Because of the vast number and variety of tools beyond the kernel required for a functional computing environment, building a Linux installation from scratch is quite complex. Over the years, therefore, commercial and noncommercial packages called distributions have emerged. The first distribution consisted of approximately 50 diskettes, at least one of which would usually turn out to be bad and have to be replaced. Since then, CD and DVD drives, as well as high-speed Internet connections, have become widespread and sharing Linux has become much easier.
After getting Linux, the average user is concerned next with support. While online newsgroups and forums offer quick responses and meet the needs of many intrepid users, you can also buy support from the vendors of the major distributions and a number of independent experts. Linux is supported at least as well as commercial software. When you buy a distribution from a vendor, you typically are entitled to a period of free support as well.
Intel’s x86 family and other compatible chips are still by far the most common hardware running Linux, but Linux is also now commercially available on a number of other hardware systems, notably the PowerPC, the Intel Itanium processor, and Sun Microsystems’ SPARC.
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