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What Is Linux: An Overview of the Linux Operating System - The Business of Linux

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The Business of Linux

In 2008, IDC analyst Al Gillen cited a nearly 24 percent annual growth rate for the Linux industry, which puts a $21 billion 2007 technology at $49 billion in 2011. The companies involved in Linux include industry leaders such as IBM, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle, Intel, Hitachi, NEC, and Novell. All have all invested time, talent, and resources to bettering Linux on their own and through the Linux Foundation.

If Linux is free of cost, how does a Linux company generate revenue?

One example of how a Linux business works: while nearly all of a Linux distribution's code is available for free download, the time and cost involved in actually downloading all of that code and putting it together in a cohesive and functional manner is significantly high.

To avoid the timesink and the learning curve required to accomplish such a task, users can simply pay a distribution maker for the convenience of not having to build a free Linux from scratch. Businesses and individual users benefit from the distributors' expertise in putting all of the free Linux code into an easy-to-use set of packages.

Another source of revenue for companies is ongoing commercial support for Linux. In fact, some distributions will allow users to download their software free of charge and build their entire revenue model on a services and support business plan.

Linux is a platform that can generate revenue, all while still being free. Customers gain the knowledge that they are paying directly for support and convenience, and will always have a choice of which Linux systems will work for them best.

Getting Started

For general information on Linux, visit http://www.linux.com.

For video tutorials and information, visit http://video.linuxfoundation.org

For knowledge and info on developing for Linux, check out the Linux Developer Network at http://ldn.linuxfoundation.org

To learn more about the business of Linux and the Linux Foundation, stop by http://linuxfoundation.org.

If you are interested in attending live events on Linux and related technologies, visit http://events.linuxfoundation.org.



 

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  • RAJU.R.K Said:

    dis is a very important to made up use the people and hence i think its a superb operating system of a computer........ Thank u......

  • AlagZ Said:

    Cloud computing is nothing but storing the data in a central pool where multiple users can store and retrieve their data through the internet. This system is useful to store confidential data and also to reduce the space used in the personal system .

  • Abhishek Said:

    Hi I am confused for totaly for linux. and what is future of linux

  • chris adkins Said:

    ask lil b, lil b is all knowing and is based as fuck and knows the based god, ask him...

  • KOBI Said:

    LINUX IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Roberto Pizano Said:

    Linux may be good but, is not so easy to understand at the beginning, be honest is not a piece of cake.

  • Junior. Ombi Said:

    I want to know the procedures to install ,Configure and Use it

  • ammrin Said:

    cloud computing doesn't relate to the content published above but fr the sake of knowledge , it is a service provided 2 u through internet based on pay as u go paradigm

  • Don 1 Said:

    Hmmmm dis people wll kill as wth their Technology oo

  • Zoix Said:

    Zoix: It is nice that you include examples on where to use Linux OS.

  • johnny Said:

    Will have to try this Linux out, sounds like you have more control of your device or PC, maybe I could get to enjoy PCs again, so fed up with that other system.

  • deenachandra kshetri Said:

    ITZ 2 SHOT.................. I WAN MORE DETAILS

  • supun sudarsha batuwaththa Said:

    boruwadA GANDA APA

  • me Said:

    "In THE simplest terms" it is an operating system kernel, the most important component of an OS. But it isn't a whole operating system yet.

  • amit Said:

    Its a nice operating system to work on....

  • HITESH BANASURE Said:

    Excellent pltform for network......

  • Darshan Ram Said:

    The problem with linux is they have too many version unlike windows.They also need to brighten up by advertising or something.Create something that windows or mac doesnt have and for sure it will be a sucess.

  • aditi singh Said:

    whats the difference between linux and unix..?

  • Bazza Said:

    Is Linux an operating system? I thought it is the KERNEL.

  • Aizenmyou Said:

    @Bazza Stallman likes to confuse people. Linux is by definition the operating system layer. GNU's programs are the userland or application layer.

  • Deepak Bawa Said:

    Ubuntu E-mail this Term A community-developed Linux-based operating system that can be used on desktops, laptops and servers. The operating system includes a variety of applications including those for word processing, e-mail applications, Web server software and also programming tools. Ubuntu is free of charge, including enterprise releases and security updates. It also comes with full commercial support from Canonical. Ubuntu is available in both a desktop and server edition. here's the link http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/7739177/

  • Akanksha Kalla Said:

    I found some more relevant questions with their appropriate answers on linux. http://blog.oureducation.in/linux-os/ this site is really helpful. I suggest you all to just check this site once.

  • lori38 Said:

    First of all I have a Samsung Tablet 8.1 and alot of applications that I'd like to download just wont happen. I click on the "download" button, but when I go to open the app./file it tells me "cannot open file". My first question is WHY? Why will it not open, cause i know it downloaded cause when I go into my account before the download it shows me my data usage and after the download is complete I recheck my data usage and its exactly the amount of the app. more. Second ques. I went to download a tool bar from swagbucks and at the top of the page it says "wont work on Linux". What does this mean? I've tried downoading toolbars when I first got my tablet but they just never took. I never could figure out why. Maybe someone out there can help me with my dilema. Plz and Tk U.

  • abzgal'z Said:

    I want more about LINUX for my report. about their capacity, and how many application can apply or install... thank you!

  • Ratiranjan nayak Said:

    LInux is very good . I like linux very much............ I want to know much more about u.......................

  • LEIGH BARTON Said:

    LINUX is what an operating system is supposed to be, bootable from a live operating system disk, easily installed, the newer versions have graphical user interfaces that make them manageable for unaccustomed users like me, that were taught on basic dos systems. The inclusion of the technically minded in the development approach may hopefully lead to the standardization of operating system function to permit normal people the opportunity to improve the potential of their own computers, and by extension the capability of personal computers in general, unlike Windows, which seems bent on making it impossible for even the best technicians to keep the boat-anchors from sinking. I've already used the live operating system disk to repair failed windows systems for people that would otherwise not have been able to afford the necessary technical support. Windows keeps failing more frequently, and getting progressively more expensive to service. LINUX seems to be the TIMEX of operating systems, ("takes a licking and keeps on ticking") and seems to be the next step in the chain if people like me are going to be able to keep using computers without a million dollar bankroll. It's a premium technical asset, and it seems a lot of catching-up is on my own plate in order to learn how to use it properly. To the creators of LINUX, well done, that's one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind. compliments.

  • granpa Said:

    Dear leight, will you be so kind and explaine ,,I have OS windows 7 can i dowloded OS. Linux and whot I can got? Thanks. Trgards.Andrew

  • TechTr Said:

    Since when linux is a OS? even though this is for newbies but you should not mislead people. Linux is only the kernel, the other things which makes up the OS is not linux!

  • durjan rathore barmer Said:

    explain the concept of linux its components ?

  • haddey.hms Said:

    oh my god am totally confused..,1 wat z the purposes of linux

  • Aizenmyou Said:

    As I said above, Stallman likes to confuse people. Linux is by definition the operating system layer. GNU's programs are the userland or application layer. Anyone who is not a newb knows this. (People with actual computer science degrees)

  • fast1 Said:

    Linux is great...I've just bought a 10inch tablet running Linux. 64bit. SW

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