On Wed, 2005-02-09 at 12:53 +1300, Lindsay wrote: > OK, there seems to be two OS's in Linux. Debian is one I think, what is > the other?
OK, confusion has settled in :) Linux is a kernel, not an operating system. There is but one true Linux kernel. It'll run on lots of different machine types, even different processors, but they are all the same kernel. The kernel has a version and the current version is 2.6.something I still use 2.4.26-1 as it is the most stable so far and is still widely supported. A "Linux Distribution" is generally a Linux installer and load of GNU utilities that make a usable installation. As the packaged toys get bigger, they start to include other packages like OpenOffice. Debian comes in all sizes, from a floppy to 10 CD sets. Because of its flexibility it is used widely as a basis for more customised installations. The way the Distributions install programs varies, and the files come packed as RPM's, DEB's or "tarballs". Suse and Red Hat are the major purveyors of RPM's, and a host of distributions based on Debian use DEB's. Some still prefer to build their own systems using tarballs. I can, but don't generally. There is another "kernel" that can run GNU and Linux programs called The Hurd. It is under continuous, serious development but seldom appears in the "real" world. With all that said, do you need to re-phrase the original question a bit? Vik :v) -- Vik Olliver <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Olliver Family
