MuLinux: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:34, 21 August 2008

Revision as of 13:26, 10 November 2008

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'''muLinux''' is an [[Italy|Italian]], [[English language|English]]-language [[Mini_LinuxMini Linux|tiny]] [[Linux]] distribution maintained by mathematics and physics professor Michele Andreoli, meant to allow very old and obsolete computers ([[80386]], [[80486]] and [[Pentium Pro]] hardware dating from between 1986 through 1998) to be used as basic intranet/Internet servers or text-based workstations with a [[UNIX]]-[[Unix-like|like]] [[operating system]]. It was also designed for quickly turning any 80386 or later computer into a temporary, powerful Linux machine, along with system repair, education, [[forensic analysis]] and what the developer called ''proselytizing''. In 2004 reviewer Paul Zimmer wrote, "Although there are several other single-floppy Linux distributions, none can match muLinux's extensive and unique combination of useful features."<ref name="Zimmer">Zimmer, Paul, ''[http://www.linfo.org/mulinux.html muLinux: A Brief Introduction]'', The Linux Information Project, 2004, retrieved 16 August 2008</ref>

==Name==

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Owing to its minimalist design muLinux is a single-user OS, so all operations are performed by the [[root user]]. It uses the [[ext2]] Linux native file system (rather than the slower [[Minix]] file system seen in other single-floppy takes on Linux).<ref name="Zimmer"/> The OS is robust when used for text-based tasks along with basic file, light web page or email serving. It can also be adapted as a very tiny, stand-alone [[embedded system]].<ref>''ACM Indexed scientific database'' (abstract): "Linux Journal" Volume 2000, Issue 75es ''[http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=349542 Using Linux in Embedded and Real-Time Systems]'', July 2000, retrieved 16 August 2008</ref>

Historically, muLinux was sometimes installed by Windows users who wanted to learn about the commands and configuration of a [[UNIX]]-like [[operating system]] before taking the step of installing a full [[Linux]] distribution or [[BSD]] release, although on later computers this could easily be done with any one of many [[live CD]] distributions. Since the distribution has always been wholly targeted at old hardware and meant to have a tiny footprint, Andreoli warned muLinux should ''not'' be used to ''evaluate'' Linux or open source software.<ref name="Zimmer"/> The OS comes with a lean and pithy [[Online help|online help]] system which also happens to be an introduction to UNIX, written in an English which the developer has called "fractured."<ref name="mu"/> The OS has "cheery dialogues" and a friendly sense of humour sprinkled throughout.<ref name="Saunders"/>

==System requirements==

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{{reflist}}

== External linklinks==

* [http://mulinux.sunsite.dk/ muLinux official web page]

{{Linux}}