	OpenOffice.org/KOffice/GNOME Office
Lunar	2546 (as of June 9, 2006)	Yes^[1]	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
Lycoris Desktop/LX	?	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Lycoris' (Windows-esque).	KOffice
Mandriva	10689^[5]	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Mandrakegalaxy theme	OpenOffice.org
MEPIS	?	Yes^[6]	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Plastik theme	OpenOffice.org
NimbleX	about 500	No	Konqueror	KDE	kwin	Plastik	KOffice
PCLinuxOS	4321 (Sept. 2005)	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	PCLinuxOS custom theme	KOffice
PLD Linux Distribution	?	No	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	KOffice
Puppy	300+	Yes	ROX-Filer	none	JWM	?	AbiWord
	Packages	GUI installation procedure	Default file manager	Default desktop environment	Default window manager	Default GUI styling	Default office suite
Red Flag	?	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Red Flag (Windows XP-like)	OpenOffice.org
Rxart	about 5000(Pixart package)	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Rxart	OpenOffice.org/KOffice/GNOME Office
Scientific	?	Yes	Nautilus*	GNOME	*Metacity	Bluecurve theme	OpenOffice.org
Slackware	?	Yes^[1]	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
Source Mage	4235 (2005-08-11)	Yes	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
SUSE	4000	Yes	Nautilus, Konqueror	GNOME, KDE	Metacity, kwin	SuSE Theme	OpenOffice.org/KOffice/GNOME Office
Symphony OS	?	Yes	ROX-filer	Mezzo	FVWM	?	?
Ubuntu	4358 by default^[7], maximally about 19,500	Yes^[2]	Nautilus*	GNOME	*Metacity	Human theme	OpenOffice.org
Ultima	?	Yes	Konqueror (optional)	KDE (and others, all optional)	Enlightenment (and others, all optional)	None (all optional)	OpenOffice.org, KOffice, AbiWord (all optional)
UTUTO	about 45000 (optimized by architecture)	Yes^[1]	Nautilus	GNOME (and others)	Metacity	UTUTO-Theme-Blue	OpenOffice.org, GNOME Office
Vector Linux	?	Yes	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
Xandros Desktop OS	?	Yes	Xandros File Manager	KDE	*kwin	Xandros'	OpenOffice.org/KOffice
Xubuntu	Uses Ubuntu's repositories	Yes^[2]	Thunar*	Xfce	*Xfwm	ClearLooks	GNOME Office
	Packages	GUI installation procedure?	Default file manager	Default desktop environment	Default window manager	Default GUI styling	Default office suite

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Ncurses-based installation GUI.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d A GTK+/QT installer is available on the Desktop CD. (LiveCD)
^ Data for Fedora Core 5; 2207 packages in Core, 3374 in Extras
^ Can be installed graphically (GTK+ and ncurses), but also by command line (install cd, livecd (including others such as Knoppix), netboot and from distributions).
^ According to History of Mandrakelinux releases.
^ Installs from within a booted live CD session.
^ By default main and restricted repositories are enabled. Universe and multiverse repositories can be added.

Architecture support

Distribution	68k	alpha	amd64	arm	hppa	ia64	mips	ppc	ppc64	s390	sparc32	sparc64	x86
Archlinux			Yes										Yes
Slackware										Yes			Yes
Debian	Yes	Yes	Partial	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes	Yes		Yes
Fedora Core			Yes					Yes					Yes
Gentoo		Yes	Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes
Mandriva Linux Limited Edition			Yes										Yes
Rxart			Yes		Yes	Yes		Yes			Partial	Partial	Yes
Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Edubuntu and Xubuntu			Yes		Partial	Partial		Yes			Partial	Partial	Yes
SuSE			Yes					Yes					Yes

Security features

	AppArmor	BGCC[1]	Exec Shield	GrSecurity	Pax	SELinux	Systrace
CentOS			Yes		No	Yes
Fedora Core			Yes		No	Yes
Hardened Debian
Hardened Gentoo		Yes	No	Optional	Yes	Optional	Optional
RHEL			Yes		No	Yes
openSUSE	Yes					No
SUSE	Yes					No

External links

DistroWatch.com - Compares all significant Linux distributions in detail, and was a source for some information shown here.
LWN.net Linux Distribution List - A comprehensive list of hundreds of distributions, including historical ones.

[ncurses-install-1] Ncurses-based installation GUI.

[ubiquity-2] A GTK+/QT installer is available on the Desktop CD. (LiveCD)

[3] Data for Fedora Core 5; 2207 packages in Core, 3374 in Extras

[Gentoo_Install-4] Can be installed graphically (GTK+ and ncurses), but also by command line (install cd, livecd (including others such as Knoppix), netboot and from distributions).

[5] According to History of Mandrakelinux releases.

[6] Installs from within a booted live CD session.

[7] By default main and restricted repositories are enabled. Universe and multiverse repositories can be added.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

Revision as of 20:26, 27 June 2006 edit Samsara (talk \| contribs) 27,603 edits m →‎Security features: not the correct article ← Previous edit		Revision as of 19:35, 1 July 2006 edit undo Nuwewsco (talk \| contribs) 1,265 edits m link correction Next edit →
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	:''Ways to explore different Linux distributions are discussed in [[Linux distribution#Choosing a Linux distribution]].''		:''Ways to explore different Linux distributions are discussed in [[Linux distribution#Choosing a Linux distribution \| Linux distribution]].''

	The many available [[Linux distribution\|Linux distributions]] differ for a range of reasons including technical, organizational, and philosophical.		The many available [[Linux distribution\|Linux distributions]] differ for a range of reasons including technical, organizational, and philosophical.