MuLinux: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:48, 14 March 2009

Revision as of 20:00, 14 March 2009

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{{notability|Products}}

{{Infobox OS

| name = muLinux

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| kernel_type = [[Monolithic kernel]]

| ui = [[Unix shell]] and [[fvwm95]]

| license = Various[[GPL]] and other

| working_state = DiscontinuedFrozen

| supported_platforms = [[IAx86 architecture|x86-32]] and later

}}

'''muLinux''' is an [[Italy|Italian]], [[English language|English]]-language [[Mini 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''.{{fact}} In 2004 reviewer Paul Zimmer{{fact}} 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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muLinux is based on the Linux 2.0.36 kernel.<ref name="Saunders">Saunders, Mike, "[http://www.linuxformat.co.uk/pdfs/LXF68.round.pdf Roundup: MiniDistros]", ''Linux Format'', July 2005, retrieved 16 August 2008</ref> Development was frozen in 2004 at version 14r0, with some of the code and packages taken from software releases going back to 1998 (owing only to their smaller sizes). An experimental, unstable version called Lepton had the 2.4 kernel.

muLinux can be both booted or installed to a hard drive on an obsolete machine from [[floppy disk]]s. A highly functional UNIX-like, network-enabled server with a [[Unix shell]] can be had from but one floppy disk.{{fact}} Another floppy disk will add workstation functionality and a legacy [[X Window]] [[VGA]] [[GUI]] comes with a third floppy. One reviewer noted, "It's not gorgeous, but the whole X subsystem fits onto a single floppy. Egad."<ref name="Saunders"/> muLinux can also be unpacked and installed by a self-executable archive, or extracted directly, onto an old [[DOS]] or [[Windows 9x]] ([[umsdos]]) partition without harming the current OS. If the machine has a floppy disk drive muLinux can also be run on an otherwise diskless computer and no [[CD ROM]] drive is needed.<ref name="Zimmer"/><ref name="Saunders"/>

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.{{fact}} 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{{fact}}, 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]] 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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* [http://mulinux.sunsite.dk/ muLinux official web page]

{{Linux distributions}}

[[Category:Mini Linux distributions| ]]