Userlinux Live CD 0.2 review
DownloadThe UserLinux Project is developing an effective, streamlined, freely available Linux distribution for businesses of all sizes
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The UserLinux Project is developing an effective, streamlined, freely available Linux distribution for businesses of all sizes. The project is not-for-profit with associated services available from a network of commercial service providers.
UserLinux organization will be a not-for-profit organization. The UserLinux product is a GNU/Linux distribution based from Debian GNU/Linux, but streamlined to a smaller set of default applications.
UserLinux will be freely available in both source and ISO formats. UserLinux will be complemented by a worldwide network of (generally for-profit) service providers offering certification, support, and professional services.
UserLinux will offer businesses unrivaled value by providing a strong base of intelligently selected software accompanied by vendor neutral support and certification options.
Security, training, and worker portability issues are greatly reduced through the selection of the prime application for a specific need. There are no licensing fees for software or development tools. Support services are available from a variety of professional service providers, but are never mandatory.
The UserLinux product is a Linux Operating System distribution streamlined to a smaller set of default applications for business use. The UserLinux variants, currently in beta testing, are freely available in both source and CD installation image formats.
UserLinux has four primary configurations:
Enterprise Server: A solid production server featuring Apache, Samba, and Postfix. Great as a web or file server.
Enterprise Desktop: GNOME desktop featuring OpenOffice.
GUI Server: Features a thin Graphical User Interface environment for more convenient local administration. Same core functionality as Enterprise Server.
SOHO Desktop (Small Office/Home Office): A desktop and server in one. A wider range of capabilities to meet the needs of small businesses.
UserLinux will be driven by the not-for-profit UserLinux Organization and backed by a network of for-profit professional service providers. The distribution will be accompanined by available certifications for people, software, and hardware.
Key UserLinux Advantages:
Streamlined: UserLinux is a streamlined distribution with one key application in mind for a given piece of functionality. One web browser, one word processor, one mail client, one web server. This reduces support overhead both for users and for maintaining security.
Standards compliant: UserLinux encourages cooperation with other open source organizations, and values compliance with open standards.
Designed for business: The UserLinux distribution is specially tailored towards the needs of business.
Professional Services: The third party network of UserLinux affiliated commercial Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) allow for choice in professional services and custom application design options. The separation between the UserLinux organization and the ISVs is a win-win proposition allowing both the support advantages of a service provider network and the neutrality advantages of an operating system not tied to a single company.
Flexible: While each UserLinux configuration is designed to support common functionality as shipped, the systems are also open for expansion beyond the standard UserLinux set.
Disclosure: As a not-for-profit organization working with software developed in the open, the UserLinux organization as well as the development process for the UserLinux distribution are in the open. Critical system updates are clearly and promptly announced so systems remain properly secured.
Lack of lock-in: There are no licensing fees for the UserLinux distribution or related development tools. Service is available from your choice of service providers, but is never mandatory.
Free to obtain: ISO images and the source code are freely available.
Inexpensive to maintain: The streamlined nature of the UserLinux distribution assures less software to update. There are no per seat charges or OS licenses to be tracked and audited.
Secure: Leveraging from the power of open source, the code used in the UserLinux distribution not only has thousands of hours of development but thousands of hours of peer review.
Certifications: Hardware, software, support and professional certifications will be available. The standards and corresponding tests will be created by UserLinux with third parties performing the testing activities.
Mature Software: UserLinux is directly based from Debian GNU/Linux, a general focus, free Linux distribution in existence for over a decade. Key components of UserLinux, including the highly popular Linux Kernel and Apache web server, are very mature with millions of critical-use installations.
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