Does SCO own Linux?.
What is Linux?
Linux is a Unix-like operating system originally
developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991. To get the whole story, see our
page devoted entirely to this question.
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Where can I get Linux?
There are literally hundreds of places you
can get Linux because there are hundreds of "versions" or distributions
of Linux. If you think you might want Linux because you're considering
alternatives to Microsoft Windows or Macintosh OS for everyday computer
use, you may want to check out a version of Linux called 'Knoppix', which
will boot from your CD drive and does not need to be installed. If you're
interested in Linux for other reasons, we invite you to look at our
list of Linux distributions. You'll likely find
what you're looking for there.
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What is a Linux distribution?
A Linux "distribution" is version of
the Linux operating system made especially by a company, organization
or individual. The one thing they all have in common is that they
use the Linux kernel. From there on, each developer will add its own
programs, tools and other applications. Some are dedicated to specific
uses while others are intended for the general public. Again, you'll
find more information at our Linux distributions page.
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Which Linux distribution do you recommend?
Linux Online tries to be impartial, particularly
when it comes to for-profit, commercial distributions. We really don't recommend
any one distribution over others. Also, there are so many factors to take
into account when choosing a distribution that it would be impossible
to make recommendations in general.
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Can we have permission to use the Linux penguin logo?
Larry Ewing is the creator of the Linux
penguin, Tux. Larry was kind enough to give free license to use it when
he created it provided you give the correct attributions. If you're
in doubt, please have a look at his website for more information.
http://www.isc.tamu.edu/~lewing/linux/
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Can you please forward this email/letter/gift/etc to Linus Torvalds?
Linus Torvalds does not work here at Linux Online so we don't handle
any of Linus' correspondence. At present, he is working full-time on
the kernel for the Open Source Development Labs. Please contact them
if you need to get in touch with Linus or you wish to send him something.
http://www.osdl.org/about_osdl/contact_osdl.html
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Can you please send me Linux CDs?
Linux Online is a general information site about Linux. It is not a
retailer of CDs, therefore we can't send you commercial versions
of Linux. As far as non-commercial versions go, we do not have the staff
and means to handle the enormous amount of potential requests for
CDs. We do provide a list of retailers
who can send you CDs of Linux distributions - some at very low cost.
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Where can I find a driver for my hardware?
As Linux grows in popularity, it also gains support for a wider range of
hardware. The Linux kernel now supports and enormous amount of hardware and most
major Linux distribution incorporate this support into their products.
You can also get hardware support by downloading, compiling and installing
the latest version of the Linux kernel. In some cases, hardware manufacturers
want to provide Linux support without incorporating their drivers into the
kernel, so they provide separate drivers. If you're looking for these
it's best to consult the manufacturer's website or send them an inquiry
by email. Then there are some hardware manufacturers who don't support
Linux, so no drivers are available. If you're already running Linux,
it's best to check to see if new hardware you want to purchase is supported.
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Can I run applications for MS Windows on Linux?
The short answer to this is: no, not automatically and not directly. That is
to say, Microsoft Windows and Linux applications cannot run the same applications
because they are not designed in the same way. However, there are some
ways to run programs for Microsoft Windows on Linux using emulators and
other means. If you need/want to run an application designed for Microsoft Windows on Linux, you might want to check out the following applications:
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What does GNU/Linux refer to?
GNU/Linux is the name Richard Stallman, founder
of the Free Software Foundation and the GNU project, and its supporters
prefer over just Linux. They cite the fact that Linux could
not have come into being without tools from the GNU project. Though this
is true, use and custom has favored just Linux over GNU/Linux
in the public consciousness. This website's use of the term Linux in
no way tries to minimize the contributions of the Free Software Foundation.
We feel that it's easier for people to identify the operating system by that
simpler name and in the end, that helps in its adoption.
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Is Linux a company?
There is no company called Linux. Linux is an operating system. There
are many companies that develop Linux products and provide services
based on Linux, but not one called Linux who "controls" the operating
system.
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Can I buy stock in Linux?
As we mentioned in the previous answer, there is
no company called "Linux", so there can't be any stock in a non-existent
company. However, several companies are publicly traded who do provide
Linux products and services. Here are a few that directly produce the
Linux operating system.
- Novell (Symbol: NOVL)
- Red Hat (Symbol: RHAT)
Companies like IBM and Hewlett-Packard have also put tremendous support behind
Linux and they are publicly traded.
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Is Linux Online the official Linux site?
No, we aren't the official Linux website. We are one of many websites providing Linux information. Michael McLagan, an early Linux enthusiast and kernel contributor, registered Linux.org and founded the website in 1994, making us one of the first
Linux sites. Because both Linux.org and Linux.com are fortunate enough to have these top level domains, we are often considered "official" websites, but the truth is that there is no official site. This is because, unlike proprietary
operating systems, there is no "official" Linux product and therefore no official
site to represent it. We consider this very important to point out because we
often receive mail offering us partnerships, "strategic relationships" and the like and others that ask us to grant them franchises or permission to market Linux
products. We can only grant or accept offers that have to do with us specifically. This also gets back to the question: Is Linux a company?
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Can I be the official Linux distributor in X country/state/etc.?
Please see Is Linux a company? and Is Linux Online the official Linux site?
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I have an idea to improve Linux. Can you pass it along to the appropriate person?
If we can find the appropriate person, we'll try to tell you who it is so you can send it yourself. Sometimes this can be very
difficult. Please keep in mind that there are thousands of people working on
Linux. Some of them work on the Linux kernel and others work for distribution
companies. Others work on non-profit distributions in their spare time
or their own home-brew distributions as a hobby. If you have used a specific
distribution and have a suggestion, it's best to get in touch with the
company or project maintainer.
If you have a idea for a technical improvement in the kernel,
it's best to find a mirror of the Linux kernel mailing list and
search (using Google, for example) the
lists for a person who might be receptive to your idea. Ideas for general
improvements for user interfaces and specific programs that run under Linux
need to go to the maintainers of those projects.
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I have found a bug in Linux? What should I do?
The answer to the question: I have an idea to improve Linux... will also answer this question.
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Who is SCO?
SCO or officially The SCO Group is the latest incarnation of what
was founded as Caldera, formerly a Linux distribution company.
In 2000, Caldera bought the Unix division of a company known as the
Santa Cruz Operation (or SCO) and apparently acquired some rights to
distribute the Unix operating system. New management took over at
Caldera in 2002 and in early 2003, members of this new management
team decided to abandon development of their Linux distribution and
in a remarkable about-face, filed suit against IBM alleging that the
computing giant had put Unix technology, which it claims it controls,
into the Linux kernel in violation of contractual obligations. Caldera
shortly after the suit was filed, officially changed their name to
The SCO Group and is popularly known as SCO. This
has since blown up into a huge controversy. For more information, see
our page dedicated to the SCO case.
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Does SCO own Linux?
They would like you to believe that they do. They will even sell you a Linux
license under the threat that if you don't, they could sue you. However,
we believe this is a lot like a paternity suit, just a bit more complicated.
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Can I have both Windows and Linux on my
computer?
Yes, you can install both operating systems on
your computer. This is known as dual-booting. It's important to
point out that only one operating system boots at a time, so
when you turn on your computer, you make the choice of running Linux
or Windows during that session. If you're interested in running
Windows programs under Linux, you should see the section: Can I run applications for MS Windows on Linux?
If you're going to have this kind of a system, it's important that
you install the Windows operating system first in the first partition
of your hard disk. You can then install Linux and along with it a
program known as a bootloader (nowadays, the most popular are
LILO and GRUB) which allows you to choose your operating system. The
Linux installation process, in most circumstances, leaves your Windows
partition alone during the install. Installing Windows, however, will
destroy the information left by bootloaders and so should never be
installed second. Due to Microsoft's monopoly on operating systems,
most computers have Windows on them before anyone contemplates
installing Linux, so you may have to repartition your hard disk - that
is, divide what may be a hard disk with only one large partition
(known as C: in the Windows world) into two or more different
partitions so that Linux can be installed and kept separate from
Windows. Third party tools such as Partition Magic generally work well
for this purpose. After the re-partitioning, you're free to install
Linux.
Due to the increasing availability and reliability of virtualization
technologies, there are also methods to run versions of Microsoft Windows in
"virtual machines" inside Linux. One can also run versions of Linux inside
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