InformIT: Red Hat Linux 7 Unleashed > Red Hat Linux Compared to Other Linux Distributions

Red Hat Linux Compared to Other Linux Distributions

Underneath, all Linux distributions are the same because all distributions use the Linux kernel. Nearly all distributions include the same base subset of GNU free software, command-line programs, manual pages, and documentation. However, the similarity stops there, and Linux distributions will differ in a number of significant ways:

Installation— Nearly every Linux distribution is different in the appearance, and perhaps sequence, of installation dialogs and prompts. You'll find Red Hat's Linux installation flexible and easy to use—you can choose a graphical, text-based, or automatic install.
Layout of the /etc directory— Linux is a blend of the best features of BSD and SysV UNIX. This means that some distributions, such as Red Hat, use a SysV type of configuration directory, structure, and naming conventions for initialization scripts. Some distributions, such as Debian GNU/Linux, may tend toward BSD's minimalist, plain /etc directory and scripts, while others, such as SuSE Linux, may opt for nearly all system configuration information to be contained in a single file.
Naming conventions for root-only software— Red Hat Linux, like nearly all Linux distributions, places root-only commands under the /sbin directory; however, some distributions may use different names for similar commands, and may even place system initialization scripts in the /sbin directory.
Breadth and wealth of graphic administration tools— Red Hat Linux provides one of the largest collections of graphical administration tools for Linux. Other distributions may use a single, centralized tool, such as SuSE Linux's YaST command, or Caldera OpenLinux's lisa command.
Location and naming of documentation— Nearly all Linux distributions include documentation under the /usr/doc, /usr/share/info, or /usr/share/doc directories, but you may find differences in naming of subdirectories.
Software management tools and package structure— Red Hat and many other (but not all) distributions use the Red Hat Package Manager approach to software management, specifically using the rpm command. However, you may find different "front-ends" to the rpm command used in different distributions, and some distributions, such as Debian or Slackware, will use different package formats, such as .deb or .tgz.
Support— Commercially marketed Linux distributions usually come with a specified period of technical support, either over the phone, by email, or through the Web. Some Linux distributions, such as Debian, don't come with any support (aside from mailing lists), and you must go to a third-party service provider. Note that you should not call Red Hat, Inc. for support for use of this book's CD-ROMs! See the back page by the CD-ROMs for details on where and how to get support.
Value-added software— Finally, Linux distributions will differ in the amount, quality, or type of value-added software included with the distribution. Red Hat, Inc.'s commercial versions of Red Hat Linux sometimes include an extra CD-ROM of third-party software.

When you choose to use Red Hat Linux, you'll be in good company. You'll find many other Red Hat Linux users out in cyberspace or around the corner. Once you learn how to use Red Hat Linux, changing to a different distribution may not be that difficult.

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