Linux: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:47, 19 January 2010

Revision as of 17:33, 22 January 2010

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There are several technology websites with a Linux focus. Print [[magazine]]s on Linux often include [[cover disk]]s including software or even complete Linux distributions.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.linuxformat.co.uk/dvd/ | title=Linux Format DVD contents | author=[[Linux Format]] | accessdate=2008-01-17 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.linux-magazine.com/resources/current_issue | title=Current Issue | author=[[Linux Magazine|linux-magazine.com]] | accessdate=2008-01-17 }}</ref>

Although [[Linux distributions]] are generally available without charge, several large corporations sell, support, and contribute to the development of the components of the system and of [[free software]]. TheseAnalysis includeof [[Dell]],Linux [[IBM]],showed [[Hewlett-Packard|HP]],75 [[Oraclepercent Corporation|Oracle]],of [[SunLinux Microsystems]],code [[Novell]],comes [[Nokia]].from Aprogrammers numberworking offor corporations, notablyleaving [[Redabout Hat]]18 percent to the traditional, haveopen builtsource theircommunity<ref>{{cite entireweb business| aroundurl=http://apcmag.com/linux-now-75-corporate.htm | title=75% of Linux distributions.code now written by paid developers

| author=[[APC]] | accessdate=2010-01-22 }}</ref>. These include [[Dell]], [[IBM]], [[Hewlett-Packard|HP]], [[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]], [[Sun Microsystems]], [[Novell]], [[Nokia]]. A number of corporations, notably [[Red Hat]], have built their entire business around Linux distributions.

The [[free software licenses]], on which the various software packages of a distribution built on the Linux kernel are based, explicitly accommodate and encourage commercialization; the relationship between a Linux distribution as a whole and individual vendors may be seen as [[symbiosis|symbiotic]]. One common business model of commercial suppliers is charging for support, especially for business users. A number of companies also offer a specialized business version of their distribution, which adds proprietary support packages and tools to administer higher numbers of installations or to simplify administrative tasks. Another business model is to give away the software in order to sell hardware.