Comparison of Linux distributions

Ways to explore different Linux distributions are discussed in Linux distribution.

The many Linux distributions differ for various reasons including technical, organizational, and philosophical.

Technical variations include support for different hardware devices and systems or software package configurations. Organizational differences may be motivated by historical reasons. Philosophical differences may include what software is considered easier to use. Other criteria include security, including how quickly security upgrades are available; ease of package management; and number of binary packages available.

These tables compare each noteworthy distribution's latest stable release on wide-ranging objective criteria. It does not cover each operating system's subjective merits, branches marked as unstable or beta, nor compare Linux distributions with other operating systems.

General

Basic general information about the distributions: creator or producer, release date and latest version, cost and license, and so forth.

	Creator	Producer	First Public Release (yyyy-MM-dd)	Base Distribution	Latest Stable Version		Cost	Preferred license	Purpose	Short description
					Version	Release Date
aLinux	Jay Klepacs	Jay Klepacs	? (pre-1999-08-19 (1.1))	Red Hat Linux	12.6	2005-11-20	Free	GPL	Desktop	similar to Windows XP's GUI
ALT Linux	ALT Linux Team	ALT Linux Team	2001-03-21	Mandrake Linux	3.0	2005-12-08	Free	GPL	Desktop(enthusiast), Workstation, Server
Annvix	Vincent Danen	Vincent Danen	2003-11-?	Mandrake Linux	1.2-RELEASE	2006-02-23	Free	GPL	Server
Arch Linux	Judd Vinet	dev team	2002-03-?	CRUX	0.7.2	2006-05-23	Free	GPL	Desktop base	i686 optimized, very up to date, follows KISS
Ark Linux	Bernhard Rosenkraenzer	dev team	2003-01-25	None	2006.1	2006-08-02	Free	GPL	Desktop	easy to use
Arudius	Haidut	dev team	2005-11-04	None	0.5	2006-02-06	Free	GPL	Information assurance, information security
Asianux	Red Flag Linux, Miracle Linux, Haansoft Linux	dev team	2004-06-?	RHEL	2.0	2005-08-31	Free	GPL	Server, Workstation
Aurox	Software-Wydawnictwo Sp. z oo	Aurox Sp. z oo	2002-09-?	Fedora Core	12.0	2006-08-31	Free	GPL	general purpose	support in European languages
BLAG	Brixton Linux Action Group	Brixton Linux Action Group	2002-10-22	Fedora Core	50001	2006-08-23	Free	GPL	Desktop, Workstation
Blue Cat Linux	LynuxWorks	LynuxWorks	?	None	5.0	?	$8500	Commercial	Embedded, military	Real-time
Caixa Mágica	Daniel Neves José Guimarães Paulo Trezentos	Caixa Mágica	2000-10-28	SUSE	11	2006-11-15	Free (download editions)		Desktop, Server (not free)
CentOS	CentOS Project	CentOS Project	2003-12-?	RHEL	4.4	2006-08-30	Free	GPL	Server	fully compatible with RHEL
CRUX	Per Liden	CRUX Linux community	2001-01-20	None	2.2	2006-04-09	Free	GPL	Desktop	i686 optimized, very up to date, follows KISS
Damn Small Linux	John Andrews	dev team	2003-?-?	Knoppix	3.0.1	2006-06-22	Free	GPL	general purpose	very small
DARKSTAR Linux	DARKSTAR Linux Project	DARKSTAR Linux Project	2004-02-?	Slackware	1.0-DOT3	2005-06-14	Free	GPL	Desktop	similar to Windows XP's GUI
Debian GNU/Linux	Ian Murdock	Debian Project	1993-08-?	None	3.1 (sarge)	2005-06-06	Free	any DFSG-free	general purpose
DeLi Linux	Henry Jensen	Henry Jensen	2002-10-?	None	0.7.1	2006-10-17	Free	GPL	Desktop	lightweight
DeMuDi	AGNULA	AGNULA	2002-04-?	Debian	1.2.1	2005-11-03	Free	GPL	audio & video production
dyne:bolic	Jaromil	Jaromil	2001-06-?	none	2.2	2006-10-06	Free	GPL	audio & video production
Elive	Thanatermesis	Thanatermesis	2005-01-01	Debian	0.5 (Revolution)	2006-09-22	Free	GPL/BSD	Desktop, Workstation, Multimedia, Servers
EnGarde Secure Linux	Guardian Digital, Inc	Guardian Digital, Inc	2001-?-?	None	3.0	2006-10-03	Free	GPL	Secure Server	Secure by default, Secure remote administration GUI
Fedora Core	Fedora Project	Fedora Project	2003-11-05	Red Hat Linux	6 (Zod)	2006-10-24	Free	GPL	general purpose	much unofficial support
Finnix	Ryan Finnie	Ryan Finnie	2000-03-?	Debian	88.0	2006-08-04	Free	GPL	Server Administration
Fox Linux	Dev team, supported by ILDN network	Dev team, supported by ILDN network	2004-09-?	Fedora	1.0	2005-12-26	Free	GPL	Desktop	easy to use, i686 optimized
Frugalware	Miklos Vajna	dev team	2004-09-?	Slackware	0.5	2006-07-14	Free	GPL	general purpose	intended for intermediate users
Gentoo Linux	Daniel Robbins	Gentoo Foundation, Inc.	2002-3-?	none	2006.1	2006-08-30	Free	GPL	general purpose	source based
Gnoppix	Klaus Knopper	dev team	? (pre-2003-07-17 (0.4))	Knoppix	2.12.b1	2005-09-07	Free	GPL	Recovery and Demostrative	easy to use
GoboLinux	Hisham Muhammad, Andre Detsch	dev team	2002-06-?	none	013	2005-11-03	Free	GPL		Largely changed filesystem hierarchy
ImpiLinux	Gauteng Linux Users Group	ImpiLinux (Pty) Ltd.	2003-11-?	Ubuntu	6.0.1	2006-01-31	Free	GPL	Desktop	tailored to African users
Kanotix	Jörg Schirottke (Kano)	dev team	2003-12-24	Debian, Knoppix	2005-4	2005-12-31	Free	GPL		up to date, good hardware detection
Knoppix	Klaus Knopper	dev team	? (pre-2003-01-19 (3.1))	Debian	4.0.2	2005-09-23	Free	GPL	Recovery	easy to use
Kurumin Linux	Carlos Morimoto	GuiadoHardware	2003-01-?	Knoppix	6.1	2006-09-07	Free	GPL	Desktop	Portuguese support, easy to use
Linspire	Lindows.com, Inc.	Linspire, Inc	2002-03-?	Debian	5-1.427	2006-04-21	$49.95	GPL/Commercial	Desktop	similar to Windows XP's GUI
Freespire	Lindows.com, Inc.	Linspire, Inc	2002-03-?	Debian	1.00	2006-04-21	Free	GPL/Commercial	Desktop	similar to Windows XP's GUI, free marketplace
Lunar Linux	Chuck Mead, Lunar Penguin Project	dev team	2002-03-?	Sorcerer	1.6.0	2006-04-06	Free	OSI Approved	Desktop, Workstation	source based
Lycoris Desktop/LX	Redmond Linux Corp.	Lycoris, Inc., Mandriva S.A.	2001-25-?	Caldera OpenLinux	1.4	2004-09-13	$40-$75	Template:Dlw-inline	Desktop(anyone)
Mandriva Linux	Mandrakesoft S.A.	Mandriva S.A.	1998-7-23 (5.1 (venice))	Red Hat Linux	2007	2006-10-03	Free (Download edition)	GPL	Desktop	easy to use
MeNTOPPIX	Galuh Prasetyawan	Galuh Prasetyawan	2006-3-30 (1.1 (malang))	Debian, Knoppix	1.3	2006-03-30	Free	GPL	Desktop	similar to Windows XP's GUI
SimplyMEPIS	Warren Woodford	MEPIS LLC.	2003-09-05	Debian	6.0	2006-07-21	Free (Download edition)	GPL	Desktop	easy to use
SOHOServerMepis									workstation,server	easy to use
Musix	Marcos Guglielmetti	?	?	Knoppix	0.59	2006-09-07	Free	GPL	audio production
NimbleX	Bogdan Radulescu	Bogdan Radulescu	2005-12-?	Slackware	2005	2005-12-26	Free	GPL	Desktop	small
Nitix	Net Integration Technologies Inc.	Net Integration Technologies Inc.	2001-?-?	None	4.3.2a	2006-10-18	$599-?	Commercial / GPL	Server	SMB / autonomic
OES-Linux	Novell	Novell	2003	SUSE Linux Enterprise Server	OES SP2	May 2006	$184 (1 user connection)	GPL/Commercial	Server	adds Novell (NCP, eDirectory, etc.) services
Pardus	TUBITAK	TUBITAK	2005	None	2007	2006-11-20	Free	GPL	general purpose	Has its own package manager, installer, init system, configuration manager
Parsix	Alan Baghumian	Talar-e-Web	?	Kanotix	0.85	2006-06-19	Free	GPL	general purpose	supports Persian keyboards
PCLinuxOS	Texstar	dev team	2003-11-?	Mandriva	.93a	2006-08-21	Free	GPL	Desktop	easy to use
PLD Linux Distribution	PLD Linux Distribution	PLD Linux Distribution	2002-11-19	none	2.0 RC1	2006-03-03	Free	GPL	Desktop,Administrators	very manual
Pie Box Enterprise Linux	PixExcel	PixExcel	2004-04-19	Red Hat Enterprise Linux	4.4	2006-08-15	£9.99-£19.99	GPL	general purpose	fully compatible with RHEL
Puppy Linux	Barry Kauler	Puppy Foundation	2002-07-12 (0.4)	none	2.10	2006-09-14	Free	GPL/LGPL	general purpose	very small
QiLinux	QiLinux team	QiLinux team	2003-10-31 (1.0alpha2)	None	2.0	2006-08-01	Free	GPL	Desktop, Server
Red Flag Linux	Institute of Software, Chinese Academy of Sciences, NewMargin Venture Capital	Red Flag Software Co., Ltd.	1999-09-20	Red Hat Linux	5.0	2005-11-11	Free, desktop version	GPL	general purpose
Red Hat Linux	Red Hat	replaced with Fedora Core	1995-05-13 (1.0)	?	9 (Shrike)	2003-03-31	$40	GPL		Obsolete
Red Hat Enterprise Linux	Red Hat & Fedora Project	Red Hat & Fedora Project	2000-03-27 (RHL 6.2E (Zoot))	Red Hat Linux	RHEL 4 (Nahant)	2005-02-15	$180-2,500	GPL	Business Server, Workstation, Mainframe
Rxart	Pixart SRL	Pixart SRL	2000-03-?	Debian	3-0	2006-04-16	$14.95	GPL/Commercial	Desktop(anyone), Workstation, Server
Sauver	Maulik Gordhandas	dev team	2006-01-01	Slackware	1.1.7	2006-09-29	Free	GPL	Recovery, Desktop	easy to use
Scientific Linux	CERN, Fermilab	dev team	2004-10-?	Fermi (LTS) & RHL/RHEL	4.2 (Beryllium)	2005-11-22	Free	GPL	Scientific stuff	fully compatible with RHEL
Slackware	Patrick Volkerding	dev team	1993-07-16	SLS	11.0	2006-10-02	Free	GPL	general purpose	very stable, follows KISS
Source Mage GNU/Linux	Ryan Abrams, Eric Schabell	dev team	2002-06-?	Sorcerer	0.9.6	2006-03-13	Free	GPL	general purpose	source based
StartCom Enterprise Linux	StartCom Ltd.	StartCom Ltd.	2004-08-01	RHEL	4.0.3	2006-09-18	Free	GPL	Server	RHEL compatible
StartCom MultiMedia Edition	StartCom Ltd.	StartCom Ltd.	2004-08-01	Fedora Core	5.0.5	2006-06-12	Free	GPL	Workstation, Desktop, Multimedia	Recording, Video, Graphics manipulation, home entertainment
SUSE Linux	S.u.S.E. GmbH, SuSE, GmbH	Novell, Inc. dev team	1994-03-?	Jurix	10.2	2006-12-07	$50 (1-Device 1-Year Subscription)	GPL	Business Desktop, Business Server	easy to use
OpenSUSE							Free		Desktop
Symphony OS	Ryan Quinn	Ryan Quinn & Jason Spisak	?	Debian	2006-05 Beta	2005-05-18	Free	GPL Version 2	Desktop	easy to use
Trustix Secure Linux	Comodo Group Inc.	Comodo Group Inc.	2000-02-?	Red Hat Linux	3.0	2006-06-13	Free	?	Server	secure
Ubuntu	Canonical Ltd.	Canonical Ltd.	2004-10-20	Debian	6.10, aka "Edgy Eft" latest stable release	2006-10-26	Free	GPL	Desktop	easy to use
Kubuntu							Free	GPL	Desktop
Xubuntu							Free	GPL	Desktop	light weight, easy to use
Ubuntu Server Edition							Free	GPL	Server	easy to use
Edubuntu							Free	GPL	computer lab	child-oriented, easy to use
Ultima Linux	Martin Ultima	Martin Ultima	2005-03-18	Slackware	4 SP3	2005-11-06	Free	GPL	Desktop	less streamlined
UTUTO	Diego Saravia & Daniel Olivera	UTUTO dev-team	2000-?-?	Gentoo	2006.0	2006-03-04	Free	GPL-2 or later	general purpose	source based
Vector Linux	Robert S. Lange	dev team	1999-?-?	Slackware	5.1 Standard	2005-07-27	Free	GPL	Desktop	easy to use
Xandros Desktop OS	Xandros Corp.	Xandros Inc.	2002-10-22	Corel	4.0	2006-06-21	$39.99 (Home Edition), $79.99 (Home Edition Premium), or free (3.0.2 Open Circulation Edition).	Commercial/GPL	Desktop	similar to Windows XP's GUI
Zenwalk	Jean-Philippe Guillemin	dev team	2004-05-21 (as Minislack)	Slackware	4.0	2006-11-20	Free	GPL	Desktop, Server	fully featured, small
	Creator	Producer	First Public Release (yyyy-MM-dd)	Based Distribution	Latest Stable Version	Release Date	Cost	Preferred license	Purpose	Short description

Technical

Information on technical aspects of the distributions.

	Linux kernel	Compiler	Default file system	Other major file systems supported	Default online update tool	Default package management/ software installation tool
aLinux	2.6.12	GCC 4.1.1	user determined	ext2, ext3, ReiserFS, Reiser4	none	RPM
ALT Linux	2.6.12	GCC 3.4.3	user determined	ext2, ext3, ReiserFS, Reiser4, JFS, XFS	APT	RPM
Annvix	2.4.32	GCC 3.4.3	user determined	ext2, ext3, ReiserFS, XFS	urpmi	RPM
Arch Linux	2.6.18	GCC 4.1.1	ext3	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, Reiser4, XFS	Pacman	Pacman
Ark Linux	2.6.18-rc2	GCC 4.1.1	ext3	JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	APT and kynaptic	RPM and APT
Arudius	2.6.13	GCC 3.3.6	ext3	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	Slackware Pkgtools	TGZ
Asianux	2.6.9	GCC 3.4.3	ext3	ReiserFS, XFS	mlupdater (with 90-day-free trial)	RPM
Aurox	2.6.9	GCC 4.1.1	ext3	ext2, ReiserFS	yum	RPM, yum
BLAG	2.6.17	GCC 4.1.1	ext3	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	yum, APT	RPM, yum, APT
Caixa Mágica	2.6.16.13	GCC 3.3.5	ReiserFS	?	?	?
CentOS	2.6.9	GCC 3.4.6	ext3	ext2, GFS, ReiserFS*, JFS*, XFS* (*) Denotes CentOSPlus Repository	yum, up2date	RPM,yum
CRUX	2.6.15.6	GCC 4.0.3	?	ReiserFS, XFS	?	?
Damn Small Linux	2.4.31	TCC	ext3	ext2	myDSL	dpkg and APT
DARKSTAR Linux	2.4.26	GCC 3.3.4	ReiserFS, ext3/ext2	JFS, XFS	?	?
Debian	2.6.8	GCC 3.3.6	ext3	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	APT	dpkg, Synaptic, and APT
DeLi Linux	2.4.32	GCC 2.95	ext3/ext2	?	none	installpkg, upgradepkg, ports tree
DeMuDi	2.6.12	GCC 3.3.5	ext3	JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	Synaptic, APT	Synaptic, dpkg, APT
dyne:bolic	2.6.16	GCC 3.4.3	SquashFS, ext3	ReiserFS	none	none
Elive	2.6.15/2.6.18.2	GCC 3.4.3	SquashFS, ReiserFS	ext3, ext2, XFS	APT	Synaptic, dpkg, APT
EnGarde Secure Linux	2.6.17	none installed by default	ext3	ReiserFS	RPM, APT	RPM, APT
Fedora Core	2.6.18	GCC 4.1.1	ext3	ext2, GFS, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	yum, APT (limited)	RPM, yum
Finnix	2.6.17	GCC 4.1.1	SquashFS	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	APT	dpkg, Synaptic, and APT
Frugalware	2.6.16	GCC 4.0.3	user determined	ext2, ext3, ReiserFS, XFS	Pacman	Pacman
Gentoo Linux	2.6.19	GCC 4.1.1	user determined	ext2, ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	emerge	Portage
GoboLinux	2.6.11.9	GCC 3.4.3	ReiserFS	ext2, ext3, JFS, XFS	Manager	Compile
GNUSTEP	2.6.18.1	GCC 4.1.1	ext2	ext3, UFS, FAT, NTFS	APT	dpkg, and APT
ImpiLinux	2.6.11.7	GCC 4.0.1	?	?	?	?
Kanotix	2.6.14.5	GCC 4.1.1	user determined	ext3, ReiserFS, JFS	APT	dpkg and APT
Knoppix	2.6.17	GCC 3.4.3	XFS	ext2, ReiserFS, XFS	APT	dpkg and APT
Kurumin Linux	2.6.14	GCC 3.4.3	ReiserFS	ext2, ext3	APT	dpkg, APT, Synaptic, KPackage
Linspire	2.6.14	GCC 3.4.3	ReiserFS	ext2, ext3, JFS, Reiser4, XFS	CNR "click and run" (apt-get)	CNR "click and run" (apt-get)
Lunar Linux	2.6.17.8	GCC 3.4.6 GCC 4.1.1 [1] full list	user determined	ext2, ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	lin	lin
Lycoris Desktop/LX	2.4.27	?	ext3	?	Update Wizard	RPM/Software Installer
Mandriva Linux	2.6.11.6	GCC 4.0.1	ext3	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	urpmi	RpmDrake
MEPIS	2.6.10	GCC 4.0.3	ReiserFS/ext3	ext2, JFS, XFS	APT	dpkg and APT
Musix	2.6.16	GCC 4.0.3	?	?	?	?
NimbleX	2.6.11	?	SquashFS	FAT32, ext2, ext3, XFS, ReiserFS, Reiser4	none	tgz
Nitix	2.4.21	GCC3.3.4	ReiserFS	None	SoftUpdate, yum	RPM, yum
OES-Linux	?	?	?	?	?	?
Pardus	2.6.18	GCC 3.4.6	ext3	ext2, ReiserFS, JFS, XFS	PISI	Package Manager
Parsix	2.6.11	GCC 4.1.1	user determined	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS	APT	dpkg and APT
PCLinuxOS	2.6.16	GCC 3.3.1	user determined	ext2, ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	APT/Synaptic	RPM
Pie Box Enterprise Linux	2.6.9	GCC 3.4.6	ext3	ext2, GFS	up2date, yum	RPM
PLD Linux Distribution	2.6.14.7	GCC 3.3.6	ext3/ext2/XFS	JFS, ReiserFS	Poldek	Poldek, RPM
Puppy Linux	2.6.16.7	GCC 3.3.4	ext2	?	?	PupGet, DotPup
QiLinux	2.6.17	GCC 4.0.2	ReiserFS	ext2, ext3, ReiserFS	Synaptic, APT	RPM, APT
Red Flag Linux	2.6.9	GCC 3.4.3	ext3	XFS, JFS, ReiserFS	Red Flag Installer System	RPM
Red Hat Enterprise Linux	2.6.9	GCC 3.4.5	ext3	ext2, GFS	up2date	RPM
Rxart Desktop	2.6.11	?	ext3	ext2	APT, Red de Rxart, Club de Rxart	APT
Sauver	2.6.16	?	Squashfs	ext2, ext3, FAT32, ReiserFS, NTFS	none	tgz
Scientific Linux	2.6.9	GCC 3.4.6	ext3	ext2, XFS	APT/yum	RPM
Slackware	2.4.33.3 or 2.6.17.13 (2.6.18 available in /testing)	GCC 3.4.6	ReiserFS	JFS, XFS, ext3,ext2	Swaret, Slapt-get, many others not official	installpkg and upgradepkg
Source Mage GNU/Linux	2.6.13.1	GCC 4.0.3	ext2	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	Sorcery Package Manager	Sorcery Package Manager
SUSE Linux	2.6.16.13	GCC 4.1.0	ext3	ext2, ext3, JFS, Reiser4, XFS	YaST2	RPM, YaST
Symphony OS	2.6.16	GCC 4.1.0	ReiserFS	?	APT	APT, OneClick
Ubuntu Edubuntu Xubuntu	2.6.17	GCC 4.1.1	ext3	ext2, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS	Ubuntu Update Manager (APT)	Synaptic Package Manager (APT)
Kubuntu						Adept (APT)
Ultima Linux	2.4.31	GCC 3.4.6	ReiserFS	ext2, ext3, JFS, XFS	ulupdate	See Slackware
UTUTO	2.6.15	?	ext3, ReiserFS	ext2, JFS, Reiser4, XFS	UTUTO Package Manager	UTUTO Package Manager
Vector Linux	2.6.13	GCC 3.4.6	ReiserFS, ext3/ext2	JFS, XFS,NTFS	slapt-get, gslapt	slapt-get, installpkg
Xandros Desktop OS	2.6.15	GCC 3.3.5	ReiserFS	ext2, ext3, JFS, XFS	Xandros Networks (APT)	Xandros Networks (APT)
Zenwalk	2.6.18.1	GCC 3.4.6	ReiserFS	ext3, XFS	netpkg	installpkg and upgradepkg
	Linux kernel	Compiler	Default file system	Other major file systems supported	Default online update tool	Default package management/ software installation tool

Features

Information on features in the distributions.

	Packages	GUI installation procedure	Default file manager	Default desktop environment	Default window manager	Default GUI styling
aLinux	about 1200	No	Konqueror	KDE	kwin	?
ALT Linux	8381 (as of Compact 3.0)	Yes	Konqueror	KDE	kwin	Plastik
Arch Linux	about 6000	Yes	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
Ark Linux	3500 (core) + 500 (contrib)	Yes	Konqueror	KDE	kwin	Plastik
Arudius	over 150 security tools	No	Rox	Fluxbox	Fluxbox	MAC OS X
Asianux	?	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	ReFind
Aurox	about 3000	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Plastik
BLAG	5000+	Yes	Nautilus	GNOME	Metacity	blagCanyon
CentOS	1499 (base), 95 (extras), 66 (plus)	Yes	Nautilus*	GNOME	*Metacity	Bluecurve
Damn Small	?	No	emelFM	?	Fluxbox	?
DARKSTAR	?	?	?	?	?	?
Debian	about 18000	Yes	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
DeLi Linux	about 150	No	Midnight Commander,XPlorer	none	IceWM	?
DeMuDi	about 875	Yes	Nautilus*	GNOME	*Metacity	DeMuDi
dyne:bolic	?	Yes	Xfe	not GNUStep	WindowMaker	Dynebolic
Elive	Around 400 from Elive + 19725 from Debian	Yes	Thunar/pcmanfs	Enlightenment 16 and 17	Enlightenment	Customized
EnGarde Secure Linux	about 500	Yes	None-Midnight Commander optional	None	None	WebTool [2]
Fedora Core	7040	Yes	Nautilus*	GNOME	*Metacity	ClearLooks for GNOME Bluecurve for KDE
Finnix	about 350	No	none (all optional)	Xfce	none	none
Frugalware	about 3000	Yes	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
Gentoo	about 13000	Yes	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
	Packages	GUI installation procedure	Default file manager	Default desktop environment	Default window manager	Default GUI styling
GoboLinux	about 1500	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Plastik
GNUSTEP	881	No	GWorkspace	GNUstep	WindowMaker	NeXTSTEP/OPENSTEP
ImpiLinux	?	No	?	KDE	*kwin	?
Kanotix	CD: about 1000	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Plastik
Knoppix	CD: about 1000 DVD: about 2600	No	none (all optional)	KDE	*kwin	Keramik
Kurumin	?	Yes	Konqueror	KDE	*kwin	Plastik
Linspire	over 2200	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Linspire's
Lunar	2951 (as of November 22, 2006)	Yes	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
Lycoris Desktop/LX	?	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Lycoris' (Windows-esque).
Mandriva	10689	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Mandrakegalaxy
MEPIS	?	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Plastik
Musix	?	?	?	?	?	?
NimbleX	about 500	No	Konqueror	KDE	kwin	Plastik
Nitix	?	Yes	none	none	none	WebConfig
Pardus	about 1300	Yes	Konqueror	KDE	kwin	Plastik
Parsix	????	Yes	Nautilus*	GNOME	*Metacity	Human
PCLinuxOS	5025+ (Sept. 2006)	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	PCLinuxOS Custom Theme
Pie Box Enterprise Linux	about 1500	Yes	Nautilus*	GNOME	*Metacity	Bluecurve
PLD Linux Distribution	13.500+	No	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
Puppy	300+	Yes	ROX-Filer	none	JWM	?
	Packages	GUI installation procedure	Default file manager	Default desktop environment	Default window manager	Default GUI styling
QiLinux	about 2500	Yes	Konqueror	KDE	kwin	Plastik
Red Flag	?	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Red Flag (Windows XP-like)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux	about 1500	Yes	Nautilus*	GNOME	*Metacity	Bluecurve
Rxart	about 5000(Pixart package)	Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Rxart
Sauver	?	No	Konqueror	KDE	Kwin	Plastik
Scientific	?	Yes	Nautilus*	GNOME	*Metacity	Bluecurve
Slackware	544 (22-12-2006)	Yes	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
Source Mage	4235 (2005-08-11)	Yes	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
SUSE	22000	Yes	Nautilus*, Konqueror*	GNOME, KDE, Ximian Desktop (Enterprise Desktop/Server)	*Metacity, *kwin	SuSE Theme
Symphony OS	?	Yes	ROX-filer	Mezzo	FVWM	?
Ubuntu	4358 by default, maximally about 19,500	Yes	Nautilus*	GNOME	*Metacity	Human
Kubuntu		Yes	Konqueror*	KDE	*kwin	Plastik
Xubuntu		Yes	Thunar*	Xfce	*Xfwm	ClearLooks
Ultima	?	Yes	Konqueror (optional)	KDE (and others, all optional)	Enlightenment (and others, all optional)	none (all optional)
UTUTO	about 45000 (optimized by architecture)	Yes	Nautilus	GNOME (and others)	Metacity	UTUTO-Theme-Blue
Vector Linux	?	Yes	Midnight Commander	none (all optional)	none (all optional)	none (all optional)
Xandros Desktop OS	?	Yes	Xandros File Manager	KDE	*kwin	Xandros'
Zenwalk	?	?	Thunar	Xfce	Xfwm	?
	Packages	GUI installation procedure?	Default file manager	Default desktop environment	Default window manager	Default GUI styling

Architecture support

Distribution	x86	x86-64	IA-64	ppc	ppc64	sparc32	sparc64	arm	hppa	mips	sh	s390	alpha	68k
aLinux	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
ALT Linux	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Annvix	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Arch Linux	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Ark Linux	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Arudius	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Asianux	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Aurox	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
BLAG	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Blue Cat Linux	Yes	?	?	Yes	?	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
Caixa Mágica	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
CentOS	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Damn Small Linux	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DARKSTAR Linux	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Debian	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
DeLi Linux	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DeMuDi	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
dyne:bolic	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Elive	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
EnGarde Secure Linux	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Fedora Core	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Finnix	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Frugalware	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Gentoo Linux	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
GoboLinux	Yes	No	No	Partial	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
GNUSTEP	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
ImpiLinux	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Kanotix	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Knoppix	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Kurumin Linux	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Linspire	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Lunar Linux	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Lycoris Desktop/LX	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Mandriva Linux	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
MEPIS	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Musix	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
NimbleX	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Nitix	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
OES-Linux	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Pardus	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Parsix	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
PCLinuxOS	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Pie Box Enterprise Linux	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
PLD Linux Distribution	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Puppy Linux	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
QiLinux	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Red Flag Linux	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Red Hat Enterprise Linux	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Rxart Desktop	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Partial	Partial	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Sauver	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Scientific Linux	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Slackware	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Source Mage GNU/Linux	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
SUSE Linux	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Symphony OS	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Ubuntu Kubuntu Edubuntu Xubuntu	Yes	Yes	Partial	Yes	No	Partial	Partial	No	Partial	No	No	No	No	No
Ultima Linux	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
UTUTO	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Vector Linux	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Xandros Desktop OS	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Yellow Dog Linux	No	No	No	Yes	Partial	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Zenwalk	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Distribution	x86	x86-64	IA-64	ppc	ppc64	sparc32	sparc64	arm	hppa	mips	sh	s390	alpha	68k

Security features

	AppArmor	Bounds Checking (HTB or Mudflap) [3]	ExecShield	GrSecurity	PaX	RSBAC	SELinux	Systrace
CentOS			Yes				Yes
EnGarde Secure Linux			Yes				Yes
Fedora Core			Yes				Yes
Hardened Debian			Optional	Optional			Optional
Hardened Gentoo		Optional		Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional
Lunar Linux				Optional	Optional		Optional
Pardus Linux	Yes
PLD Linux Distribution				Yes			Optional
Pie Box Enterprise Linux			Yes				Yes
Red Hat Enterprise Linux			Yes				Yes
SUSE Linux	Yes
Mandriva						Yes

See also

• List of Linux distributions
• Comparison of Linux LiveDistros
• Comparison of operating systems
• Comparison of file systems

External links

• DistroWatch.com - Compares all significant Linux distributions in detail, and was a source for some information shown here.
• LWN.net Linux Distribution List - A comprehensive list of hundreds of distributions, including historical ones.
• PolishLinux.org Compare distros - detailed comparison of Linux distributions