Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system. Linux is one of the most prominent examples of free software and open source development; its underlying source code can be freely modified, used, and redistributed by anyone.
Predominantly known for its use in servers, Linux has gained the support of corporations such as IBM, Sun Microsystems, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Novell. It is used as an operating system for a wide variety of computer hardware, including desktop computers, supercomputers, video game systems (PlayStation 2 & 3 for example) and embedded devices such as mobile phones and routers.
Some facts about Linux:
Linux is commonly used as an operating system for supercomputers. As of June 2007, out of the top 500 systems, 389 (77.8%) run Linux.
The Linux market is growing rapidly, and the revenue of servers, desktops, and packaged software running Linux is expected to exceed £20 billion this year.
Linux now holds 12.7% of the overall server market. This estimate was based on the number of Linux servers sold by various companies.
Proponents and analysts attribute the relative success of Linux to its security, reliability, low cost, and freedom from vendor lock-in. A fundamental understanding of Linux not only provides a good grounding in Unix it also encourages platform independent skills in general. Linux lays bare the system to its administrator and can only be managed well by those who understand the underlying principles. We aim to provide you with that understanding.
