Vine Linux is a Japanese, RPM-based, multi-purpose distribution. It is developed and maintained by Vinecaves, and it’s based on an earlier version of Fedora. It is one of those distributions that excludes non-free (proprietary) applications from its default installation. Unlike similar distributions, however, it has developed a smart method to make installing non-free applications very easy.
ALT Linux is an APT-ified, RPM-based distribution developed and maintained by the ALT Linux Team (ALT is recursive for ALT Linux Team). It was originally based on Mandrake (now Mandriva) Linux. There are two main development branches, “ALT Linux 5.0 Ark, a suite designed for making integrated solutions, and ALT Linux 5.0 School, a suite that is targeted at secondary and high schools.”
Hymera Open is a desktop-oriented, GNU/Linux operating system based on Debian. This is a relatively brand new distribution developed and maintained by Hymera Engineering S.r.l., an outfit based in Milan, Italy. Aside from Hymera Open, Hymera Engineering also publishes the following editions:
Pardus is a desktop-oriented, Linux distribution. Development and maintenance is sponsored by the Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey. Pardus is one of the few distributions not derived from another one. It is an original. It is also one of the few desktop distributions with custom developed administrative tools.
gNewSense is a Linux desktop operating system that is derived from Ubuntu. It is essentially Ubuntu Linux with all non-free software removed. The project was initiated by Brian Brazil and Paul O’Malley.
OzOS is a desktop Linux operating system based on Xubuntu, and using the Enlightenment (E17) Desktop. It’s still a very “young” distro, but it has attracted the attention of a significant number of Linux enthusiasts.
g OS is a Linux desktop operating system based on Ubuntu, and optimized for the Web. It ships with virtually all known Google applications and services.
Openfiler is an enterprise-grade, Linux-based networked attached server (NAS) cum storage area network (SAN) distro. It is the only Open Source and free NAS/SAN solution that we know of.
“CentOS is an enterprise-class Linux distribution derived from sources freely provided to the public by a prominent North American enterprise Linux vendor. CentOS conforms fully with the upstream vendor’s redistribution policy and aims to be 100% binary compatible. (CentOS mainly changes packages to remove upstream vendor branding and artwork).”
Fedora is an RPM-based Linux distribution. Development is sponsored by Red Hat, Inc. It is one of the so-called major distributions, and out of the box, does not have non-free application installed.
Fedora’s installer, Anaconda, is used by several other Linux distributions, and features many enterprise features that is not available on other distributions installation programs.
“KNOPPIX is a bootable Live system on CD or DVD, consisting of a representative collection of GNU/Linux software, automatic hardware detection, and support for many graphics cards, sound cards, SCSI and USB devices and other peripherals. KNOPPIX can be used as a productive Linux system for the desktop, educational CD, rescue system, or adapted and used as a platform for commercial software product demos.”
“Parsix GNU/Linux is a live and installation CD derived from KANOTIX and based on Debian. It is a complete GNOME-centric desktop-oriented distribution. Besides the dozens of supported languages, Parsix GNU/Linux also supports Persian keyboard and users can switch to Persian with Alt+Shift keys.”
StartCom is a Linux distro “based on the Red Hat Enterprise and Fedora source code, each modified with reliability, security and efficiency in mind, to fit the tasks assigned to each flavor of StartCom Linux”. StartCom may be installed as a server, desktop, virtualization, or clustering system.
Foresight is a Linux distribution built around the Conary package management system. The Foresight dev team maintains separate DVD install images for Gnome- and XFCE-based desktops for 32- and 64-bit architectures. There is also a CD install image, the Lite edition, a Kids edition, and a Mobile edition for netbooks and ultra mobile PCs
