Linux Supporters

Linux is mostly driven by its developer and user communities.

• Some are funded and distributed on a volunteer basis.– Debian– Linux User Groups (LUGs)– Internet Communities– Online Forums

• Some are maintained by community versions of commercial distributions.– Red Hat– Novell

Linux User Groups (LUGs)

• What do they do?

Local Associations that promote Linux and provide free demonstrations, training, technical support, and operating system installation instructions (mostly catered to new Linux users)

Where are LUGs located?

• Face-to-Face meetings with local groups

• Internet forums and communities, that don’t physically meet

Local LUGs

• VTLUGVirginia Tech Linux User Groupwww.vtlug.org

• LyLUGLynchburg Linux User Groupwww.lylug.com

Several large corporations have developed business models that involve

selling, supporting, and contributing:•Dell•Hewlett Packard•Sun Microsystems•Novell

Supporter: Hewlet Packard

• Linux is part of their main stream business.• Developers have been involved in kernal

development processes and contributed their expertise to the performance of the kernal releases.

Internet Communities

• Linux Information Projectwww.linfo.org

• Linux Questionswww.linuxquestions.com

• Linux Journalwww.linuxjournal.com

• www.LWN.net

Distribution Vendors

Offer a specialized business version of Linux with their applications, including support packages and tools for administration

Linux Distribution Vendors

Red Hat• Founded in 1995• Provides OS platforms along with applications,

management solutions, support, training, and consulting serviceswww.redhat.com

Linux Distribution Vendors

Novell• Founded in 1992• SUSE Linux• Originally a UNIX consulting group• Regularly releases software packages• www.novell.com/linux

Opposers to Linux

• The SCO GroupClaimed in 2007 that Novell performed Copyright infringement, but Judge ruled Novell owns copyrights

• Microsoft (Steve Ballmer, CEO)Pursuing alleged intellectual property claims against Linux and open source in general.