Linux range of use: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:49, 20 October 2013

Revision as of 08:53, 20 October 2013

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[[File:Linux kernel ubiquity.svg|thumb|400px|The [[Linux kernel]] is ubiquitously in use on very different hardware platforms in conjunction with an abundance of software packages to build a tailored [[operating system]]]]

[[Linux kernel]]-based operating systems have found wide adoption and a very far-reaching range of use. All the [[Free_and_open-source#Advantages_and_benefits_of_free_and_open-source_software|advantages and benefits of free and open-source software]] apply to the Linux kernel itself and also to most of the rest of the system software. Hence

[[Linux kernel]]-based operating systems have found wide adoption and a very far-reaching range of use.

==Linux on the desktop==

{{Main|Linux on the desktop}}

The common [[human interface device]]s (HIDs) available for [[desktop computer]]s, [[laptop]]s and similar devices determine the design of the (graphical) human-computer interface implemented into software. There are a couple of software packages to chose among, when building an accordingly designed [[graphical user interface]]. The generic input driver for the Linux kernel is [[evdev]], but here are several [[input method]]s implemented as middleware, i.e. on top and not as part of the Linux kernel.

==Linux as a gaming platform==

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* [[OpenStack]] – for [[infrastructure as a service]] (IaaS), the controller nodes run only on a Linux operating system

And of course all three types of [[virtualization]] (hardware-based, software-based and paravirtualization) have been implemented by a couple of projects, that run Linux, some being Linux exclusive. All the [[Free_and_open-source#Advantages_and_benefits_of_free_and_open-source_software|advantages and benefits of free and open-source software]] apply, so theThe Linux kernel itself has been customized, adapted and [[Hardening (computing)|hardened]] to various scenarios, especially to the operation of a [[bastion host]]. Some were already mainlined, some are being developed and maintained out-of-tree.

Linux kernel-based operating systems are still employed as routing servers on both, [[Server (computing)|server computers]] and also on [[Commodity computing|commodity hardware]], in cases where professional routing equipment such as [[Cisco Catalyst]], are either overkill or simply too expensive. Components of the Linux kernel, such as [[Netfilter]] or the [[Linux network scheduler]], in conjunction with the available free and open-source [[routing]] [[Daemon (computer software)|daemon]]s [[Bird Internet routing daemon|BIRD]], [[B.A.T.M.A.N.]], [[Quagga (software)|Quagga]] and [[XORP]] fulfill the task very well.