StartCom Linux
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 StartCom Linux GNOME Desktop |
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| Website: | http://linux.startcom.org/ |
| Company/ developer: |
StartCom |
| OS family: | Linux |
| Source model: | Open source |
| Latest stable release: | 5.0.0 alias Kishuf (RC 1) / 26 March 2007 |
| Kernel type: | Monolithic Kernel |
| License: | GPL |
The StartCom Linux operating systems, are based either on the Red Hat or Fedora source code and are available free of charge from the download page. Its vendor and distributer is StartCom which also operates the StartCom Certification Authority.
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[edit] About Linux
Linux is a Unix-like operating system, famous for its reliability and security features, that runs on all kinds of computers. Linux was started by Linus Torvalds in 1991. The Linux Kernel and most applications it offers, are mostly GPL licensed, called open source and code of the kernel is shared with and contributed by hundreds of software developers around the world. You can find more about Linux in general here and here.
[edit] History
In 2004 StartCom meant to release four different flavors of Linux operating systems:
- StartCom Enterprise Linux as a RHEL clone for servers.
- StartCom Developer Edition for developers.
- StartCom MultiMedia for home use.
- StartCom Office Edition for office use.
However the Office Edition was never released as a complete operating system, but only as a set of packages, which could be installed in addition to Enterprise Linux. Most office capabilities were in later releases added to the MultiMedia Edition. At the second release cycle, after the initial 3-series, the Developer and Office Edition were dropped and StartCom continued with its two remaining operating systems to date (Enterprise and MultiMedia). Today the MultiMedia Edition includes most capabilities from the Developer, Office and MultiMedia Edition, which also retained the advanced audio and video editing applications from the previously Addon CD (See history).
[edit] StartCom Enterprise Linux
The StartCom Enterprise series is a clone of the RHEL (Redhat Enterprise Linux) operating system, which includes automatic updates (See also Red Hat Enterprise Linux clones). It is one of the most tested and stable operating systems and used mainly for data centers and server applications such as Web, Mail, File services, databases and more.
[edit] StartCom MultiMedia Edition
The StartCom MultiMedia Edition is based on Fedora Core source code, but modified and enhanced for home, multimedia and sound - graphic - video manipulation. It can be used essentially as a recording studio, movie - video workstation and home entertainment center. It is claimed to be one of the largest and most complete Linux operating systems ever released. In July 2005 the StartCom MultiMedia Edition (Version ML-4.0.4 alias Raam) was selected by Distrowatch as the featured distribution of the week.
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 StartCom MultiMedia Edition Gnome Desktop |
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| Website: | http://linux.startcom.org/ |
| Company/ developer: |
StartCom StartCom Linux |
| OS family: | Linux |
| Source model: | Open source |
| Latest stable release: | 5.0.5 codenamed Kessem / 12 June 2006 |
| Kernel type: | Monolithic Kernel |
| License: | GPL |
[edit] History
Prior to the production of StartCom MultiMedia Edition as a complete recording studio system, StartCom released initially at the 12 October 2004 an Addon CD ROM, complete with autorun installer, meant to convert the StartCom Enterprise Linux into a productivity studio (Source). It included ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) drivers for most soundcards, Jack Audio Server for advanced application interaction, Audacity and Ardour Recording Studio, 24 Track Midi Sequencer, Hydrogen Drum Machine, various Synthesizers and Samplers for Sound Manipulation. A set of Video editing tools were also included, including Kino and Cinelerra, enhanced by filter applications, camera capture tools and more.
The idea and production of this Addon package was quite revolutionary and unique back then. Today many similar attempts in this direction are made by various different Linux vendors.
At the 8 July 2005, StartCom introduced the first time the MultiMedia Edition (Source) which was still based on its enterprise brother (StartCom Enterprise Linux AS-4.0.0), with a similar set of audio and video manipulating applications, but also a lot of support for file sharing, home entertainment. Also included the first time was support for the Microsoft® Windows® API implementation (Wine), which allows to run many Windows® based applications natively on Linux.
At the 25 July 2005, Distrowatch announced the MultiMedia Edition from StartCom as the featured distribution of the week.
At the 12 June 2006, after a few beta and RC builds, StartCom released the latest version ML-5.0.5 codenamed Kessem. Touted as the Most Complete Linux (Source) it required installation via a DVD ROM and holds over 4.4 GB of compiled code. This operating systems base was however not the enterprise code which was used previously, but source code from the Fedora Core distribution.
[edit] 3D Desktop
StartCom released various packages which allows to turn the ML-5.0.5 desktop into a turning cube and other 3D effects, thanks to the XGL X server architecture. It supports hardware acceleration of all X, OpenGL and XVideo applications and graphical effects by a compositing window manager such as Compiz or Beryl. The released packages are meant for testing purpose only, but the next MultiMedia Edition ML-6.0.x, to be released in 2007 should provide native support, depending on the right hardware, mainly the graphic card.
[edit] See also
- StartCom
- StartCom Enterprise Linux
- StartCom MultiMedia Edition
- StartCom Certification Authority
- Linux kernel
