Securing and Optimizing Linux: RedHat Edition -A Hands on Guide
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2.1. What is Linux?

Linux is an Operating System that was first created at the University of Helsinki in Finland by a young student named Linus Torvalds. At this time the student was working on a UNIX system that was running on an expensive platform. Because of his low budget, and his need to work at home, he decided to create a copy of the UNIX system in order to run it on a less expensive platform, such as an IBM PC. He began his work in 1991 when he released version 0.02 and worked steadily until 1994 when version 1.0 of the Linux Kernel was released. The current full-featured version at this time is 2.2.X; released January 25, 1999, and development continues.

GNU GPL and Linux

The Linux operating system is developed under the GNU General Public License (also known as GNU GPL) and its source code is freely available to everyone who downloads it via the Internet. The CD-ROM version of Linux is also available in many stores, and companies that provide it will charge you for the cost of the media and support. Linux may be used for a wide variety of purposes including networking, software development, and as an end-user platform. Linux is often considered an excellent, low-cost alternative to other more expensive operating systems because you can install it on multiple computers without paying more.

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