Re: Linux distributions statistics

From: Robert Hull (Robert_at_please.do-not-spam.me.uk)
Date: 01/29/04 

Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 09:06:16 +0000

In message <bvaf02$r24$1@news2.netvision.net.il>, kirag
<getelson@checkpoint.com> wrote
>Hello,
>
>I try to gather information about number of running installations from
>various Linux distributions: Debian, Slackware, Suse, RedHat, etc. Can
>somebody point me to a site that collects such data ?
>
Virtually every site that I have visited which claims to have such data
bases their figures on numbers of boxes sold and is therefore wildly
inaccurate.

Remember that unlike Billy-Bob's virus propagator, you are not obliged
to buy a boxed set per machine to have a legitimate installation of
Linux.

Many distributions are available for download as ISO's

Most (if not all) are available for FTP install

You can legitimately make copies of the installation media and give away
to family or friends

You can also legitimately use the same set of install media to set up
Linux on as many machines as you like

These are amongst the freedoms of Linux, but they do make it almost
impossible to know precisely how many machines are running what release
of which distribution.

Another difficulty is caused by people like myself - I have in my office
approximately three times as many boxed sets of different Linux
distributions as I have installations, but maybe that is not unconnected
to my .sig :-) 

-- 
Robert          Talking to yourself - first sign of madness
                 Answering yourself back - first sign of schizophrenia
                 I go one better: If I don't like the answer ...
                 I put it to a majority vote

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Linux distributions statistics
    ... to buy a boxed set per machine to have a legitimate installation of ... Many distributions are available for download as ISO's ... Linux on as many machines as you like ... distributions as I have installations, but maybe that is not unconnected ...
    (comp.os.linux.misc)
  • Re: FAQ?
    ... > Actually the problem with Linux and various distributions and various ... > installations is that there is not much consistent about the ... > compiles. ... which Linux version are you running? ...
    (alt.os.linux)
  • Re: Market share by linux
    ... register their installations. ... that choose to advertise their Linux distributions. ... distros can be freely copied, ...
    (comp.os.linux.misc)
  • Re: Linux and security
    ... installations packages are all a big "potential" threat. ... Linux the major risks are currently unpatched software and improperly ... current widespead threats are known to be. ... File integrity monitors can be a pita to set up the first time but take less ...
    (comp.os.linux.security)
  • Re: When will Linux distros get it?
    ... but dont dismiss me as a troll or teenager simply because you ... i'd question your ability as a Linux developer. ... Slackware, collectively, on over 100 installations, ...
    (alt.os.linux.suse)