| UserLinux releases first beta CD |
Sep. 08, 2004
 UserLinux has released its first beta CD and is widening the scope of testing. The project, led by long-time open source advocate Bruce Perens, aims to give enterprise customers a certified version of Linux without the support price tag and restrictive licensing policies offered with commercial distributions from vendors like Red Hat and SuSE.
(Click for larger view of the UserLinux screenshot)
Based on Debian Linux, UserLinux's mission is to provide businesses with freely available, high quality Linux operating systems accompanied by certifications, service, and support options intended to encourage productivity and security while reducing overall costs, according to the project website. The group says it aims to free users from vendor lock-in by using open standards.
Currently, UserLinux's Global Support Network lists 12 vendors with support, with a half dozen more planning to support the software.
The UserLinux CD contains 4.5 megabytes of data, which downloads the rest of the system during the installation process, according to the announcement. It is available for download.
Unbundling the high cost of support from Linux is a trend that is gaining traction within the FOSS (free and open source) community. Initiatives that deliver enterprise-oriented Linux distributions based on Red Hat source code are available from Finnish Linux provider Lineox and the White Box Linux Project. Both distributions tout themselves as replacements for -- or as being "very similar" to -- Red Hat's Enterprise Linux software.
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