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 |  | |  | Will Linux ever get more than 10 percent share in the market for desktop computer operating systems? | | | * 5388 responses | | | Yes
 74%
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26%
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60 seconds. Live Votes
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THE KERNEL IS the inner core of an operating system. It’s there to control the execution of processes, provide a file system, manage the memory and permit the software to communicate with the hardware. The first Linux kernel was written by then-college student Torvalds back in 1991. It’s gotten a lot better in eight years. This new one contains a lot of blood, sweat and tears from a lot of dedicated people, working under the open-software setup that allows anyone to modify the software any way he or she likes as long as the result is available to anyone else to use. But it’s still Mr. Torvalds who tests everything and proclaims it worthy of being included in his namesake operating system.
So, what’s new in kernel 2.2.0? Lots!
 Improved hardware architecture support: The kernel now fully supports the current array of x86, ALPHA, PowerPC, m68K (older Macintosh & Amiga, etc.), SPARC and Ultra processors. It will even completely support the old PS/2 Microchannel bus and the hot new SGI Visual Workstation. Most important, Linux 2.2 improves multi-processor computing to a new degree. That means, if your workstation has two or more (up to 30) processor chips, Linux wants to be your ultimate solution.
Better CD-ROM and sound support: The drivers have been completely rewritten.
Graphics standardization: A new “frame-buffer console” driver provides a uniform graphical subsystem across all Linux ports. Best of all, if provides a cute Linux penguin (his name is Tux) logo upon boot-up.
File system support: How about Amiga, Macintosh, NTFS, FAT32, ROM, OS/2, CODA and UFS?
Improved networking: There’s a new networking core, new tunneling code, new firewalling and routing systems. In addition, you’ll find new and improved file and printer sharing protocols. There’s even a driver that allows you to share whole disk images over a network.
Plus: There are literally hundreds of little patches, all over the place, that make 2.2 a better OS.
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Should you upgrade? That’s really up to you. I’ve been told a number of times to wait and avoid any version “x.x.0” of any operating system. Another rule of thumb is that if your computer is not a production machine (that means if it’s your personal machine, or your wife’s, or your kids’) go ahead and try it. I expect the major commercial releases (Red Hat, Caldera, SuSe, Debian, Slackware etc.) to include the 2.2 kernel in their new releases in upcoming weeks.
Personally, I can’t wait.
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