Sunwah Linux (previously Sun Wah Linux) is a Chinese Linux desktop distribution specifically addressing the Chinese localization need in handling and translation between Unicode, Big5, and various versions of Guobiao character encoding. In the mainland China it is known as RAYS LX Linux Desktop Distribution.
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Sunwah Linux is a Debian-based distribution. It was the first Chinese Linux distribution to receive Linux Standard Base (LSB) certification. The system architecture was designed in Hong Kong and the programming was developed in Nanjing. The distribution was sponsored by the Sunwah Group in Hong Kong and the Jiangsu Provincial Government of China.
The software can be downloaded at the Open Rays community website.
Sunwah - PearL Linux (abbreviated SWP), the technology training entity of the group, has been providing research assistance, testing, and training support for the distribution. SWP is a joint establishment of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Sunwah Group.
In 2005, Sunwah Linux was installed in over 140,000 PCs in primary and secondary schools in China. As of that time, the installation was the world’s largest Linux desktop rollout.
Sunwah Linux also supports some community events, including Software Freedom Day, Linux Professional Institute, International Information and Communication Technology Council Certification Program, and Linux World.
In April 2006, Sunwah Linux won the Best Linux Desktop Application Award at the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo in Boston. According to Albert Chung, who presented the distribution to the judges, "The competition was fierce. We were proud of our Chinese Linux desktop distribution being recognized by industry experts and judges."
Since then, the distribution has also won several other Chinese national and Hong Kong awards.